Fred Phelps’ clan is coming to Vermont to protest the first day of legal same-sex marriages in the state!  The “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church is planning to picket the Vermont State House and City Clerk’s office in an attempt to spread their hate on this joyous day.

The Westboro Baptist Church wrote on their website, “God Hates Fags, and God Hates VT! Vermont is known for one thing primarily in this day and age (no not the beautiful scenery, not the quiet quaint towns, not the Maple Syrup). They are the most “gay” friendly spot in DOOMED america.”  Fred Phelps and his group travel all across the United States spreading their message of hate and lies about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

However, when the Phelps group comes to Vermont to protest LGBT equality, they will actually be raising money to promote LGBT equality!.Driving Equality is hosting a Phelps-A-Thon to counter Fred Phelps’ hateful message.  For every minute the “God Hates Fags” clan is protesting, we will be collecting donations for the Driving Equality project, a trek around the country, to every state, in an effort to collect personal stories form LGBT folks and our allies.  Telling our personal stories is the way we will win our fight for equality. (Pledge Online)

The Phelps clan will be protesting at the capital in Montpelier from 7:55 AM to 9:00 AM on September 1st.  You can pledge any amount you chose, whether it be $0.25, $0.50, $1, or even $2 for every minute they protest. You can even pledge a flat rate for the entire time the group will be demonstrating. (Pledge Online)

The point of this Phelps-A-Thon is two fold.  First, we are using Phelps’ own hateful message to raise funds for a good cause, one that will help counter the lies that are being spread about LGBT people.  Second, we will be displaying a sign in front of the “God Hates Fags” clan tallying how much money they have helped raise for LGBT equality.  This will certainly upset the group and it is possible that they will leave early to stop our fundraising.

Driving Equality and the Westboro Baptist Church are similar in their missions.  WBC travels the country to promote their message of hatred of gays and lesbians.  Driving Equality also travels the country, but our message is one of love and acceptance for gays and lesbians.  We will continue to combat the hatred and lies beings spread by WBC.

During the 107 day trek across the United States, I stopped in Topeka, Kansas to visit the Westboro Baptist Church and sit down for a conversation with Shirley Phelps, the daughter or Fred Phelps and new leader of the group.

On the “God Hates Fags” website, Phelps has this to say about the upcoming protest at the school:

“God Hates Fags, and God Hates VT! 115 State St Vermont is known for one thing primarily in this day and age (no not the beautiful scenery, not the quiet quaint towns, not the Maple Syrup). They are the most “gay” friendly spot in DOOMED america. That is a great shame on this state and their State House. We must preach to them, and advise them of their impending doom. Psalm 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Your turned that state over to the fags, now your children come home in body bags! Next you will eat those children with your false gods and your filthy manner of life. That is correct, it will not be hard for you to be immediately besieged, and when that happens Vermont will eat their babies! AMEN!

Quit Enabling Sin, $ lovers! 39 Main Street Turning the state of Vermont over to the fags may seem like a sound financial decision what with the poor economy and all, but YOU know what the Lord God said about money, the love of money and the hurtfulness of covetousness – correct? Oh sure you do! So, what do you think will come of all of that? I will re-tell you what King Solomon told you before on this subject, to wit: Ecclesiastes 5:9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. Now if that does not describe these sick, disgusting fags and their enablers – what does? Meantime, God mocks DOOMED america and detestible Vermont for catering to the flesh of their citizens and forgetting God in all their ways and works. The Beast Obama will not hesitate to bankrupt each state in this union. When you see this, DOOMED vermont, you better start stock piling those babies – for those will be your meals. Praise God for HIS Judgments. AMEN!”

We can turn these hateful words into positive change.

Driving Equality is a trek across America to raise awareness of the various forms of discrimination faced by LGBT people in each state of the nation. Highlighting the differences in rights, laws, and amendments between the states will shed light on the current social standing of queer individuals today. I hope to create a dialogue about the disparities across the nation, and what can be done to end discrimination for all.

During the summer of 2009, I spent 100-days on the road, driving over 20,000-miles, through all lower 48 states, to collect personal stories in an effort to advance LGBT equality. Check out www.DrivingEquality.com to find out more about the project.

Explore the website! Find out more about me, take a look at my route, learn about the trip’s net-zero environmental impact, and consider donating or becoming a sponsor. Read the blog posts, see the photos, and watch the videos from across the country.