SPECIAL ISSUE ON THE HOMOPHOBIC ACTIVIST REV. FRED PHELPS
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The Internet Anti-Fascist: Friday, 22 August 1999
Vol. 3, Numbers 67 (#320)
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HACKERS REVERSE MESSAGE ON ANTI-GAY WEB SITE
Robin Lloyd (CNN Interactive)
19 Aug 99
Hackers switched the message from hate to love on a notorious anti-gay
site on the Internet.
A 2-year-old Web site <godhatesfags.com> put up by Pastor Fred Phelps'
Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, was hacked Wednesday to re-
route visitors to <http://www.godlovesfags.com/>, featuring a pink and
purple pro-gay banner, links to gay news Web sites and a quote from
Ellen DeGeneres.
"Hate will not be tolerated on the Internet," said Kris Haight on
Thursday. Haight says he registered the domain name for the pro-gay
site more than a year ago and gave the OK for the re-routing within the
past two days. "Phelps teaches hate and a lot of it is untrue. People
who go to their site and want to find hate aren't going to find it, at
least until he gets the domain back."
The pro-gay site, usually visited daily by only a handful of people,
got 8,000 hits in the past 24 hours, Haight said. The pages were
written by Rich Macky of Omaha, Nebraska, Haight said. The switch did
not show up on all computers Thursday as it takes time for the re-
routing to take effect on servers worldwide.
Phelps' daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the hack is just one of
more than a dozen tricks played on the church's Web site in the past
two years.
"No, my dear, it's not all that drastic," she told CNN Interactive.
"It's just another fag ploy to try to bury the truth of God and the
Earth. It's a temporary inconvenience."
Phelps-Roper, who also serves as the church's attorney, said it would
take a couple days of paperwork on her end to correct the re-routing.
Fred Phelps, whose congregation regularly engages in anti-homosexual
picketing, demonstrated at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-
old gay man who was savagely beaten to death in a Wyoming hate crime.
Hacker hit DNS
Haight said he didn't know who originated the hack, which involves re-
routing godhatesfags.com visitors via the Domain Name System, a network
of servers which translates alphabetic domain names into numeric IP, or
Internet Protocol, addresses.
Haight, a 22-year-old gay man living in Newport, New Hampshire, said he
registered the pro-gay domain name a year or so ago when he found out
about Phelps site, which he says he found disgusting.
He recently received an anonymous e-mail advising him to watch the
Internet contact information for his site.
Wednesday, Haight got a chance to change that information. "I set up
the server to point godhatesfags to godlovesfags," he said. Later, he
received another e-mail saying the address swap worked.
Haight is part of a group of Internet denizens known as Mindsprung, a
play on the popular Internet service provider Mindspring. Haight owns
domain names for a couple other Web sites, including
<http://www.gaycollegeboys.com/>, an IRC chat discussion page.
Phelps-Roper said the 100-member church has been forced to switch
servers a few times due to all the digital attacks on the site. The
church sponsors another Web site -- godhatesamerica.com.
"We're busy people, not thwarted or detracted by one more assault on
our ministry," she said. "It's like 'ho hum'."
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STATEMENTS FROM <GODLOVESFAGS.COM>
20 Aug 99
Because of pressures from our Internet Provider's uplink, we have been
required to take down www.godhatesfags.com. We feel that we must comply
with the wishes of our uplink, and take down this page, or face
repercussions because of it.
As much as we hate to do this, we are also required to switch the
domain's ownership back to Benjamin Phelps. As much as we dislike Mr.
Phelps and his preachings, we realize if we took away his main
website, our site's purpose would be diluted. Soon this page will take
you back to godhatesfags.com. For now, you can get there by clicking
here: http://216.71.100.163/
We also feel that Mr. Phelps didn't win this battle. We both won. While
Mr. Phelps gets his domain back, our site served as a "digital picket
sign" in the face of those who wished to go to his site. Although we
gained the URL by no means of our own, we feel some good was done in
the last 3 days. Hate will not be tolerated and that the users of the
internet do stand up for one another, even if they don't always see
eye to eye.
We also feel that God has shined down upon us. As we quote from someone
who signed our guestbook.
"Congratulations! It seems that God has spoken."
We'd like to extend our thanks to everyone who has emailed and signed
our guestbook in support. We do hope you all come back to our site
after all of this is over and check us out. We will publish the text
of supportive and non-supportive email, clean the guestbook and
generally get the site back in order. Stop by soon!
