Westboro Baptist Church at a protest in Dallas in 2010


I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … I love Westboro Baptist Church. No right-wing group has had such a positive effect on the LGBT community as that group has.
First, they’re not dangerous. They’re not carrying guns. They’re not threatening anyone. And their “God Hates Fags” mantra is, by now, just tired. Laughable, really.
Second, they make homophobic politicians and others squirm. While politicians continue to spout anti-LGBT hatred, when Westboro pops up, those same politicians have to draw a line and explain how their stance isn’t as bad as that of Westboro. It’s really delightful to watch, especially when they try to distinguish their bigoted beliefs from those of founder Fred Phelps.
Third, and maybe most important, no other group has generated so much support for the LGBT community as Westboro has through its message of hatred. Westboro brings out unlikely allies.
Take an incident in Missouri this week. Westboro targeted John Burroughs School in Ladue, Mo. this week. Jake Bain, the running back on the school’s football team, is gay. On National Coming Out Day in October, Bain came out at a school assembly.
So Westboro came out to protest this week but were drowned out by 100 counter-protesters from the school. Had it not been for Westboro, 100 students in a suburban Missouri school wouldn’t have been standing up supporting a gay student. Had Westboro never shown up, Bain might have been a victim of bullying or taunting or at least have been shunned. Instead, the school took his side.
When Westboro came to Dallas to protest Congregation Beth El Binah, the synagogue held a fundraiser to buy Resource Center a new ice maker for its hot meals program. The event was the most successful anti-Westboro fundraiser up until that point and raised three times the amount needed for the ice machine.
That’s when I first decided I love Westboro. I love them so much, I took a picture of the ice machine with a plaque honoring Phelps, thanked them for helping us raise the money and invited them back.
They never did take me up on my invitation, but I’m glad to see they’re continuing to inspire such good work. I’m surprised that after all this time, anyone even cares anymore about when Westboro shows up to protest.

— David Taffet