Westboro Baptist Church Faces Counter Protest At Maryland Courthouse Ahead Of Gay Weddings

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Huffington Post

Westboro Baptist Church Faces Counter Protest At Maryland Courthouse Ahead Of Gay Weddings
Posted: 01/02/2013 1:44 pm EST | Updated: 01/02/2013 1:48 pm EST

Same-sex Maryland couples planning to tie the knot were greeted by anti-gay marriage protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church outside the Annapolis courthouse on Jan. 2.

The Baltimore Sun reports that four members of the ultra-conservative Kansas church, which has previously picketed the funerals of Apple CEO Steve Jobs and slain gay student Matthew Shepard, made Annapolis' Anne Arundel Circuit Court their first Maryland stop as they object to the state's new gay marriage law, which took effect at midnight on New Year's Day.

Patch reports that Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of church founder Fred Phelps, sang songs and shouted that God sent Newtown shooter Adam Lanza from about 8-8:45 a.m.

Fortunately for the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, more than 250 demonstrators participated in a counter-protest staged by St. Anne's Episcopal Church, which is located not far from the courthouse.


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/westboro-baptist-church-maryland-gay-marriage-protest-annapolis_n_2397272.html

[ReRe]

1. That Westboro Baptist Church bunch....

...must be funded by the Koch Brothers. Where DO they get all their money to fly around all over the US to do their dirty deeds? Guess they got a mouthful ( ) from those 250 from St Anne's Episcopal Church folks, huh?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. They sue people, and act as their own lawyers

(several of them are lawyers). So they get any awards, plus lawyers' fees, for any action they win (and lawyer's fees if someone sues them and they win).

WBC's travel expenses exceed $200,000 annually.[198] According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Westboro is funded entirely by its congregation and accepts no outside donations.[199] The church has received money from lawsuits and legal fees.[199][200] For example, they sued the city of Topeka several times in the 1990s.[199] WBC received $16,500, and is pursuing another $100,000, in legal fees for a case won in court.[200]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

[AnnieBW]

2. Fear the turtle, bitch!

Hey, Shirley! Don't mess with Marylanders!

[SunSeeker]

3. I hope the petition to have them declared a hate group succeeds.

White House Petition To Recognize Westboro Baptist Church As Hate Group Becomes Most Popular Ever

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/white-house-petition-westboro_n_2365799.html

[shenmue]

4. I am convinced that Fred Phelps is a triffid

He can't be a person.

[davidpdx]

5. 250 to 4

LOL that's pretty overwhelming odds. Maybe they should put their tails between their legs and go home before they pee their pants.

[LibertyLover]

7. When I read that Westboro planned to protest in Annapolis yesterday

I almost called in sick so that I could pop over to the courthouse (I live in the Annapolis area) and help counter-protest. Unfortunately something came up at work and I wasn't able to, but I am so proud of St. Anne's. Westboro and the Phelps clan are scummy pieces of excrement expelled from the hindquarters of a diseased bovine, with apologies to diseased bovines everywhere.

[yellowcanine]

8. How does the Phelps Family make a living anyway?

Let's be honest, it is not the Westboro Baptist Church, it is the Phelps Family Enterprise. Hard to believe that there isn't some funny business going on with charitable contributions. They seem to be on the road all the time protesting. When do they have time to work for a living?

[Myrina]

9. Shilling 'donations' from the nutjobs they pander to IS their job ...

... drum up that hate & fear, feed and nurture it, then tell those followers you need their donations to 'fight teh gay agenda' and voila! An instant cult of fear and hate, with moneymaking potential!