Health Promo 03 (Getty) | Advocate.com
||  News  ||
 
August 29, 2008

Westboro to Picket Tubbs Jones Funeral

The Westboro Baptist Church has made plans to picket the funeral of the late Ohio congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who died August 19 of a brain aneurysm.

An adamant gay rights ally and supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton's run for president, Tubbs Jones was the first black woman to represent a congressional district in Ohio when she was elected in 1998. She received a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign for her stances on LGBT issues. In her tenure, she voted against banning adoptions by gays in Washington, D.C., fought for increased funding for AIDS treatment and prevention, and supported stricter hate-crime laws. During the 2007 flap in Congress over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Tubbs Jones voted for the bill. She also voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage.

The Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas said in a press release that members will picket Tubbs Jones's because of her support for gay rights as a congresswoman. The group blamed Tubbs for letting gays "take over the country," and for "[persecuting] WBC members for preaching God's truth about sodomitical dangers America faces."

The Tubbs Jones funeral is slated for the Cleveland Convention Center on Saturday. (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Christopher
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 8:12 PM
    Hometown: Michigan

    Comment:

    I am soooo shocked and disgusted that a CHURCH would picket her funeral! It's her final resting moment and because she did what Christians are supposed to do, which is show compassion and love to others, they are persecuting her...even when she's dead! As a gay Christian myself, I find this utterly sickening. RIP Stephanie Tubbs Jones and may God continue to bless the Tubbs Jones family as they go through this time of loss. (And I pray that the Westboro Baptist Church internalize the notion of what it means to be "Christian" because their actions sure don't even come close to the mark,)


  • Name: Larissa Lynn Sneider
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 7:01 PM
    Hometown: Evanston, WY

    Comment:

    Westbobo's fundraising must be down so it is time for them to rally the countries bigots to donate to their hateful cause. I found, while I was in Ohio for my mother's funeral, that Stephanie Tubbs Jones was much loved by the whole state of Ohio. It will be a very large, well attended funeral. I hope none of the mourners do anything to hurt the Westboro nutcases. Why should any of the mourners, the good people, go to jail because of these insensitive clods.


  • Name: Dennis
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 10:07 AM
    Hometown: Nazareth

    Comment:

    I hope the freedom riders will be there. If not maybe the secret service can keep these nutjobs at a distance. But why would they have any good taste as they have shown that they have none. Those people are the same ones that pickert and scream their hatered at our fallen solders funerals. They are the kind of people that tell you unless you believe as they do you are going to hell. The cult is about Fred Philips and his hatered of everything.


  • Name: Laurie Green
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 5:31 PM
    Hometown: Nashville

    Comment:

    For them to picket this grieving family is reprehensible to me, however if they feel that is what they must do let them and let what happens as a result of their decision happen. Personally from a LGBT perspective, I think Phelps out to be our man of the year. A wonderful columnist wrote a piece telling Phelps as much as he hates us, surely he is shaking in the closet since no one hates that much who isn't hiding something. And regarding my comment about him being our man of the year, can you imagine how that would send his blood pressure soring? And it's true! Everytime he and his nazi family picket they show the hatred in their stance for what it is, and normal folks find themselves moving closer to us. Phelps is no more of a Christian than bin Laden is. In fact the only difference between him and bin Laden is that Phelps isn't as intelligent. Osama is an evil person, but is smart. Phelps is simply an idiot.


  • Name: Paul
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 5:28 PM
    Hometown: Woodtock

    Comment:

    Nah, let's get millions of LGBT to ATTEND his funeral, preferably sooner than later and I'd never say that about anybody else. Geez, they lost their appeal and should now be bankrupt, I think it's going to take silver bullets or something to stop these people, and fortunately we still live in a land of laws, so, so much for that. And it's not a congregation, it's a cult. Not even the Baptists want anything to do with these looney tunes. So how fringe does THAT have to be?


  • Name: Olive
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 5:03 PM
    Hometown: Cleveland

    Comment:

    I am sure they will not get a very warm reception in my hometown. She was my congresswoman and is truly missed. These slimy people better watch their respective backs. Steph worshipped in the inner-city. They will f-them up, Westboro that is, without skipping a beat... down that is.


