Show Us Your Signs
On Tuesday, September 1, gay marriage will become legal in Vermont.
To celebrate this historic occasion, infamous activist Fred Phelps and
members of his Westboro Baptist Church are planning to travel to the
Green Mountain State to picket the Statehouse in Montpelier.
According to the schedule posted on their website, they're also planning to picket the Montpelier Clerk/Treasurer's office. And while they're here, they're going to protest Vermont's Jewish community, as well. They're planning stops at the UVM Hillel office in Burlington, Chabad of Vermont, and the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue and school.
GLBT activists have already begun spreading the word on Facebook, and are organizing online. Some community leaders are wary of drawing attention to Phelps, but I suspect that there will be no shortage of Vermonters who step up to counter the WBC message.
You can bet that, if they show up, members of the WBC will bring their iconic "God Hates Fags" signs with them. If you're planning a counter protest, or if you just want to comment on Phelps' brand of outrageous rhetoric, we'd like you to send us a photo of your sign. Put it on posterboard, scribble it on notebook paper, make an iPhone app, whatever — the more creative and visually arresting, the better.
We'll create a photo slideshow of the signs we receive on our website, and we'll print a few of them in the September 2 issue of Seven Days. Email them to me at cathy (at) sevendaysvt.com.
I am disgusted by these people and perplexed by their bizarre, selective interpretations of the Old Testament. I regularly give out all of their contact info to deposed Nigerian royalty.
I really hope nobody shows up to counter-protest tomorrow. The worst blow a community can deliver to these people is to completely ignore them. Fred Phelps is a rage addict and has passed this trait on to his family (except for his estranged adult children who managed to escape). They get their kicks from confrontation and attention. I hope Vermont doesn't give them what they want.
Posted by: Molly | August 31, 2009 at 02:08 PM
BTW, we've received 1 sign so far. It says, "Pro-gay, Anti-marriage."
Heh.
Posted by: Cathy Resmer | August 31, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Oh, I was actually going to submit one (of course, because I'm bestest most awesome 7D reader) but my camera batteries died. I'll have to go stick 'em in the recharger.
Posted by: Molly | August 31, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Get it to me by early tomorrow, please.
That goes for the rest of you, too!
Posted by: Cathy Resmer | August 31, 2009 at 04:54 PM