Hundreds Picket Westboro Baptist Church  | News | Advocate.com

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April 04, 2008
Hundreds Picket Westboro Baptist Church

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., are known for picketing the funerals of U.S. troops, but around 400 people targeted the church in a Sunday protest of their own.

Organizers said the event drew marchers touting messages of compassion and tolerance for gays and lesbians. Westboro Baptist is known for its antigay message and picketing of services for troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, whom they say died because of America's tolerance of homosexuality.

Gay, straight, bisexual, and transgender demonstrators hugged, danced, and cheered as passers-by honked their support for the protest at Gage Park in Topeka.

Organizer Chris Love of Leavenworth, Kan., said he got the idea for his "Million Fag March," as he dubbed it, after Westboro members picketed actor Heath Ledger's memorial service because of his role in Brokeback Mountain.

''It's about time we did something like this again,'' said Hope Prescott of Topeka, who waved a rainbow banner. ''We feel somewhat responsible for ... Westboro Baptist Church. It's about time we show our support for gays rights and all rights.'' (AP, with additional reporting by The Advocate)

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