Slog - Comments on The Million Fag March http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march Sick of the stomach-churning antics of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church, a pair of Kansas City residents are organizing the Million Fag March to challenge the church's violent homophobia. From the website: The Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas, is a hate group masquerading as a Christian church. Led by the Rev. Fred Phelps, the misguided members of this church target homosexuals and a range of others with messages of hate. The church’s outrageous protest actions - the group prefers to picket funerals - have earned Phelps and his ilk much media coverage. To date, the WBC’s protests have... Copyright 2008 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:24:47 -0800 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:55:16 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Andrew I see a Million Man Orgy!!!

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935375 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935375 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:29:59 -0800 Comment by vooodooo84 I am going to anticipate Mr. Poe

Imagined comment:
"Great event for cruising. But will there be enough fags for me?"

]]> vooodooo84 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935377 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935377 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:30:24 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Mmm, I'm not sure I like the name. "Fag" is all very well when you're chatting with your friends but as a nationwide event something a little more...dignified...is in order. IMHO.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935395 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935395 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:38:16 -0800 Comment by citrus Normally I would agree with you, fnarf, but I believe the word choice in this case is acceptable given WBC's constant use of the word "fag" - as in their famous website, godhatesfags.com. I think the name works given that it references something that the WBC uses as their slogan.

]]> citrus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935415 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935415 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:45:05 -0800 Comment by SeMe is the march going to be in Topeka? it makes sense to have it there.

]]> SeMe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935422 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935422 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:48:18 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways what a good idea! too bad people will have to go to Topuka, though...even without the Phelps family, it's quite awful...

and I wouldn't go cruising in Kansas if I were you; they still arrest folks for that there.

but I wholeheartedly recommend Grover's Barbecue with two convenient locations, one not far from the Westboro "Church" compound, (yes, they live in a compound; were you really that surprised?) And bring me back some sauce, would'ja?

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935435 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935435 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:53:25 -0800 Comment by Reverse Polarity Good idea. Terrible name.

They have a couple hundred people signed up. A bit short of a million fags.

I participated in the 1993 "March on Washington". There were (arguably) a million homos there. That was a nationally promoted serious protest march. The logistics involved in doing a protest with a million people is massive. Not to mention the impacts on airlines, hotels, and restaurants, etc.

If anywhere near a million people descended on Topeka, the place would be completely overwhelmed.

I think protesting Phelps own church is a nifty idea, but they will be lucky if they get more than a few thousand people. If only a few thousand people show up for a "Million Fag March", they're gonna look pretty silly.

]]> Reverse Polarity http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935468 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935468 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:11:24 -0800 Comment by RHETT ORACLE Is there a Bottomeka, Kansas?

]]> RHETT ORACLE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935476 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935476 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:14:46 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Cruising is so six months ago.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935508 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935508 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:34:15 -0800 Comment by PJ I wonder if this is just giving him and his church what they want: attention. My impression is that there's not much more than a dozen people who actually go to his church, and most of them are related to him. Seems best to ignore.

]]> PJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935552 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935552 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:52:12 -0800 Comment by PJ I just went on Wikipedia and seems like he has a few more follows than I thought. But I still wonder if a march like this would increase his popularity in the minds of some confused people.

]]> PJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935561 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935561 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:56:43 -0800 Comment by Epimetheus @3, remember: Hey Faggot,? I don't remember if the column was syndicated back then, but a nationally distributed book was published (I bought a copy)

Some Unaware Consumer of Keen Entertainment, albeit Recycled

But seriously, I knew the book was reprints, I was just a little surprised how much I remembered from the (free) Stranger. But I love Dan, so it was worth the $12 or so.

]]> Epimetheus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935562 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935562 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:57:41 -0800 Comment by Mike in MO @ 10: exactly. I cringe when ever I see/hear them mentioned for that same reason. Unfortunately, they are nothing if not the best shit disturbers ever.

Hell, if it really happens, I'll march. I'm close enough to TOPeka.

]]> Mike in MO http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935721 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935721 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:35:32 -0800 Comment by Sir Vic Why doesn't some para-military group just get the balls to firebomb these assholes where they live? What jury would convict you of riding the nation of a group of incestuously conceived bigots?
Sometimes the wackos in this country disappoint me. Can we let Ridgeway out for a special assigment?

]]> Sir Vic http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935725 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935725 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:37:04 -0800 Comment by Geni I think this calls for a Daniel Freykis rant.

]]> Geni http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935740 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935740 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:45:56 -0800 Comment by Will Where, may I ask, will they find a million queers in Kansas. They'll have to be imported from south of Market and given s--t kickers and and bib overalls. And all to try and reason with Phelps and his psychos? I just don't see the point.
http://a-civilife.blogspot.com

]]> Will http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935844 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c935844 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:04:52 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV No way you're getting a million fags to go to Kansas.

Kansas is what most fags spend their entire lives trying to escape.

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c936000 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c936000 Homo Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:05:24 -0800 Comment by Timothy Hulsey And here I was hoping this was all about cigarettes.

]]> Timothy Hulsey http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c936254 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c936254 Homo Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:29:41 -0800 Comment by bill
We need to let them know we are on the way....
Fred W. and Margie M. Phelps, Sr.
Westboro Baptist Church
3701 S.W. 12th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66604
phone: 785-273-0325 and 785-273-0338
fax: 785-273-9228

Karl and Deborah Kay Hockenbarger
James Hockenbarger/Jennifer Hockenbarger
1929 S.W. Lane
Topeka, Kansas 66604
home: (913) 233-1848
K-K-Karl’s work: 785-296-3959

Fred W. Phelps. Jr. and Betty Phelps
3600 S. W. Holly Lane
Topeka, Kansas 66604
home: 785-272-4135
Jr.’s work: 785-296-3195

Margie J. Phelps
3734 S.W. 12th
Topeka, Kansas 66604
home: 785-273-7380
work: 785-296-3317

Ben Phelps
3632 S.W. Churchill
Topeka, Kansas 66604
home: 785-233-4162

Rebekah Phelps-Davis and Chris Davis-Phelps
1216 S.W. Cambridge
Topeka, Kansas 66604
home: 785-272-7741

]]> bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c940236 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c940236 Homo Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:23:44 -0800 Comment by Anna For a moment, I thought that Fred Phelps 'organized' the Million Fag March,
because it seems that the 120 o 200 people
that will be there, will be easily the target
of ridicule. Using the term 'fag' (imagine a
nigg...march) is controversial, and thus
many heterosexuals will NOT join the march,
fearing that they will be seen later on in Ebay or the news, and friends and family will know that and laugh!
But I wish BEST OF LUCK to the brave
people who attend that 'march'...hoping that
they do not get the opposite
results: more homophobia!

]]> Anna http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c940881 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c940881 Homo Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:55:06 -0800 Comment by Anna For a moment, I thought that Fred Phelps 'organized' the Million Fag March,
because it seems that the 120 o 200 people
that will be there, will be easily the target
of ridicule. Using the term 'fag' (imagine a
nigg...march) is controversial, and thus
many heterosexuals will NOT join the march,
fearing that they will be seen later on in Ebay or the news, and friends and family will know that and laugh!
But I wish BEST OF LUCK to the brave
people who attend that 'march'...hoping that
they do not get the opposite
results: more homophobia!

]]> Anna http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c940883 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_million_fag_march#c940883 Homo Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:55:16 -0800