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Westboro Baptist, known for being very public with its controversial messages, picketing funerals with messages like 'God Hates Fags,' and 'God Hates Islam,' will find it hard to ignore the message from a peace group moving in next door. Planting Peace is painting the house the gay pride rainbow colors. (AP Photo/file)

Charity painting home across street from Westboro Baptist in gay pride rainbow colors

BY Jamie Skorheim  on March 19, 2013 @ 11:08 am (Updated: 11:34 am - 3/19/13 )

Westboro Baptist, known for being very public with its controversial messages, picketing funerals with messages like 'God Hates Fags,' and 'God Hates Jews,' will find it hard to ignore the message from a peace group moving in next door.

"For too long, the Westboro Baptist Church has been targeting the LGBTQ community with messages of hate and discrimination. Often, protesting American soldiers' funerals and organizations that support equality," says the message at Planting Piece's website. "To combat their messages of hate and to support equality and anti-bullying initiatives in schools and in our community, Planting Peace has established the Equality House in Topeka, KS."

Planting Peace has purchased a property across the street from Westboro Baptist and is in the process of painting the home in the colors of the gay pride flag. Planting Peace president Aaron Jackson tells KIRO Radio's Luke Burbank Show that he was inspired by a 9-year-old boy.

"I was reading this story about a kid named Joseph Miles, he's a 9-year-old boy from Topeka, Kansas and he counter protested the Westboro Baptist Church by holding up a sign that says, 'God loves everybody.'"

Jackson tells Burbank he decided to do some research on Westboro and Google Earth led him to an interesting idea.

"I did like a little 360 in front of the Westboro Baptist Church and I saw a for sale sign in the front of the house," says Jackson. "I was like, maybe we can start a little equality project out of that house and right away I knew I'm going to buy that house and paint it the color of the pride flag."

After contacting a realtor, Jackson learned the home he saw in the Google Earth images had actually been sold, but he found an even better one nearby.

"It's on the main street and there's no trees or anything in the front yard blocking the view," says Jackson. "We just took some general funds out of our charitable account and we purchased the home. I don't own this home personally, the foundation does."

The home won't just serve the cause with the imagery, Jackson says it will also be a base for volunteers working on anti-bullying and equality campaigns around the country.

"We're going to use the home as a volunteer base, have volunteers live in the home and use those volunteers to help create and sustain and further our anti-bullying initiatives."

The public can donate to the equality house project or the anti-bullying and equality education initiatives. Planting Peace explains the full purpose of the project and is collecting donations at their website.

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (41)


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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Good for them
    March 19, 2013 11:03 am
    Free speech is a Bear there westburro (spelled that way on purpose)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    awesome.
    March 19, 2013 11:17 am
    think of all the ways they can mess with those fools at the church of hate.

    i'd invest in some survelance cameras, just in case one of their crazies decides to even step ONE TOE onto the property. you'd want that documented so they can't cry foul for the most minor of issues.

    if it were me, i'd start messing with them on DAY ONE. (aside from painting the house the pride colors, of course)

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  • maplefish wrote...
    @Rick
    March 19, 2013 7:53 pm
    Agreed! These idiots need to have Free Speech thrown right back in their faces....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Denver Bronco Girl wrote...
    Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right
    March 19, 2013 11:19 am
    Sadly, neither group is showing that love crosses all boundaries. In-your-face, spiteful tactics belittle the message. How much we could get done as a people if we learned to overcome people's objections to our lifestyles by loving on them rather than hating and taunting them.
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  • roomtemp wrote...
    @Denver Bronco Girl...
    March 19, 2013 2:52 pm
    Well said... I agree.

    It also seems unfair to me to make the rest of the neighborhood 'collateral damage' in the dispute as well. That house is going to be an eyesore.

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  • maplefish wrote...
    Room temp
    March 19, 2013 8:04 pm
    There's a house in North Admiral West Seattle neighborhood where i live painted the same way - a total rainbow. I've never thought of it as an eye sore. I just always thought it was rather eclectic....of course, I'm glad I don't live across the street.....LOL
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  • Chris Halliday wrote...
    Has the church done anything violent? Oh, and by the way AJ:
    March 19, 2013 1:53 pm
    Some of you act like the church has shown militant tendencies. Have they beaten people up or shot anybody? What's with the carry a gun talk? As much as I dislike churches I share their views on the gay issue. Sorry kid. God doesn't love everyone and if you want to use The Bible as a reference, look at all the slaughtering He does in the Old Testament.

    By the way AJ, did you see what I did with the names Y'Shua and Joshua? Just in case you didn't, take a close look at this:

    (Y=225)+(S=171)+(H=72)+(U=189)+(A=9)=666 or Y'Shua=666

    (J=90)+(O=135)+(S=171)+(H=72)+(U=189)+(A=9)=666 or Joshua=666

    In addition, for you to say I used a "pathetic version of Gematria" is so stupid for one who thinks he's so smart. That's like saying algebra is pathetic. Mathematics is what it is. It is the only exact science. Answers are either correct or incorrect. Using an adjective to describe them is foolish. That's like saying, "Two is red.", or, "Adding is stupid." Do you get my meaning AJ?