  • Name: Wayne
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 4:53 PM
    Hometown: Cherry Hill

    Comment:

    I find it hard to think this family think that they are doing God's work. The God that I know preaches, love and not hate. and by the way Mr. Preacher. I am gay and love the Lord. I did not ask to be gay, but I have been all my life. If Your family ever showed up at one of my love one's funeral. You know who would get burried don't You? Or can you think that deep. God help you when You meet God, think that He will say,well done My Son instead You will find Your way to Hell. You have to be a Mental case and it runs in the family. May God Heal You before you break any more hearts that You have broken already. (A gay man who found His God.)


  • Name: Brian Cross
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 4:52 PM
    Hometown: Berkeley, CA USA

    Comment:

    These Phleps folks are despicable, but... The general population, mostly good people see their antics, and being discusted by Phelps et.al., they become supporters of LGBT people!!! Fred Phelps has caused more people to become allies of LGBT folks than anyone else I can think of. Fred's antics make my blood boil, especially since I am a Born Again Christian Gay Man. Then I remember that God does indeed work in mysterious ways, God's wonders to perform!


  • Name: Bartholemieux Andrews
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 2:50 PM
    Hometown: Salem, MA

    Comment:

    The church consists of Phelps' family and some followers, maybe 120 people. Religion aside, picketing a funeral for ANY reason smacks of being tacky! It is the time for loved ones to grieve. Say, since this picketing seems to be acceptable to them, let's get millions of GLBTs to picket Rev Phelps' funeral when HE dies.


  • Name: Sandra Schatz
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 2:36 PM
    Hometown: South Dakota

    Comment:

    Does anyone know how big the WBC is? I heard one time it amounted to only their crazy leader and his family. If so, it should be renamed the Phelps family as to indicate it is only one family that is causing these ruckuses. And it makes since that it is only one family in that we know mental illness runs in families.


  • Name: Chris Sullivan
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 12:25 PM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    You can blame the media for the attention these poor, pathetic adult children receive. They thrive off of the media attention, which only encourages them. In all honesty, they probably do more good for thr GLBT community, because it shows the world how truly sick fundamentalist religious people are. I also agree, I wouldn't wish harm on anyone, but I wouldn't lose sleep over these people not being around anymore either.


  • Name: Robert
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 11:58 AM
    Hometown: New Jersey

    Comment:

    Somehow I just can't picture Jesus holding a sign saying "God Hates Fags" at somebody's funeral. These bigoted haters are the furthest thing from being Christian.


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 11:39 AM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    I am probably one of the most non-violent people you could meet; but it wouldn't break my heart if someone would just shoot that asshole and have done with it.


  • Name: ALW
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 10:32 AM
    Hometown: Ohio

    Comment:

    Absolutely ridiculous! I am sick an tired of radical right (or wrong for that matter) Christians making those who are radical (TRUE) Christ-followers who love and extend free will to all, look bad! Leave the poor women and family alone. She's dead! They are mourning! Go pray or something, but get off the picketing.


  • Name: Mario
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 9:46 AM
    Hometown: Pinehurst, NC

    Comment:

    "Sodomitical"? Never heard that word before. Has a nice ring to it.


Back to top

Submit a comment for this story:

*Type your comment here (Required, 1000 characters max.):

*Name (Required): 

*Hometown (Required): 

*E-mail address: (Required, but will not be displayed)

Is this comment for publication? 
Yes   No

Daytime phone number: (Required for print publication only and will not be displayed)

Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

  

If you would like to submit a comment for posting, please fill out the form above. 

All comments submitted via this form are subject to posting or publication. (To send a private letter to an Advocate editor or writer, please use the e-mail button at the top of the page, or use snail mail.) If you would like your comment considered for publication in The Advocate magazine, please include your full name, your city of residence, and a phone number where you can be reached during business hours so that we can confirm your identity. Your e-mail address and telephone number are strictly confidential and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to contact you about your comment.

