Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Fred Phelps to Protest Gerry Studds Funeral

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Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church (GodHatesFags.com), will be protesting the funeral service of the first openly gay Congressman, Jerry Studds, at the JFK Library & Museum at 12:15PM on Saturday December 2nd.

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Comments

  1. Get people to pledge a certain amount for each member of the Westboro church that shows up to protest.  Collect the pledges and donate the proceeds to MassEquality or AIDS research.

    • We tracked the pledges on a BIG sign I made with changeable #s, which read: “For every minute hate stands here, $._ goes to a gay rights group.”

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      Do the pledges per minute, so $0.10 per minute is $6 per hour, $0.20 per minute is $13/hr, etc etc…

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      I collected the info of the people pledging and then told them after the fact how many hours (in our case, there were two events of about 1 hour each) so they could go make their donation. Or you can collect ahead of time (I did that too and then sent the $ to MassEq).

  2. I was there when you guys did F.O.F. at the Tremont Church last October, I say do it the same way. At most he’ll have 7 or 8 knuckle-heads there, you guys can easily out number them. I know there are always those who will say “Ignore them, don’t give them the satisfaction, etc.” but the fact is if they show up, they will get attention, so I think it would be best if QueerToday shows up ten fold, so at least you will get attention too.

    • Typically I would agree Aaron, except this is a funeral and I don’t want to risk disrupting a member of our communtiy’s funeral services….  Fundraiser is a good idea – donating to BAGLY or AIDS Action coudl be good…  thanks for the ideas keep them coming!

      • another thing to consider is what would Congressman Studds want you to do? I have no idea, I don’t really know much about him. Maybe try to contact his family?

    • Our creating an even larger counter-demonstration would help call attention to them. I’m by no means saying we should ignore them, but on the contrary suggest that we quietly line the streets – perhaps in a candle-light vigil – while patiently seeking admission to pay respects. Let the turnout be FOR Gerry Studds and the friends and family grieving his loss, rather than AGAINST the contemptible hate-monger.

    • I’m with milo2000 here.  I wouldn’t promote a counter-protest at a funeral.  But I’m happy to pledge money to groups Phelps would hate–see my other comment on this thread.

  3. If you know anyone in the media, be sure they know about this. This action speaks for itself. Let’s make sure as many people as possible know what these guys are doing. I suspect that a majority of anti-gay rights organizations will denounce this.

    • All sorts of homophobes with microphones spat on his grave already – I can’t believe how quick people were to literally spit on a dead man. It was absolutely repugnant, no matter what they thought of him.

  4. As a peace activist, I would recommend finding the biggest toughest gay man out there and having him stomp the shit out of this knucklehead.

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    It would refute the “pansy” theory. It might also redefine the term “Gay Bashing”. 

    • First of all a couple of pointers-for Phelps

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      1. JFK Library IS Federal Property-and probably subject to some tougher statute of law enforcement, in terms of physical protection.

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      2. It is on state property-the University of Massachusetts Boston, owns that entire thing (UMB/JFK Library etc.)

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      3. This is a UNITED STATES Congressman. No matter what Mr. Studds did-he is eminently sorry for doing it-he was when he was alive, and I am sure he has made his peace with God. The God I know loves EVERYONE. For Mr. Phelps to do this is reprehensible and unbecoming of a human being.

  6. It’s how you know you did something worthwhile.

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    I thought Studds should have resigned when he was censured, but he absolutely does not deserve this.

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    I will make MY donation to the Log Cabins!

  7. I would like to suggest BAGLY as the recipient of pledges.  The organization has changed my life, and I have seen it change thousands of others.

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    They offer support and programs for LGBT youth, provide health referrals, do anonymous HIV/AIDS testing, and much much more.  Donations can be made on their web site at bagly.org.

  8. The very best response is to call your state representatives and senators and urge them to vote against the homophobe initiative during next week’s reconvening of the Constitutional Convention – and hopefully work to deny the General Court quorum if that is at all possible.

