As many of you may know notorious anti-gay minister Fred Phelps will be picketing West Des Moines Valley High School’s production of “The Laramie Project,” which is a play about the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. 

Besides picketing at Matthew’s funeral, Phelps’ group has since traveled the country spewing hateful messages about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, including previous stops in Iowa to protest Governor Vilsack and openly gay high school students.  He has even spewed his hatred at the funerals of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Several people have asked how they can show their support to counter Fred Phelps’ hateful message.  In response to his visit, our Task Force is coordinating a project to continue our goal to create safer, more inclusive schools. 

We will be gathering contributions to purchase books for area middle school and high school libraries about tolerance such as The Misfits, Am I Blue?, Losing Matt Shepard, and Geography Club.  You can help counter Phelps’ message by sponsoring one book, two books, or the package of all four books for us to distribute to local middle school and high school libraries.  Click HERE the contribution form.  

The best way to counter Phelps is to foster education and understanding.  Please pass this along to your friends and family.  Thank you for your support and we hope you will join us in sending a message to Fred Phelps and others that their hate is not welcomed in our communities.