Westboro Baptist Church

Answers to the Riverfront Times 2012 News Quiz

In January Riverfront Times published its annual "News Challenge" -- 78 multiple-choice questions testing how well readers paid attention to current events over the past twelve months. Within a week, more than 100 of you submitted your answers to us. A few weeks later a dozen readers e-mailed a simi ... More >>

Coloring Book Wants Kids to Know "Being Gay Is Okay"

"My dad and dad are gay. They love me just as much as my friends' moms and dads love them. I'm happy to be in a gay family." So reads a caption in Being Gay Is Okay, the latest children's novel from St. Louis publisher Really Big Coloring Books, a company that is no stranger to controversy. See a ... More >>

The Ten Best Concerts in St. Louis this Week: January 28 to February 3

February's shaping up to be a pretty crazy month for music. And by crazy, I mean crazy. With the likes of Lady Gaga and Blowfly in only the first week, it'll be hard to compete with the level of shenanigans that are sure to ensue (also, what's this business about Bearhug?). Hell, we're not exactly s ... More >>

The Six Best "Hey!"s in Rock and Roll

No musician puts a "Hey!" in a song for his/herself. "Hey!" is a social cue, an opportunity for engagement between a musician and the audience. It means nothing, but it means the same nothing to all of us and therefore means something, maybe even everything. Woah. Here are the six best "Hey!"s in ro ... More >>

RFT's 10 Biggest Stories of 2012

They're probably not the most important stories of 2012, but if you wish to really know what's up in St. Louis, make sure you've made it through the ten most-viewed articles on Riverfronttimes.com in 2012. Happy New Year! 10) Samantha Edwards: Charged With Naked Ice Capades in Greene CountyIt's all ... More >>

Gateway Pundit Says Westboro Baptist Church is "Left-Wing." So What Are His Views On Gays?

Over the past week, St. Louis-based political blogger Jim Hoft, a.k.a. Gateway Pundit, has caused a bit of an Internet stir by referring to Fred Phelps and his batshit-insane Westboro Baptist Church as a "left-wing cult."Left-wing? How could you possibly label a gay-bashing, abortion-hating, Obama-l ... More >>

Web Vigilantes Try To Flush Out "Adam Lanza" Twitter Account Owner; Mistakenly Threaten Elderly St. Charles Resident and Business

Since the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, most of the country has responded with prayer, grief, and calls for dialogue on gun control and mental illness. A small subset of the population, however, has used it as an excuse to become the world's worst people, starting Twitter accounts suppo ... More >>

Muslim Hunting: David Horowitz has made taunting college students a spectator sport. Sometimes he's actually right.

Federal Appeals Court Sides Against "God Hates Fags" Church On Law Limiting Funeral Protests

Federal appeals judges in St. Louis ruled today that yes, in fact, the City of Manchester does have the right under the Constitution to restrict where and when certain folks -- meaning the hate-spewing death-cult, Westboro Baptist Church -- can picket funerals. (Who would want to picket a funer ... More >>

Anti-Gay Chick-fil-A Ditched By Muppets, Humans, You? Vote Here!

It's never been a secret that Chick-fil-A, a fast food chain that is closed on Sundays and has previously spouted an anti-gay agenda, lacks a certain separation of church and chicken. We've shared our views on the company's politics before, as have many, and now it seems the rest of the world is tak ... More >>

Senate Passes Bill Criminalizing Protests Outside Churches

​State Senator Robert N. Mayer (R-Dexter) successfully passed his bill (SB755) yesterday that makes it illegal to disrupt religious services at any church, mosque, temple or other place of worship. The bill was inspired by the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church at the funeral of Christina Gree ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church Threatens to Protest Harrisburg, IL Tornado Victims' Funerals

​Not this bullshit again. The Westboro Baptist Church -- those laughable scamps with the collective IQ of a single beet -- announced on their blog that they're delighted that six people were killed by the tornado that touched down in Harrisburg, Illinois on Wednesday, February 29. So happy are the ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church To Raise Funds for LGBT Equality

​As reported earlier, the Westboro Baptist Church has scheduled a protest at Clayton High School on Monday, February 6. The WBC wants to publicly denounce the students and faculty for their inclusiveness and tolerance of others -- because they're dicks, you see -- and also because when the WBC do ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church to Protest Clayton High School

​Suppurating asshole Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church plan to bring their piquant blend of ignorance, religious hate and general dicketry to Clayton High School for a 30-minute protest on Monday, February 6, according to this batshit-crazy flier posted on his website. The group plans to ... More >>

The Six Most Absurd Pop Songs of 2011

​The old model of popular music: dumb it down to the lowest common denominator and make it go down easy. Reviewing the Billboard and iTunes charts of this past year, the tides have obviously changed. In days when nobody is buying, the flashiest, loudest, weirdest thing sells -- how else can yo ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church Wins Another Legal Battle in Missouri

​Whatever your thoughts are about the "God Hates Fags" mantra of the Westboro Baptist Church, it cannot be said that the organization does not know its rights and how to defend them in court. Once again the controversial, Kansas-based church has won a legal decision in Missouri. The latest came ye ... More >>

Seven Very Homoerotic Music Videos: We're in the Mood for Some Hot Man Muffin

​This week, the U.S. finally dealt with one of those pesky civil rights issues we've been putting off for a while. Don't Ask Don't Tell is now a sordid thing of the past, and we want to celebrate the only way we know how. We rounded up our favorite music videos that celebrate men loving men, w ... More >>

