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)