Sincerely,
The Webmasters of www.godlovesfags.com
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n.d., downloaded 22 Aug 99
On the evening of August 17, 1999 we received an anonymous email
telling us to "pay close attention to the godhatesfags.com Internic
information over the next few days."
On August 18, 1999 at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, ownership
of the domain name www.godhatesfags.com was transferred to the owner of
GodLovesFags.com. While we are not aware of exactly how the domain was
transferred, please note that it was by no action of our own. We
received an authentication email from the Internic verifying the
transfer. From the appearance of the headers on the authentication e-
mail, the transfer was both authentic and legal.
DNS information for www.godhatesfags.com was then set up point to
www.godlovesfags.com. We did not hack any servers or web sites. We did
not hack any email systems. We rerouted a domain name that had been
transferred to our ownership.
When GodLovesFags.com was born on March 1, 1999 it was our intent to
put up a positive, affirming site that could serve as a resource to
gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual and transgendered persons of faith.
GodLovesFags.com is a non-denominational, non-discriminatory web site.
Our intent is to share a message of God’s love with people who have
traditionally been inundated with a message of hate -- and to monitor
the actions of those who spew hate in the name of God. As the site
continues to grow, we constantly ad links to information on other
faiths and even opposing viewpoints from time to time.
We don’t assume to tell anyone how to think, we are simply a resource.
For more information on the background of GodLovesFags.com, contact us
at the above email addresses.
Additional information:
Posts to the www.godlovesfags.com guestbook since 8/18/99: over 2,000
Visitors to www.godlovesfags.com since 8 p.m., 8/18/99: over 50,00
(and accelerating)
Visitors to www.godlovesfags.com between 3/1/99 and 8 p.m. 8/18/99:
7,500
Number of supportive emails received: 893 (and counting)
Number of hateful emails: 17
original godhatesfags.org now at <http://216.71.100.163/>
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INFORMATION ON THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH AND REV. PHELPS
Who are you, what do you do, and why do you do it?
source: <godhatesfags.com>
The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) of Topeka, Kansas, is an Old School
(or, Primitive) Baptist Church. In short, we adhere to the teachings of
the Bible, preach against all form of sin (e.g., fornication, adultery,
sodomy), and insist that the doctrines of grace be taught publicly to
all men. These doctrines of grace were well summed up by John Calvin in
his 5 points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election,
Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
Although these doctrines are almost universally hated today, they were
once loved and believed. For example, Augustine (one of the early
Church fathers), Martin Luther (the founder of the Lutheran Church),
John Knox (the founder of the Presbyterian Church), Augustus Toplady
(hymnist and leader in the Episcopal Church), Charles Spurgeon (a well-
known preacher), John Leland (who was partially responsible for our
First Amendment in the United States), and Abraham Lincoln (raised in a
tiny Old School Baptist church) are just a few examples of people who
have advanced these ideas. Please see The Doctrine of Absolute
Predestination by Jerom Zanchius. Most of the major Confessions of
Faith throughout the history of the New Testament Church have also
advanced these ideas. So, even though the Arminian lies that "God loves
everyone" and "Jesus died for everyone" are being taught from nearly
every pulpit in this generation, this hasn't always been the case. In
fact, if you are in a Church that supposedly believes the Bible, and
you are hearing these lies, then your church has apostatized. If you
are interested in this subject, we encourage you to do some independent
research on the history of the Church over the last several hundred
years, and, more importantly, we encourage you to carefully read the
entire New Testament.
WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the
homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We
display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments,
including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD
FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, NO NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD
GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, etc.
Perceiving the modern militant homosexual movement to pose a clear and
present danger to the survival of America, exposing our nation to the
wrath of God as in 1898 B.C. at Sodom and Gomorrah, WBC has conducted
some 15,000 such demonstrations during the last seven years at
homosexual parades and other events (including funerals of impenitent
sodomites, like Matthew Shepard). WBC teams have picketed major fag
parades in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Miami, San Diego,
Dallas, Orlando, Kansas City, etc. The unique picketing ministry of
Westboro Baptist Church has received national attention, and WBC
believes this gospel message to be America's last hope.
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A HateWatch interview with Reverend Fred Phelps
of the Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas
originally broadcast September 29, 1997
An exclusive interview with anti-gay protester, the Rev. Fred Phelps of
the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. Rev. Phelps has the vile
distinction of picketing the funerals of AIDS victims with signs that
read: "God Hates Fags"... "Thank God for AIDS"...and "AIDS Cure Fags"
His grandson, Benjamin runs the web site God Hates Fags.
HateWatch: Thank you for joining us today, Rev. Phelps.
