I'm considering donating money to Phelps and "Godhatesfags.com"

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

After watching Nightline last night feature Phelps and GodHatesFags, I decided protesting this organization does not help me as a gay person. Promoting them does.

Why? You might ask.... because they are the face of exremism and extremism repels people. Between Phelps and the inflammatory statements of people such as Falwell and Robertson, I really think giving these people MORE exposure not less would be far more effective than reacting to them.

In fact, I am thinking that maybe we need some really awful spinoffs of the Phelps family everywhere....a good way to push people back from their biases is to have them view their bias in the extreme.

IF anyone saw Nightline last night, that is exactly what happened.

[Hippo_Tron]

1. Donate on the condition that they support Rick Santorum's senate bid

I sure-fire way to defeat man-on-dog once and for all.

[mslux]

2. Remember the donations

from such groups as "Communists for Bush?" You could have fun printing interesting names on checks you send to Phelps. See if he cashes them.

[GumboYaYa]

3. I am LMAO.

That's what I keep telling people. Pop some corn, grab a beer, do whatever relaxes you and sit back and watch the show. The Repubs hid their wackos for years by being the minority party that was always casting stones. Now that they have some power, we will be treated to a freak show like never before seen.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. I really think we need to propel their greatest hits to the frontlines

Phelps was the best thing that ever could have happened to Wyoming...nothing like a good soul search to make you choose sides.

[GumboYaYa]

8. I couldn't agree more.

All the accomodationists are full of shit.

Fundamentalist Christian needs to be made into a dirty word just like the right did with environmetalist or feminist. You will never convince the hard-core fundamentalists that they should be Democrats.
The only option is to marginalize these people by holding a bright light up to what they do and say. Most Americans would be appalled by what really goes on in some of these fundamentalist churches. It's time to show the moderate Republicans and Democrats who they have alligned themselves with.

[Quetzal]

5. Overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in Court

And the anti-gay nutjobs will come out of the woodwork.

[smurfygirl]

6. holy jesus. Did you see this?

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/sweden_tsunami_monument.html
WBC has proposed a monument in memorial to the thousands of Swedes who perished ignominiously in Asia under the wrath of an outraged God. Below is a suggested model. Pink salmon granite, 8'x6'x2', the elongated oval at the top carved with two tsunami waves bearing down on two stick-figures simulating anal copulation, the inscription at bottom as follows:

God Sent the Tsunamis that Destroyed
Thousands of Wicked Swedes in Asia
December, 2004
GOD HATES SWEDEN
Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my
soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Jeremiah 9

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Yes and I think this should be the face of fundamentalism

since this is really at the heart of their political participation. Why continue to let them not own the hatred they sew or call them to the mat to reject it outright and modify their behavior and rhetoric lest they be mistaken for Phelps...heck...all conservatives identify all liberals with PETA...no?

[Kingshakabobo]

13. I'm gay AND of Swedish descent. I'm doomed I tell ya! n/t

[skypilot]

9. That "Nightline" segment really bothered me.

The townspeople treated that young man like shit and then when Phelps and his bunch of nutbags showed up the townspeople had someone even uglier than themselves that they could point at as being the evil ones. It seems that when Phelps left town things went pretty much back to the way they were for that poor kid.

[Solly Mack]

10. I've seen these people in action firsthand

It was a Christening that was held in Topeka.
As we reached the church you could see the protesters with their "god hate fags" signs. Chanting and waving their banners of hate and bile.


I asked my friend (her daughter's christening) "why this church?". I was told the pastors son was gay.

I asked why didn't they stop it. She said because when people see how horrid they are, they are more disgusted by Phelps and his actions, and someone being gay doesn't matter as much to the congregation. They circle to protect the flock in other words.

Seems the Pastor thought it best for Phelps and his group to show their true natures for all to see. (I asked him too)

So while some of them weren't happy with homosexuality, they were more outraged by Phelps and the attacks on a much loved Pastor and his family.

So there's definitely a "method to the madness" of bringing them front and center for the world to see.

[SmokingJacket]

11. I disagree.

I think the fact that Phelps is getting all this attention is a DELIBERATE move by the Bushies. Why?

Because he makes other bigots look totally warm and fuzzy in comparison!!

I think the rightwing wants to draw a distinction between garden variety homophobia (them) and crazy extremists like Phelps.

Cripes, next to Phelps, Pat Robertson is... a liberal! He's not protesting funerals. He's perfectly sane and reasonable. So, he doesn't like gays. It's not like he's frothing at the mouth about it! See how that works??

Don't protest Phelps, but don't give him money either. IGNORE HIM. He's a distraction -- a freaking circus sideshow. WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING ON NIGHTLINE????

Doesn't it seem weird that he's been getting so much attention lately? The guy's been around forever. But he used be ignored -- just like we ignore all whackjobs.

Now people are taking him seriously. This scares me.

[AP]

12. I don't know if I'd give them money. Maybe I'd help them spend the

money they have.

Why don't you call him and ask if you can help schedule and event in SF or LA, and then offer to help with the media?

[spanone]

14. I agree that we cannot over-expose these nazis enough.

[Craig3410]

15. http://www.godhateshomophobes.com/ (nt)