    Just admit I obliterated you in "The Bible" debate. Go to the comments under the story if you want any more abuse.

    I almost forgot. Atheists have every right to comment about their beliefs. Who are you to tell them to, "Keep it to yourself."? It's a lie to say they think, "God doesn't exist, but everything is His fault anyway." That's an oxymoron. They simply don't believe in Him and that's about it. Why would they blame someone they don't believe exists?

    You might want to take a break from commenting AJ. Even though I agree with you on this story, you've put your foot pretty deep in your mouth regarding Tangney's far more important subject. I made it more important with my clever rhyme that directly effects the beliefs of about 2.8 billion devil worshipping morons.

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  • Papoon wrote...
    Huh?
    March 19, 2013 2:34 pm
    Are you implying that atheists worship the devil? They don't believe in the devil either. You have to believe in the good sky wizard to believe in the bad one.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    Two wrongs may not make a right...
    March 19, 2013 3:13 pm
    But, sometimes a bully is so loud and obnoxious someone needs to knock him on his butt and put him in his place. I wouldn't financially support this, but the idea of sticking it to Westburro (I like that pun) is mighty appealing. Fight fire with rainbows, if that's what it takes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dregstudios wrote...
    Burning Gay
    March 19, 2013 4:27 pm
    These guys are great! Where in Christianity is hate-mongering an involved practice? What are Fred Phelps and the WBC afraid of anyhow? Rainbows? Unicorns? A flaming pink queer apocalypse? I attempted to address this with a portrait of the good reverend on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/03/fred-phelps-and-westboro-baptist-church.html Drop in and let me know what you think!
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    couldn't happen to a 'nicer' bunch.
    March 19, 2013 4:35 pm
    I've never quite figured out the logic of protesting military funerals (where the late soldier is at least 95% NOT gay) by these idiots and their 'god hates fags' gig. ... But as we support the First Amendment, we must allow their ranting.

    About time someone tweaked THEIR noses. Much as I'd love to see the (bleep) beaten out of these jerks, this is at least peaceful. .. LOL.

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  • dexterjibs wrote...
    AJ you have stunned me
    March 19, 2013 11:07 pm
    I have agreed with your posts from the previous 2 stories I have read. You are correct, there are no heroes in this story. Both sides are evil.
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  • dexterjibs wrote...
    oh, isn't that sweet
    March 19, 2013 11:09 pm
    Sodomites going after bigots. Bigots going after sodomites. They will all meet in he11 after they die.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    I never met a sodomite I didn't like better than a bigot.
    March 20, 2013 7:29 am
    And it appears that you're the latter, so my streak continues...btw look up the definition sometime. You'll find there are sodomites a plenty all around.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chris Halliday wrote...
    AJ
    March 20, 2013 12:17 am
    I just went to jesusorsatan.com, found the information I needed, and wrote an awesome poem that discredits an entire religion that is 2.8 billion morons weak. I'm glad I made a paper copy of the site as I've tried in vain to visit it again. It's suspiciously forbidden cyber-terf all of the sudden. But "9" is the numerical symbol for truth and eternity in the Hebrew language. That word "truth" really caught my attention and you seem to ignore it.

    I've seen that 616 pointed out somewhere also. But let's be honest with ourselves shall we? When you say, "666", just about the whole planet knows what you are talking about. To simply dismiss its significanse by saying more reliable manuscripts use 616 as the number of the Beast is just plain lying to yourself and you know it. And for you to try and dismiss the significanse of the charts I listed on Tangney's blog is again, just lying to yourself. I didn't use any Gematria. I found the charts on the website that noone can get on anymore. They pointed out, as plain as day, the guilt of that lowlife Jesus. Then I wrote the poem. You tried in vain to discredit it. Then I made a fool out of you like I'm doing again right now.

    Of course Jesus isn't the only really evil guy or gal to come along thoughout history. But He is the ring leader. Those other names that you pointed out that add up to 666 are suspect as well. Be aware of those you think you can trust.

    Your biggest problem AJ is you are nothing but a parrot to what your taught and what you've read. I don't give a rip what The Bible says and you obviously do. Use some critical thinking and get back to me when you formulate some opinions of your own. My life has shaped my beliefs. As I said before, if The Bible had a book of God that He wrote Himself, or if it had a book of Jesus, that He wrote Himself, it would have a whole lot more meaning to me. Instead it's filled with people hearing voices, unlikely occurances (Ok. I do believe anything is possible.), hypocrisy, and just a lot of unentertaining reading.

    Who the frack do you think you are to say my theology is screwed up? You're nothing AJ. Your significanse in the overall scheme of things is nil. God is on my side 100% AJ and you have fracked with the wrong man. You've been given numerous chances to acknowledge greatness when you see it but you just choose to be an idiot. Burn in He!! AJ. You deserve it.

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  • CH wrote...
    Best way to tell You are clearly delusional and probably on drugs.
    March 20, 2013 3:08 am
    is that, you been there done that! Right AJ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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