i'm 17, and i'm a lesbian. i was in tears when i came across these links. i have nothing against christians, i'll say that now, however this is what hate and religion does in the radical christian conservative's case.

an interview with Pastor Fred Phelps:
http://www.blacktable.com/daulerio030401.htm

a Matthew Shepard monument:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/shepard_monument.html

sex ed in schools including homosexuality:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/fags/fagsinschools.html

Let me just say, first off, that that preacher is a demented extremist. You can't take seriously anyone who says things like "Thank god for Sept. 11" or "America is merging with Babylon" and he also sats 'fag' at every possible moment liek he's getting off on it.

My opinion: Don't take seriously what preachers, church-obsessives, wowsers and the like with their "You're going to hell" "Hell this and hell that"

Maybe this idiot has no minimal scope of the world...
Has only a mind for poisoning things....

And, America/Iraq is not Babylon. Ancient Rome was Babylon.

And that memorial thing...that's just weird.

If memory serves Iraq was Babylon!

But I digress in short bigotry is a big bag of shit, no religion justifies it, no position grants the right to do it & these guys are just self righteous dickheads who want desperately to believe that god is on their side in their crusade against everything they don't understand!

As if god would approve of them attacking his children!

Fucking morons can't even understand what they supposedly believe in!!

*Rant over*

Fred Phelps is a complete nutjob.

its a relief to hear the same opinions from people such as myself. i just couldn't believe that a group could be so hateful...no wait, yes i can... there's the KKK.

Hmm, the third site actually screwed up by linking to the real info... And that shows how truely screwed in the head they are!!!

Hmm... ::nods in agreement::

I really can't stand people who claim to be Christian and openly display such hatred-- its hypocrisy and blasphemy and so many other ugly things.

I'm Christian, I go to church, and I read the Bible. I'm also bisexual...more into girls than guys though...My youth pastor has always been very supportive of me and never once said any of those hurtful things that so many religious figures like Fred P. are yelling out left and right.

Take no heed of what bigoted jerks like him are saying. There is nothing wrong with falling in love, be it with a man, woman, or someone in between. Take heart, and have faith. Someday the world will accept us as we are.

Silverflame:

I'm speaking from the voice of experience here, having had nearly half again the time on this planet that you have... The world contains many people who are more than willing to spread a message of hate under religious or political agenda. It may not seem like it, but these people are actually a minority. Pay less attention to the loud assholes, and more to the quiet angels. This guy Phelps feeds off media attention of his hateful agenda, and off the pain people like yourself feel when listening to his idiotic tripe. The best way to deal with people like this is to turn your back on them. Without an audience, they have no power.

Some sicknesses are contagious. Fred Phelps has that kind of sickness. Spend time with him, listen to him and try to understand his mindset and what he's talking about and you may become infected.

You can't understand people like Fred Phelps, his mind is as alien to you as the moon. There is no cure for people like him, and the best we can hope for is that he causes no physical harm. Unfortunately there are no laws prohibiting what he says or does. Some times the right to freedom of speech is as painful as it is powerful.

He exists within normal society, normal society does not exist within his world. Comfort yourself with that thought, and with the thought that people like him are for now, a minority.

Protocol.

thanks guys, i really appreciate it. it just sucks that the far right people have so much damn control over if i can marry the one that i love, or that i can or cannot have sex with someone of the same sex.

I used to fall prey to the hatred that the churches abuse. Ie: I used to hate fags. I'll admit it. Not so much bashing or anything like that, but just like turning a blind eye, or feeling really uncomfortable around them, and also believing they were going to hell.
But, thank God for a willingness to learn every day. I found this site that clears alot for me: http://www.cathedralofhope.com/homosexuality/

interesting link...

Sliverflame: marriage is a state of mind, not a piece of paper..

Thanks so much for sharing that with us. The Cathedral of Hope is still not as well-known as I would like, but their views and advice have been a great comfort to me and some of my friends.

When I fell in love with another girl for the first time, I was convinced that it was wrong and that there was something wrong with me. I hated myself. But things have changed since then, and its thanks to groups like this.

~Hotaru

though i myself am not christian, i really liked the love that the site was trying to encourage. i appreciate your input and story too, maybe others will eventually see what damage their hate does to us and others as well.

i just wish the government felt the same way.

Well, i'm only just a recent hate recoverer. You know, the bible teaches one thing more than anything else, and that's Love. It goes on and on about it. And, until i realized that hating gays is wrong, i never noticed it. Now, it feels like my whole belief is becoming more and more lucid. And i feel better too. That's what my religion is supposed to be about. Love.

i'm glad that you now feel that way