(Chicago, Illinois) The head of an Illinois group fighting same-sex marriage and partner benefits says he wonders if militant anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps is actually a gay plant.
Phelps who runs the God Hates Fags website and whose followers regularly demonstrate at gay friendly churches first came to national attention when he protested at the funeral Matthew Shepard.
Since then conservative Christian groups have been mostly silent but now, the Phelps clan is picketing at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. (story)
The group had threatened to demonstrate last weekend at the funeral of Gunnery Sgt. Terry W. Ball in East Peoria but did not show up. Nevertheless, on Monday, Illinois Family Institute Executive Director Peter LaBarbera issued a statement denouncing Phelps.
"Fred Phelps' curious message is hardly Christian, and only fuels societal bigotry toward those who espouse genuine Biblical views on social issues like homosexuality and abortion," LaBarbera's statement said.
"Of all the potential targets for their protests, they have chosen funeral services where the bereaved are mourning the loss of loved ones. It is hard to conceive of a more inflammatory presentation of a false Gospel than his."
LaBarbera went on to say: "Politically and culturally speaking, Phelps and his protesters serve as a crude caricature of pro-family traditionalists who oppose the normalization of homosexuality. Fred makes an easy target for the media and secularists who are tempted (partly by their own prejudices) to paint any opposition to 'gay rights' as hateful. For this reason, I have sometimes wondered if Phelps and his lawyerly clan are 'gay plants.'"
But, despite denouncing Phelps, the Illinois Family Institute is actively involved in a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage, has fought legislation to provide civil rights protections for gays and lesbians and earlier this month demanded that the Illinois Bureau of Tourism refuse to give public funds to the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. (story) The Chicago organizer of the event, Chicago Games Inc., has submitted an application for promotion money.
Don't know about any of you other gays, lesbians, bi's or trannies out there, but I sure as hell don't think this guy supports our cause in the least -- if anything, he gives the religious right a black eye on a daily basis. But then again, perhaps LaBarbera knows that and is trying to do a bit of damage control...
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