December 26, 2013
2013's Top Five Best Westboro Baptist Church Fails
EDGE READ TIME: 5 MIN.
Given the increasingly divisive political climate that has permeated almost all areas of culture over the past several years, it is almost unfathomable to imagine anything that brings every American from all walks of life to the same side of an issue. Enter The Westboro Baptist Church, a group so despicably anti-gay, anti-Semitic, xenophobic and racist that even ultra left-wing conspiracy theorist documentarian Michael Moore and conservative messiah and Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly have nothing to argue about when they're brought up in debate. These people are so awful even the KKK says, "Oh we don't want to be associated with them!"
And while reporting on the latest military or celebrity funeral the WBC plans to exercise their first amendment rights to protest could hardly be considered news, we here at EDGE have had great fun in 2013 reporting on the irony that surrounds this organization. Maybe if we all laugh hard enough, one day they'll just go away. Until then, here is a list of our top five favorite Westboro Baptist Fails of 2013.
5. Ke$ha's Backup Dancers Upstage Westboro Protest
Back in August, WBC members packed up their signature "God Hates Fags" signs and travelled to Lincoln Nebraska to hold a protest outside of Ke$ha's concert venue where they sang a parody of her hit "We R Who We R." The recently out, bisexual electro-pop star sent her backup dancers out to entertain the protesters. Hilarity ensued.
Read about it and watch the video HERE
4. Westboro Baptist Church Inadvertently Helps Trevor Project Fundraising
In February, the WBC announced that they planned to travel to Vassar College to protest the kick-off of the Trevor Project's "It Gets Better" theatrical national tour. Upon hearing news of the protest, the anti-bullying and suicide prevention non-profit set up an online fundraising page; $100 for every minute of the planned WBC protest. In the end, the WBC made good on their promise to protest, and as a result the Trevor Project received over $85,000 in donations.
3. Jason Collins Responsible For Oklahoma Tornado
Not since Moses parted the Red Sea, has one single man had control over the elements. That is, until NBA star Jason Collins became the first out gay male player of a major U.S. professional sport and caused a tornado that devastated Oklahoma. Blaming natural disasters on the gays is hardly a new thing, but usually it's the community at large instead of one individual. Congratulations, Jason Collins, for accomplishing two firsts in a single month.
2. Punk Band Films Porn on Westboro Baptist Church Lawn
Porn, punk and piety converged in Topeka, Kansas last October, when members of the punk rock band Get Shot! filmed a pornographic segment featuring one of their band members naked and committing the sin of Onan on the lawn of the Westboro Baptist Church. Get Shot! promises to return in 2014. We can't wait to see the sequel!
1. There Goes The Neighborhood: Equality House Opens Across from the WBC
When Aaron Jackson, founder of the non-profit organization, discovered that a house across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church was for sale, he not only bought it; he also painted it the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag and dubbed the manse "Equality House."
Since its opening in March, Equality House has provided members of the WBC a front row seat to a lesbian wedding, drag show and commemoration of Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Read about the opening of Equality House HERE
Read about the lesbian wedding on Equality House's front lawn HERE
Read about the drag show held in WBC's honor HERE
Read about Equality House on Transgender Day of Remembrance HERE
