Look Out! Fred Phelps Is Bringing The Hate Train To Vermont!

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A group that doesn’t mince words about its hatred for gay people plans to travel to the Champlain Valley.

Followers of Fred Phelps at the Westboro Baptist Church are once again making the trip to the region to protest on the day Vermont’s new same-sex marriage law takes effect.

“Sept. 1 really should be a day of celebration, not a day to have to respond to hate,” said Kara DeLeonardis, of the RU12? Community Center, an organization that, according to its Web site, celebrates, educates and advocates with and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Vermonters.

The Westboro Baptist Church spoke out against civil unions in Vermont nearly 10 years ago, and recently protested outside Plattsburgh High School, where students formed a gay-straight alliance.

On its Web site, a list of demonstrations planned for this trip includes locations like Montpelier High School, the Statehouse and a city clerk’s office, which the church called a “marriage mill.”

The Westboro Baptist Church has planned six protests in Vermont with their last stop ending at the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue in Burlington. Local rabbis declined to comment because they don’t want to give Phelps’ group any more attention, saying it’s best just to ignore them.

“It’s a sad, upsetting reminder that this is something we have to combat and speak out against every day,” DeLeonardis said.

The RU12? Community Center hopes to turn the protests into something positive, asking for donations for every minute the Phelps protestors are in the state.

“We will bring a sign to the protest and let folks know, and (give) thanks (to) Fred Phelps for helping us support our community,” DeLeonardis said.