plantingpeaceEH

Fred Phelps' daughter Shirley was taking pictures launch day (Tuesday) and said she loved the colors. So I blew her some kisses and she walked back into the church giggling. Besides that our interactions have been via twitter & radio interviews. It is our understanding they can't technically protest at the church because they are legally doing service from 6am-10pm ironically this was made to prevent others from protesting them. TL:DR - They may have prevented themselves from legally doing protests

That is definitely the plan! We went into this saying as long as we help one kid feel better about her/himself it would all be worth it

Everyone is really excited that Kansas is becoming internationally known as a symbol of love instead of a backwards state that houses WBC. We have a 24 hour stream of people coming, taking pictures, sharing stories, giving hugs, bringing cookies... As I say this people are honking and giving us thumbs up. Political candidates have stopped by and the entire community has thanked us. We are looking into permits for a community BBQ block party

THANK YOU! I want you all to know these answers. 1) Silence does not make something go away. This community has been devastated by the WBC. Ignoring this means ignoring the emotions of thousands of individuals hurt by their hate. We had a girl come crying to us because her family all had moved out of Topeka because WBC and they all regretted it now. People have come out LGBTQ just because this house gave them courage (including a man who's been closeted in the south for decades). We've had kids contact us who were suicidal and told us this gives them hope. The churches hate is becoming shadowed by this communities love. 2) We are secular. We try not to affiliate ourselves with anything that divides people. We respect everyone’s personal religious freedom. 3) Our board & staff are unpaid. Our goal is to help the most with the least. Aaron, Rob, & I literally live off rice and beans and are usually sleeping on floors. The donations we are currently raising go to maintaining the house and anti-bullying programs/speakers such as stand for the silent etc.

The goal was to encourage people to speak out against injustice and simply show some compassion for their community. After the response we've received I know the LGBTQ community will have the same protections and rights as everyone else within 5 years. Ideally, within 10 years this whole debate will seem as ridiculous in retrospect as any other oppressive era