See the Contact page for sending comments for reasons other than responding to Advocate editorial and news stories.

Please note that comments sent by fax or snail mail are unlikely to be posted, although they will be considered for publication along with all letters received via e-mail or via this Web page. Comments that chiefly concern Advocate.com content will be considered for posting only on the Web site. The Advocate reserves the right to edit submitted comments for grammar, spelling, obscenities, or libel; we will, however, do our best to preserve the original comment's style and intent. Comments considered for publication in The Advocate magazine may also be edited for length.

More Exclusives
  • Letter From the Editor
    We’d like to unveil a big change: after nearly four decades as a biweekly magazine, we’re going monthly.
  • Parental Control
    San Francisco State researcher Caitlin Ryan explains the importance behind a study linking suicide and drug use among gay children to parental rejection.
  • Austerity Chic
    How novelist and performance artist Mike Albo gets by in lean times.
  • Hoping to "Wu" Michelle
    Dressing Michelle Obama in November was a game changer for designer Jason Wu. Now he has his sights set on the future first lady’s most high-profile event: Inauguration Day.
  • Boi From Troy Signs Off
    After five years of raising eyebrows on the Web, Boi From Troy blogger -- and gay Republican -- Scott Schmidt is signing off.
  • A Desert Journey
    The Mii Amo spa in Sedona, Ariz., is famous for packages designed to lead people through a spiritual as well as physical transformation. One writer relinquishes herself to the journey and recounts her days in one of the world's most beautiful destination resorts.
  • A List: Chris Evans
    Chris Evans is a serious actor but that doesn’t mean he wants you to stop objectifying him.
  • Great American Couple
    In an exclusive excerpt from his new book, Hollywood Bohemians: Transgressive Sexuality and the Selling of the Movieland Dream, Brett L. Abrams explores the relationship between Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, who led homosexual lives right under everyone's nose.
  • Mormons Gone Wild
    After one man undresses missionaries for his calendar, LDS Church–owned Brigham Young University strips him of his degree.
  • Constructive Impatience
    Stung by the Warren decision, GLAAD's former executive director Joan Garry offers the Obama transition team some sage advice.
  • Boxer Goes Trans for Eli Stone
    Often perceived as male by confused casting agents, boxer-body builder turned actor Dallas Malloy felt a deep connection to the trans minister she plays on Eli Stone.
  • Mamma Mia! Rises Again
    Meryl Streep and company managed to top Harry Potter and Titanic at the U.K. box office, and now Mamma Mia! is poised to break similar records on DVD. Director Phyllida Lloyd talked to Advocate.com about bringing one of the biggest musicals of all time to the big screen.
  • The Other White Meat
    As one of the subjects of the documentary about the drag pageant circuit, Pageant, opening in select theaters, and one of the contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race, premiering next month on Logo, Victoria "Porkchop" Parker may not look or act like your typical female impersonator, but make no mistake, she is one of the best.
  • The Religious Defense
    In an excerpt from her new book, Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians, author Candace Chellew-Hodge incorporates the wisdom of Xena: Warrior Princess to illustrate her theories as to how gay and lesbian people of faith can protect themselves from those who attack their views.
  • Photo Finish
    Did Prop. 8 backlash cause art censorship -- or its reversal -- at Brigham Young University? Could be, as BYU photography student J. Michael Wiltbank found when his contribution to a two-week-long art exhibition -- eight pairs of benign portraits, each depicting an LGBT-identified BYU student alongside a supportive friend -- had been removed.
  • The Divine Miss M.
    Since the death of performer Wayland Flowers in 1988, his over-the-top puppet creation Madame has been seen only sporadically. But with the launch of her new casino tour, Madame is back.
  • Whither NLGJA?
    The leading professional organization for LGBT journalists is facing a crisis that threatens its very survival. In a changing media landscape and a tough economy, how does a small nonprofit live up to its mission and retain members?
  • The Road to Equality
    Barbara Boxer, the U.S. senator from California, understands why her gay constituents are furious over Rick Warren's role in the inauguration -- it feels like Proposition 8 redux.