Rev. Fred Phelps: Thank you for having me, sir.
HW: "God hates fags", "AIDS cures fags", "Thank God for AIDS". These
are what some of your signs say, that you and members of your church
carry during your demonstrations, demonstrations that include the
funeral of AIDS victims and even President Clinton's mother. Why do you
protest, target gays and lesbians, and how did this all begin?"
RFP: "Well, that's two real weighty questions. What I read that to ask
is, why do we preach to homosexuals and of course, the reason we preach
to them is, we're hoping that they will repent and abandon their self-
destructive life styles, because as you know, the bible is very plain
on the subject-- those who die in their sins go to hell and it lasts a
long time, the smoke of their torment is sendeth up forever and ever,
and they have no rest, day nor night. So the highest and noblest form
of love on this earth is to tell people the truth, especially on
weighty matters that involve such things as sin and righteousness and
judgment to come and heaven and hell and eternity. That's why we preach
to the homosexuals.
As to how did it all begin, this methodology, I suppose you mean, I've
been preaching this same gospel for 50 years now, ordained on Sept.
8th, 1947 and, but this methodology of taking to the public sidewalks,
to proclaim this message began in May of 1991, when we felt like we
didn't have any other way to proclaim this message and when we were
powerfully convinced that it was the only hope for this nation, let
alone for the homosexual community in this nation. And so we began
then, and the thing that triggered it was, at a park close to our
church, a municipal park, the homosexuals, militant and predatory and
active, had taken over that park and were molesting children, including
children that belonged to this church and their parents. And we tried
for two years, solid years, by letter writing and appearing before the
city council to get the authorities to enforce the law with respect to
those illegal activities of militant, violent homosexuals at Gage Park
near Westboro Baptist Church, to no avail.
So we started, we thought, in a modest way, by picketing on the
sidewalks at the park, to focus attention, thinking that thereby there
would be a public pressure mounted upon the city authorities, that they
would begin to enforce the law against these predatory homosexuals.
Well, sir, it didn't work. What happened was, we found out, that when
you call the police, when the homosexuals are out there breaking up our
signs and hitting us, that the police don't come and when they finally
get there, there are homosexuals among the police and they just stand
by and laugh as we are being assaulted and battered by these violent
homosexuals."
HW: "You say, "Thank God for AIDS". Do you believe that people who have
contracted HIV, deserve our compassion and assistance?"
RFP: "Well, that is compassion, and all things give thanks. A sovereign
God has interposed to put a little bit of restraint on these wild,
promiscuous, anal copulating beasts. That's what the bible calls them.
The bible metaphors ought to be used when you preach the truth. You
understand the bible is the only original source material on this
subject of homosexuality and the bible is full of it, that is, from
Genesis chapter 13, where they say the men of Sodom were sinners and
wicked and sinners exceedingly before the Lord, which is a hebrewism, a
trilogy, which means that's the most flagrant and blatant violation of
the laws of God that it's possible for a human being to engage in, run
right through the bible to the last chapter, Revelations 22, verse 15,
where they're said they're to be the leaders amongst that list of
egregious sinners who can never get to heaven, and there they're called
dogs. And through the scriptures, sodomites are called dogs, and
because they are impudent and promiscuous and the bitterness and
filthy. Called dogs. Second Peter, 2:22 for example, it is said that
even as it has come to pass, according to the true proverb, the dog has
returned again to eat his own vomit and the hog that was washed clean
has returned to wallowing in his own feces. Those are two elegant bible
metaphors to describe the nature, the filthy nature and disposition of
practising anal copulating sodomites"
HW: "Some gays and lesbians are victims of hate crimes commonly called
gay bashing. What should our response be to these crimes and to the
victims?
RFP: "Well, of course we got a lot of laws in place to take care of any
criminal activity directed towards anybody, but I can tell you sir,
that after being engaged in this activity, very extensively, I've never
seen a homosexual assaulted and battered, but our church members have
been the victims of homosexuals assaulting and battering and spitting
and throwing rocks and set off a bomb over at the church and
vandalizing the church, 17 times, and shooting the church sign out 13
times, and if you want to know the capacity of homosexuals to commit
violent crimes against those who are trying to help them by preaching
the truth to them, innocently, peacefully preaching the truth to them,
you oughta come and look at our church and look at our sign, we've left
it shot up now, since we fixed it the last time, about a year and a
half ago."
HW: "Your grandson, Benjamin, runs a web site called "God Hates
Fags.com", and on this site, there's a sound clip of you referring to
Elizabeth Taylor as a quote, "Jew whore". Why do you refer to Ms.
