The Vermont Legislature legalized same sex marriage in April with an historic override of Governor James Douglas' veto. The new law takes effect on September 1st and this has attracted the attention of the Fred Phelps cult. It also presents a quandary for marriage supporters and, well, sane residents of the state…do you counter protest?The Westboro Baptist Church plans to start their protest at Montpelier High School, move to the Statehouse and then head to Burlington to protest at several synagogues. From the WBC press release:

WBC WILL PICKET THE FAG-INFESTED, PERVERT- RUN MONTPELIER HIGH SCHOOL We will give your children an opportunity to see what good looks like, to see the face of what they were entitled to have from every adult that has ever touched their lives!

You hate God’s standards and He hates you! You did not obey; you corrupted them from the womb, so God gave you violent, freakish, worthless, brute-beast children! You hate your children, and next, YOU WILL EAT YOUR CHILDREN. YES! Your antichrist, seated in the White House as the result of your sins, will pass a decree saying you MUST eat your children! Time for some Bitch Burgers, Obama Fries & Simple Slut Shakes! Read the words: Deut. 28:53-58; Lev. 26:28-29

This has caused a lot of debate about how to respond to the hate ranging from ignoring them because engagement is what they want to full out counter protests. From the Burlington Free Press:

The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force has no plans to challenge the Westboro group’s protests, co-founder Beth Robinson said. “Sept. 1 is an exciting day,” she said. “I don’t see spending energy sort of speaking out or taking action against someone else. We’ll tell our stories and let them tell theirs and let the chips fall where they may.”

At Montpelier High School, principal Evans plans to meet this week with police and city officials to figure out how to keep the students separate from the protesters.

Phelps-Roper said her group is targeting Montpelier High School as a representative of any school in the state. “That’s where children are taught every day to rebel against God,” she said. “They’re taught it’s OK to be gay.” She said the protests are not intended to change anyone’s mind, only to spread the message that the nation is doomed. “There is no fixing this,” she said.

Evans said he will talk to the students at orientation this week and advise them to avoid interacting with the protesters on the sidewalk in front of the school, but he can’t be sure whether they’ll heed that advice. “We’ve got a group of kids who are their parents’ children — it’s an activist group of kids,” he said.

Local churches and other community organizations are planning an event tonight billed as “Community Meeting of Solidarity in the Face of Hate Speech,” at the First Congregational Church in Burlington.

But my favorite response has come from the Montpelier High School Students themselves. They are organizing an effort on Facebook to raise money for GLAD for every minute the WBC is at the high school. It's called “Westboro Baptist Church Hates, Montpelier High School Donates”. As of this morning they have more than 2000 members. Give em some love on Facebook!

NOTE FROM PAM:  I find this announcement of the “church” action by WBC to be quite, um, tasty…

Vermont State House – 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!