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Revision as of 23:12, 19 April 2004

GodHatesFags.com is the official website of Westboro Baptist Church, a religious organization based in Topeka, Kansas, USA, headed by minister Fred Phelps. The group is notorious for its public statements that God hates all gay people, no matter what. They are adamant in this belief, and are equally adamant in the belief that everyone needs to hear it and believe it. According to the site, " 'GOD HATES FAGS'...is a profound theological statement, which the world needs to hear more than it needs oxygen, water and bread."

The group is known for picketing the funerals of people who have died of AIDS, and making attention-grabbing appearances at events such as the funeral of Matthew Shepard.

The members of Westboro Baptist Church explain their decision to use the word fag, a largely pejorative term for male homosexuals, in their FAQ:

We use the word "fag" as a contraction of the word "faggot" or "fagot." A "fag" is a firebrand. A "fag" is used for kindling - it fuels fire. "Fag" is a metaphor used in the Bible, for example, in Amos 4:11 (where it is translated "firebrand" in the KJV). Just as a "fag" fuels the fires of nature, so does a sodomite fuel the fires of God's wrath. We do not use the word "fag" in order to engage in childish name-calling. Rather, we use it because it is a metaphor chosen by the Holy Ghost to describe a group of people who BURN in their lust one toward another, and who FUEL God's wrath.

They also espouse the opinion that the September 11 terrorist attacks and AIDS are acts of divine retribution. Their FAQ states "Thank God For September 11" and "Everyone who gets AIDS gets it as a direct result of God's will (including babies and people who get it from blood transfusions), and He should be blessed for it."

On August 18, 1999, an anonymous hacker transferred ownership of the domain www.godhatesfags.com to Kris Haight, owner of the counter activism site godlovesfags.com. Apparently, this was done by forging an email message from Phelps. Haight promptly redirected all traffic to his site. After much media attention, Phelps threatened to sue and the domain name was returned on August 21.

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