Taylor as this, and how do you view the internet as helping you get
your message out?"
RFP: "First is, why call Elizabeth Taylor a Jew whore? It is an
axiomatic matter of fact that Elizabeth Taylor is a Jew. Nothing to be
ashamed of. It is an axiomatic matter of fact widely known throughout
the civilized world and then some, that she's a whore. The Bible
defines a whore as anybody having sexual relationships, with any
others, and in any other context or connection, than bible marriage,
which is defined as one man, one woman, one lifetime. Any other sexual
connection is whoremongery and also called idolatry and the similar
verse is found in Hebrews 13:4, marriage is honorable in all times and
places and the marriage bed is undefiled but every other sexual
connection is defiled, and whoremongerers and adulterers, God will damn
in hell forever. She's a famous, promiscuous whore, Elizabeth Taylor.
Second only nowadays, to Princess Diana. Though we've got big signs
now, state of the art, color, with her face on it, that says, "Royal
Whore, in hell"."
HW: "What do you think that the internet will allow you to do, that
perhaps preaching on the street corners and protesting won't allow you
to do?"
RFP: "Well, it's just, any lawful methodology, whereby we can get this
message out, is what we intend to do. The media are totally controlled
by the sodomite agenda. The entertainment industry is totally
controlled by the sodomite agenda. The academia is totally controlled
by the sodomite agenda. Most all the churches now are controlled by the
militant sodomite agenda, and industry's only a little way behind, and
doggone near, the courts and the political institutions of this
country. What does that leave a gospel preacher with, except the
sidewalks, and now thankfully, the internet. Now, that's a good
answer."
HW: "Next month, you and members of your church are planning a protest
in Provincetown, Massachusetts, which has a substantial gay and lesbian
community. Why are you coming to Provincetown?"
RFP: "Well, because they made themselves famous. Remember, I told you a
bit ago, that whenever the homosexuals have some big thing or other,
anywhere in the United States, we try to go there. Now, Provincetown
has voluntarily entered into this debate and last month or, I think it
was last month, the school board, controlled by homosexuals, and the
school board president, being an out of the closet lesbian, voted
unanimously to begin teaching little 5 year old children, captive
audience, there by the state police power, impressionable children,
being taught by an authority figure, an agent of the state of
Massachusetts, in fact, that's it's OK to be gay. That's a religious
pronouncement. That's telling those little children, by the state of
Massachusetts, that what God Almighty says about that kind of conduct
being an abomination and a damnable sin that will send those little
children to hell in a heartbeat, is not true. That's what the serpent
told Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. You will not surely die,
has God said thou shall not? Ah, he didn't mean that. That's a
religious pronouncement, that's none of the state of Massachusetts's
business. So we're going up there, by the grace of God, and preach a
little truth to those poor lost souls on Oct. 17th."
HW: "What do you ultimately hope to accomplish from all your anti-gay
protesting and demonstrations?"
RFP: "Well, of course, the first thing I hope to accomplish is to
discharge the commission that was given to me when I was 17 years old,
by the First Baptist Church of Vernal, in Utah, when they ordained me
to preach this gospel, and that I should thenceforth and for the rest
of my life preach this word, be it in season or out of season and
reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine and
cry loud and spare not and lift up my voice like a trumpet, and show my
people their transgression. I must discharge that commission. The
apostle says a necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is me if I preach
not this gospel. So I've got a duty, I'll discharge it, in that way and
in that way only. The second thing I hope to accomplish is to glorify
God. When His word is preached without any ambiguity, and with a
certain amount of boldness, and with vigor and in it's fullness, and as
the apostle says, to declare the whole council of God, God is
glorified. The third thing I hope to accomplish, is by all means, to
save some. Jude says, by compassion for some, making a difference, but
by fear, or terrifying others, pulling them out of the fire, hating
even the garment that's spited by the flesh, I've got reason to believe
that there are some, if not many, homosexuals who have genuinely
repented and have broken off their filthy lifestyle and I'll see them
in heaven. Those three things I hope to accomplish. A collateral
benefit will be if we can turn this nation around, like Jonah did in
ancient Nineveh so they won't go the way of, this nation won't go the
way of Sodom and Gomorrah by fiery destruction from the wrath of God,
as it was in the days of Lot."
* * * * *
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a
prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research
and educational purposes only.
___________________________________________________________________
FASCISM:
We have no ethical right to forgive, no historical right to forget.
(No permission required for noncommercial reproduction)
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