so filled with hate

[kodalai]

I propose the start of a new foundation: the Society Advocating To Set Phelps On Fire.


On October 3, 2003 Anti-Gay Preacher Fred Phelps' announced intentions to erect a "monument" to Matthew Shepard, a college student brutally murdered five years ago. The following is an article published October 3, 2003 by 365Gay.com's News Center.

(Casper, Wyoming) Anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps has announced intentions to erect a monument to Matthew Shepard the gay college student brutally murdered five years ago near Laramie.

But, the monument will be no memorial. Phelps says the monument would be 5 to 6 feet tall and made of marble or granite. It would bear a bronze plaque bearing the image of Shepard and have an inscription reading "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."

The monument would be erected in downtown Casper, Shepard's home town. Phelps has sent details of the monument to the city of Casper city council and there may be nothing the city can do to prevent it.


It can be the latest internet phenomenon.

Comments

[oysterverse.livejournal.com]

If it goes up, hopefully the good people of Caspar will have the grace and decency to vandalize it every single day.

This isn't entirely bad, you know. This kind of public vitrolic hatred invigorates gay and lesbian activist groups, gives them a very good target on which to focus media attention, and drives the moderates even farther away from the fundies. Even the ones who can never quiiiiite overcome their quiet distaste for those icky homosexuals don't want to be associated with a homophobic bastard who very publically wishes damnation on an innocent young man who was murdered. Of course, the whole thing remains a frightening monument both to the warped mind of a preacher who wouldn't know real divinity if it bit him on ass and to the dangerous and violent strains of intolerance that persist in the nation, but I'm just sayin' the backlash will probably do more good for gays and lesbians than the intent does them harm, as everybody with an ounce of sense or human compassion runs screaming from scary sickos who further blacken the name of Christianity.

laramie project

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

This is only sort of related, but if a production of "The Laramie Project" performs anywhere near you, go see it. It's the true story of a real group of actors (Tectonic Theatre) who went to Laramie, Wyoming shortly after the attack -- before Matthew even died -- to interview people of the town. After I think a year of working on the project, they made it into a show where they played themselves and the people they'd interviewed (with the permission of the interviewees -- the show was performed in Laramie before they took it anywhere else).

Contrary to my expectations it's not preachy, it's very sincere. It is a freaking amazing show. It was also made into a star-studded HBO miniseries -- I liked that too, though I don't know how I would have liked it if I hadn't already been bowled over the play. But anyway. We saw it at Ithaca College last year and I think it moved both of us to tears multiple times.

I bring it up because there is a very satisfying scene (portraying a true incident) showing how one of Matthew's closest friends, when she heard that Phelps was coming to Matt's *funeral* to protest, came up with a plan to overwhelm his hatred with a moving and truly beautiful counter-protest. Really amazing.

[suzu.livejournal.com]

And the sad thing is, he could do it, too, since there's already some sort of religious art already there - the Ten Commandments, I think. People are trying to get the city to donate the Ten Commandments to a private business who can then place it on their property, so there can then be a law/ordnance/what-have-you put into effect about religious things erected on city property. Don't know if they've succeeded or not.

Did you know this same creep and his followers picketed Shepard's funeral, too? Sick doesn't even come close to what they are.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Did you know this same creep and his followers picketed Shepard's funeral, too? Sick doesn't even come close to what they are.

Yeah, I had read that part too... it was actually what inspired me about the setting-on-fire bit.

[zalia.livejournal.com]

If it goes up, hopefully the good people of Caspar will have the grace and decency to vandalize it every single day.

I agree.

People like this guy scare me because they're so convinced they're doing the right thing. Sick, sick people.

We've got our own share of religious zealots and bigots in England too. A priest over here made gave an interview to a newspaper the other day saying that gay people should submit themselves to psychiatric councelling so they could be 'cured'.

Can we set him on fire too? Please.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't know, even that doesn't seem quite so bad. At least, in his twisted way, he's expressing concern for their welfare. Which is the only, *only* reason I can hold on to my patience when dealing with condescending missionary types. But this guy has nothing but bile.

[panicqueen.livejournal.com]

I found your journal through a comment on one of Askerian's posts, and when I saw this, I had to read it. It is so...appalling. If you ever make that society, I will join without hesitation. ^^