God hates fags, says Westboro Baptist Church

The Westboro Baptist Church was founded by Fred Phelps in Topeka, Kansas in 1955 and believes that God punishes the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality, particularly in America's military.

Actually, they believe that God punishes everybody, everywhere.

The church became known for protesting military funerals with signs reading messages like "God Hates Fags," "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," and "America is Doomed."

I tell you, my friends, it's a sin to pray for the USA And nobody that's intelligent, and that fears God, will fly the American flag any way but upside-down, the international signal of distress... It's too late to pray for the USA.

– Fred Phelps

Their legal strategy centres on conducting protests on public property whilst complying with all police guidance and maintaining peaceful behaviour. During protests, they stay approximately 1,000 feet from funeral services, notify authorities in advance, remain within designated areas, avoid shouting or profanity, and don't enter private property or disrupt services directly. This approach proved successful in their 2011 Supreme Court case Snyder v. Phelps, where they won an 8-1 ruling after being sued by a military father. The Court ruled that because they protested peacefully on public land about matters of public concern (the country's moral conduct and military policy), their speech received full First Amendment protection.

They've won millions of dollars, as a result.

The church follows hyper-Calvinist theology that teaches God pre-selects souls for salvation or damnation, making human choice irrelevant. Their core message frames their protests as warnings to a "doomed society" about divine judgement rather than attempts at conversion, viewing public confrontation as a spiritual duty mandated by God.

For ten long weary years prior to 9/11, WBC warned you daily on the mean streets of this nation that your sodomite sins will be avenged by an angry God except you repent. You persecuted us for our trouble, thereby aggravating your great transgression. On 9/11, God Almighty dealt backsliding America a staggering blow.

– Fred Phelps