OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Members of the Westboro Church held picket signs outside of Shawnee Mission North High School, while students launched a counter protest across the street.
Friday afternoon, about nine members of the church held picket signs outside of Shawnee Mission North High School.
The theater students at Shawnee Mission North are performing the musical "Rent”.
"The reason why they dislike it so much is because it has homosexual characters in it," said Mase Hakes.
Hakes is a member of a Gay Straight Alliance group in the metro. He helped organize the nearly 200 students who launched a counter protest across the street from Phelps' group.
Some of the student demonstrators were members of the school's Gay Straight Alliance organization, while others were simply angered by what they called an all out attack.
"They should have better things to do with their time than attack a bunch of high school students," said Kate Rocha, a Shawnee Mission North senior.
The Westboro Church and its leader Fred Phelps are known for its military funeral protests and anti-gay demonstrations. The members held several signs outside of Shawnee Mission North High School, some that read: "God Hates Fags" and God Hates Jews”.
Hakes and dozens of other students held hand made signs and flags decorated with the colors of the rainbow. Student supporters said they were proud of the counter protest turnout, but admit that the words are hurtful.
"It's really disturbing, it's really upsetting. Frankly, it's just really depressing that people have such hate inside of them,” said Hakes. "We just want to stress to people, we're gay we're not leprous. Even leprous aren't bad.”
Shawnee Mission North High School started their high school production of "Rent" on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The last performance is on Saturday.
