On The Front Lines
New to OldSpeak: Activist Margie Phelps Talks About Homosexuality, Free Speech & Westboro Baptist's Case Before the Supreme Court
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- OldSpeak, an online publication of The Rutherford Institute, hosts a provocative discussion about free speech and religion between controversial activist Margie Phelps, the attorney for Westboro Baptist Church (infamous for its "God Hates Fags" message) who will argue the case of Snyder v. Phelps before the U.S. Supreme Court, and John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute.
The interview, "'God Hates Fags!' Is It Free Speech?," is available here.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear Snyder v. Phelps, a case dealing with anti-gay protests at the funerals of American soldiers, has stirred up debate over whether the privacy rights of grieving families trumps the free speech rights of demonstrators. The case arose after members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church picketed the Maryland funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in combat in Iraq on March 3, 2006. As part of their protests, church members held up signs during Snyder's funeral which stated, among other things, "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11," "Fag Troops," "Priests Rape Boys," and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
Snyder's father, Albert, filed suit against Westboro Baptist Church and was awarded more than $10 million in damages. That amount was later thrown out by a federal appeals court, which ruled that as distasteful as Westboro's rhetoric might be, it constituted protected speech that focused on issues of national debate.
Margie Phelps is the daughter of Pastor Fred Phelps and a member of the Westboro Baptist Church. Since 1991, Fred Phelps and his Westboro congregants have carried out 42,840 demonstrations at homosexual parades and other events, including more than 200 military funerals of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Insisting that God is killing American soldiers in order to punish America for its openness to homosexuality, church members have proclaimed, "You turned the country over to fags, these soldiers are coming home in body bags." Largely in reaction to Westboro's protest activities, 41 states have now passed laws limiting demonstrations at funerals.
Margie is a practicing attorney who specializes in the areas of employment and constitutional law, appellate practice, and medical malpractice. Margie received her B.A. in Corrections & Criminal Justice in 1978 from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and her J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in 1981. Margie is also a corrections manager and has an active consulting practice.
OldSpeak, the online journal of The Rutherford Institute, is dedicated to publishing interviews, articles and commentary on subjects often overlooked by the mainstream media in the areas of politics, art, culture, law and religion. The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
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