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    We should also lobby the Senate President and House Speaker to help ensure that this thing is gaveled close before the homophobe initiative is taken off the table.

  9. If we decide to protest. Fred Phelps is an anathema to everything I stand for – he’s vile and a gimmick, but I’d love to show my support for Gerry Studds and refute the Fhelps asshats.

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    I don’t know how much I can afford to donate, money’s especially tight now, but maybe I’ll be able to cough up something. I’ll know in December =p

  10. The sheer vileness of that church and their protesters has probably helped “advance the gay agenda” more than they are capable of understanding.  Their slogans are so crude that it reveals their message to all and sundry to be bigotry, pure and undiluted.

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    It seems to me that the images and videos of their protests over the last few years are like the old footage of Bull Connor and the attack dogs– they can so horrify the moderate middle as to effect a sea change in the society’s attitude.

  11. There are many different ways to deal with the Phelps clan. One of my favorite has been the Phelps-A-Thon. This has been used by a lot of towns across the country. People usually make pledges before hand on how long the Phelps clan will stay at the protest. The money is donated to some good gay friendly cause.

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    You then keep a tally that is visible to the Phelps clan that shows how much money they have raised so far to protect gay youth in schools or whatever cause you are raising money for.
    The longer they stay at the protest, the more money they raise for the gay organization. Make the display visible to the Phelps people so they can see how they are directly responsible for raising hundreds of dollars towards a good gay cause. It pisses them off, makes us feel better, and could possibly get them to leave sooner (but I doubt that).

  12. I just went to his website for the first time, I was aware of him but hadn’t been. All I can say is, count me the f*ck in. I can’t say just yet what or how I’ll donate, but I’ll manage something. I’ll also be up for whatever the counter-protest/vigil is.

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    “Thank God for IED’s”? Go to hell, sir.

    • I was aware of him but hadn’t been exposed to whateverthefuck you call the pics and lit on that site…

  13. Not in my state.  I’m in, $10 per picketer.  (I’m afraid I can only go up to a max of $100 — I sure wish I could afford more.)

  14. I’m horrified that someone would protest a funeral. I mean, what is he protesting? Does he think gay people don’t deserve funerals? I suppose he’s trying to draw attention to himself and this sickening cause by doing something so outrageously nasty and disrespectful. Worst of all, he’s using God’s name to defend his vile actions. I think this must be the real meaning of “taking the Lord’s name in vain.”

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    I can only afford to donate a very small amount. But I feel compelled to do something out of respect for Gerry Studd’s grieving family, including his spouse. They should not be subjected to such rude, disrespectful behavior at such a difficult time. And it seems there’s nothing we can do about it, except hope the police arrest these nasty people and prevent them from disturbing the funeral. So if a small donation is the only way I can express my sympathy, I’d like to make one.

  15. (posted a similar message at queertoday.com)

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    I like sco’s idea a lot! I pledge to donate $5 per Westboro protester (more would be nice, but I’m a grad student taking out loans). I have a few organizations in mind that Phelps is particularly likely to hate. I’ll most likely give the money to FIERCE, a community organization of LGBT youth of color in NYC doing amazing work.  They’re at http://www.fiercenyc….  Or I might give to my old employer, Cambridge Cares About AIDS, which works with transwomen, IV drug users, women getting out of prison, homeless youth, and many other underserved populations.  http://www.ccaa.org

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    So what’ll it be, Fred? You wanna have your protest and raise that money?

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    Oh, and I’ll donate $18 to one of those groups even if they don’t show up, just because I don’t like the Phelpsians making the threat.  (Why $18, you ask?  It’s a Jewish thing.  I can explain more inf you’re interested.)

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    For those discussing counter-protests, I’d really urge you not to this time around.  That’s very much part of Phelp’ strategy.  And with the likely police presence at this, you probably won’t be any where near Phelps or the event.

    • I like the idea of a respectful vigil, with one obnoxious mofo to display the numbers donated to gay-friendly organizations. In fact, I personally volunteer to be said mofo.

