San Franciscans Stick it To Fred Phelps

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

Read Full Bio

Neal Broverman

February 01 2010 8:40 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

Nbroverman

We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.

When Fred Phelps and his Westboro Church clan rolled into San Francisco last week to protest a production of Fiddler on the Roof (the Phelps family hates Jews almost as much as gays), a hilarious counterprotest took place when the antigay group made an earlier stop at Twitter's headquarters.

In response to Phelps and company picketing with signs of "God Hates Fags" and "Fags Are Beasts" on Thursday, a group of absurdist pranksters showed up and blasted Lady Gaga and showed off some of their own signs. Their nonsensical messages -- which included "I Was Promised Donuts," "Build Prisons on the Moon," "God Hates Kittens," and a few containing Rick Astley lyrics -- took the wind out of the Phelpses, who eventually canceled their Fiddler protest.

Read the full story here.