AI Chat Search Browse Media On This Day Map Quotations Timeline Research Free Datasets Remembered About Contact

Westboro planning to picket Taylor's funeral

Thu 24 Mar 2011 In: International News View at NDHA

Scarcely has news of Elizabeth Taylor's death spread across the world and a viciously anti-gay US church is planning to protest at her funeral. The minute Westboro Baptist Church, which has disgusted many with its pickets outside the funerals of US soldiers with signs reading "God Hates Fags", has now turned its sights on the tireless AIDS campaigner and friend to the gay community. Margie Phelps, daughter of Westboro Pastor Fred Phelps, has taken to Twitter to say “Her whoredoms enabled filthy fags! She now answers for her gr8 sin in hell! #WBC will picket funeral!” Earlier this month, the Supreme Court, with a majority of 8 to 1 ruled the group should be allowed to picket funerals by relying on their First Amendment rights to free speech. However, if they show at Taylor's funeral they are likely to be met with glbt rights supporters and fans of the late actress in a hushed counter-protest, with rumblings of such a response already beginning in the blogosphere. In the past counter-protesters have lined up and turned their backs on the group or encircled them in a ring, explaining that they want to symbolically shield the community. Earlier this month the son of Fred Phelps claimed that his father beat his family until they bled. Nate Phelps, who has been estranged from his family for more than 30 years, is writing a book about his experiences growing up in the Kansas church.    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff

First published: Thursday, 24th March 2011 - 2:03pm

Rights Information

This page displays a version of a GayNZ.com article that was automatically harvested before the website closed. All of the formatting and images have been removed and some text content may not have been fully captured correctly. The article is provided here for personal research and review and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of PrideNZ.com. If you have queries or concerns about this article please email us