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      Does someone have a sign which could work for this purpose?

      • By the way, I’m straight. But I think that it is wrong to propose a vote on same sex marriage in the Commonwealth on the basis that this is a civil right of citizens, all of which are supposed to be viewed as equals. Should we have a popular vote to take away the right to vote from women, or to make blacks 2nd class citizens?

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        I also think that it is beyond disgusting what Phelps and Co. are doing in protesting this, the funerals of ALL soldiers killed in action, and pretty much everything else they do sun up to sundown.

  16. I put protest in quotes because I think it adds undeserved credibility to it by calling the Phelps action a protest. How about donating $5.00 for the first person who shows up, an additional $10 for the second person, an additional $15 for the third person, $20 for the fourth person, ans so on. In other words, the per person donation increases for the next additional person by $5. I can donate up to $50.00 to AIDS research. (I wish I could afford more.)

  17. Gerry Studds was a bad man, but he should be allowed to rest in peace.
    These Phelps creeps are nothing less than a bunch of sick, inbred, whackos.
    What they do at the funerals of our military heroes is nothing short of evil.
    They distort the bible in the same manner that the taliban prevert the Kur’an.

    • He may have made some mistakes, but he was a good man and a great Congressman.  Just ask his constituents, who elected him over and over again.  I wish we had more like him today.

      • And I’m in a pretty good position to know his character.
        He was very right on some of the issues hereabouts, but he was not likeable, nor was he “good” as a person.

  18. I’m going to point out to my legislators that if an anti-marriage referendum gets on the ballot, Massachusetts will see a lot more of this stuff during the campaign.  In fact, I wonder if we can get them to come early for the concon?

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  19. Wish I could give a meaningful amount of money but I can’t.  but I’ll throw in a $2 per protester pledge as a statement.

  20. This is the reason a tax cut is good. 

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    I keep the money, and spend it precisely on what I want, as opposed to giving it to the green (money-sucking) monster. And, I’m not talking the redsox wall.

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    $500 total pledge, regardless if any protestors show up.

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    Milo200, give me the name of 3 of your favorite 501(c)(3).

      1. Boston Alliance of LGBT Youth  (bagly.org)  My life was changed by this organizationand I have seen it save lives and change lives.  They offer support, referrals, hiv testing and information to youth. They include social justice in their mission.  I have been a consumer, volunteer, and employee of bagly.  bagly.org

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      2. Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition  Trans fols are the most discriminated against.  There are very few laws preventing discrimination or harassment against trans people.  Housing, jobs, travel – it is all an uphill battle for our trans friends.  mtpc.org

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      3. Greater Boston PFLAG  I am on the board of this great organization that does education and outreach in the community and supoprts parents of LGBT children.  Their safer schools program changes thelives of students throughout the state.  gbpflag.org

      • You’re saying you got $500 from a tax cut?

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        I’m speaking in general, as someone in favor of a Mass tax rollback, and in opposition to some who say the rollback is only $100 or $150, or whatever.

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        I’m pretty sure that I can spend the tax cut better than the government can spend my tax cut, like, for example, in opposition to this Phelps character, and in support of an organization of my choice. 

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        Well, actually Milos2000 choice. It was his post that got the BMG pledge rolling.

        • Be cleara reduction of less than 1% in the state income tax would save you very little money to give to causes of your choice, but it would take money away from programs that are best run by the government rather than the private sector, like police, fire, roads, welfare, etc.

  21. We are keeping track of who pledges at queertoday.com. Thank you to everyone at bluemassgroup for getting involved in this! And thank you David, keep up the good work and feel free to keep a tally on bluemassgroup as well! The QueerToday team will keep track of your pledges, the number of picketers, and for how long they stay. We will then remind you to donate your pledge when the time comes.

  22. I will remind you all when the time comes how much you pledged.  If you did not designate a place to donate too, I will provide a list of local organizations and links to their online donating sites.

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    Mark

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