Phelps Klan Greeted With Gay Kiss In Albuquerque
by The Associated Press
Posted: April 25, 2005 12:01 am ET

(Albuquerque, New Mexico) Stunned that protesters were flashing hateful anti-gay messages to traffic along a busy street on the weekend, Chris Lucas had to pull over to join a counter-protest. Then, just as spontaneously, Lucas found a way to stun the protesters. The 31-year-old massage therapist and a man he just met locked in a passionate kiss just feet from the protesters. ‘‘I know the protesters were shouting things at me, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying,’’ said Lucas, who is gay. ‘‘I had my eyes closed. It was actually kind of liberating to do this.’’

The kiss was one of several creative responses to a demonstration by 20 members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. The group travels the country to rally against homosexuality.

‘‘These young adults need to know there is a hell and there is a judgment day on which they will be judged for their sins,’’ said church member Deborah Hockenbarger, 51. ‘‘We are trying to warn them about their filthiness. It is not OK to be a fag. God almighty says so.’’

Hockenbarger waved a sign that read: ‘‘Fags are worthy of death.’’ Other church members took shots at Catholicism with signs that read: ‘‘Pope in Hell’’ and ‘‘Your pastor is a whore.’’ They view the church as a pro-gay institution.

About 40 gay rights supporters reacted by waving white cloths they called angel wings, dressing up their dogs with slogan T-shirts, chanting or simply quietly turning their backs on the protesters.

‘‘I don’t believe God hates anybody,’’ said Jeanne Pahls, a peace activist from Albuquerque. ‘‘I believe in civil rights. People who are gay, lesbian or transsexual ought to be given the same respect as anybody else.’

’Poet Joanna Cattonar, 63, waved a large placard with the words: ‘‘Fear + Ignorance = Bigotry.’’ She said she got her orders to attend the rally from Vice President Dick Cheney. ‘‘When the vice president was speaking at the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auchwitz, he said that hatred and intolerance must be opposed before they turn into action,’’ she said. Cattonar said some activists suggested ignoring the anti-gay group. ‘‘But what happened when people ignored the situation in the 1930s? It led Hitler to power,’’ she said.

Across the street, the anti-gay protesters professed the same sense of mission and purpose. Jacob Phelps, the 21-year-old grandson of Westboro’s pastor Fred Phelps, said his church teaches that God hates homosexuals.‘ ‘We wouldn’t be here doing this protest if we hated people absolutely,’’ he said. ‘‘What we’re expressing is not our hate, it’s God’s hate. That’s a pure hate. It’s the only kind of hate allowed. I feel this is my obligation to God.’’

The Westboro Church began its anti-gay demonstrations about 15 years ago. Targets include churches — even conservative ones — that the congregation deems too soft on homosexuality and labels ‘‘fag-enablers.’’

Jessica Bachicha, 35, repeated the words of Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez who said the Westboro protesters weren’t welcomed in this city. ‘‘We don’t need them coming to pollute our city or state with hate,’’ said Bachicha, a lesbian. Although she turned her back to them, her partner was provoked to tears by the protester’s jeers.

Sophia Cortez, 34, said: ‘‘After everything we’ve been through, why do we have to put up with this?’’

Police said the demonstrations were peaceful and no arrests were made. The Westboro group planned a series of protests in Santa Fe through Monday.

©Associated Press 2005