January 13, 2011
Kan. church agrees to not protest Arizona funerals
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
A Kansas church known for picketing the funerals of slain servicemen and blaming their deaths on the country's tolerance of homosexuality won't protest at the funerals of any victims of the shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz.
Shirley Phelps-Roper of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka says her church has agreed to avoid Thursday's funeral of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green in exchange for live interviews on radio shows in Canada and Arizona.
The church also promised to not protest the Friday funeral of U.S. District Judge John Roll or other shooting victims after a nationally syndicated radio show agreed to host church members.
Christina and Roll were among six killed in the shooting Saturday targeting Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Westboro church members picket high-profile funerals to promote their beliefs.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