Foo Fighters at Scottrade Center, 9/17/11: Review and Setlist

Photo by Jon Scorfina. Read why we had no professional photos here. ​Mariachi El Bronx | Rise Against! | Foo Fighters Scottrade Center September 17, 2011 It's been a huge year for Dave Grohl. His band, Foo Fighters, began 2011 with its most reliable line-up of the group's existence. That was ... More >>

The Nine Most Bizzare Moments In Juggalo History

image via​Last week, as they do once a year, fans of Detroit hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse converged on Cave-in-Rock, Illinois (160 miles southeast of St. Louis) for the Gathering of the Juggalos. It's a time when fans of the band and their Psychopathic Records label mates convene for music, ... More >>

"Free Bird" is Actually, Seriously a Great Song

wikimedia commons​The extraneous requesting of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" is one of the longest running jokes in rock and roll history. It also ranks among the least funny. Each time a lazy heckler yells "Free Bird" at a rock band, a lose-lose situation results. The band is mocked and the he ... More >>

Bikers In Joplin Chase Off Religious Protester; But Was Man With Westboro Baptist Church?

A religious protester back pedals as hundred of counter-demonstrators give chase Sunday.​Have you seen the video yet of the bikers in Joplin chasing off the protester purported to be affiliated with the Westboro Baptist Church? The incident occurred Sunday when President Barack Obama was in Joplin ... More >>

Homophobia is Protected Speech

It's a marketplace of ideas. Some of them are terrible.​It's been a great week for folks who hate lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people -- and want the world to know about it.The Supreme Court today ruled 8-1 that those hate-spewing assholes from Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas are pr ... More >>

Point & Clique: The 2011 RFT St. Louis Web Awards

Westboro Baptist Church Sues St. Charles City; Wins Injunction vs. St. Charles County

Plaintiff Megan Phelps-Roper protesting in St. Louis last summer.​It took the Westboro Baptist Church just one day to sue St. Charles after the city last week enacted an ordinance restricting when and where protesters can picket during funerals. Westboro Baptist Church has made a name for itself i ... More >>

Finalists for RFT Web Awards -- Revealed!

​The votes are in for the RFT's first-ever Web Awards! And while we're not about to tell you who won -- not quite yet, anyway -- we've got the full list of finalists right here.The winners were nominated by you and chosen by our esteemed panel of judges. We'll be announcing the winners online next ... More >>

Finalists for RFT Web Awards -- Revealed!

​The votes are in for the RFT's first-ever Web Awards! And while we're not about to tell you who won -- not quite yet, anyway -- we've got the full list of finalists right here.The winners were nominated by you and chosen by our esteemed panel of judges. We'll be announcing the winners online next ... More >>

A Look Inside the Westboro Baptist Church

If you've missed KMOV's peek this week inside the Westboro Baptist Church, it's worth checking out. Reporter Craig Cheatham spent a few days in Topeka hanging out with Rev. Fred Phelps and his offspring -- which make up about 90 percent of the controversial "God Hates Fags" congregation. Here's one ... More >>

God Punished Missouri with Tornadoes, Says Westboro Baptist Church

The wingnuts with Rev. Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church plan to picket tomorrow at noon outside the St. Charles County administrative building. The controversial Kansas-based church, best known for its "God's Hates Fags" message, is upset that county council members are trying to block its membe ... More >>

The top ten St. Louis music news stories in 2010

Top Ten St. Louis Music News Stories of 2010

Wikimedia Commons​As the old saying goes, no news is good news. However, no local news makes for a rather-boring music section - or music blog, as the case may be. If you aren't a regular visitor to this here music blog, definitely become one: We compile breaking news, show reviews and local t ... More >>

The "God Hates Fags" Church Sues St. Charles County For Restricting Funeral Protests

godhatesfags.comShell hath no fury!​On Monday, St. Charles County passed an ordinance restricting one's ability to protest a funeral. Huge bummer for members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, who like to picket at military funerals. They believe that God orchestrates the murder of Ameri ... More >>

Weston, MO Townsfolk Block Phelps Hate-Fest

Weston isn't having this trash in their town​Anti-gay hate mongers from Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church were repulsed from a funeral by about half the small town of Weston in Platte County on Saturday.The people in the town got wind of the Westboro hate group's plan to protest the funeral of ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church to Picket Cardinals Game This Weekend. Let's Put Their Press Release to Good Use.

Image viaSeriously, this is just wrong.​Fred Phelps and his hate-spewing minions at the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church have made more than a few appearances in St. Louis this year. They picketed Lady Gaga at the Scottrade Center and a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium back in July. And now, it ... More >>

Lady Gaga Can't Save "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Image ViaLady Gaga at Monday's rally.​Missouri Senator Kit Bond joined his Republican colleagues and three Democrats yesterday in defeating a defense spending bill that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy allowing gays to openly serve in the armed forces. (Sen. Claire McCask ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church Wins Lawsuit vs. Missouri; Free to Protest Funerals Unrestricted

Rev. Phelps: Open for business in Missouri.​Two Missouri laws aimed specifically at controversial Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church were struck down yesterday in federal court in Jefferson City. State legislators passed the laws back in 2006. One prohibited protests near a church or ... More >>

Mizzou Law Professor Comes to Defense of Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church

Megan Phelps, grand-daughter of Fred, protesting outside a St. Louis concert last week.​University of Missouri law professor Christina Wells recently fired off a letter to the Supreme Court defending the free speech of the controversial Fred Phelps. As you'll recall, Phelps is the pastor of the We ... More >>

Photos: The Westboro Baptist Church's Lady Gaga Protest -- And the Counter-Protesters

Well, round two between Lady Gaga and the Westboro Baptist Church has come and gone. For the most part, it was anticlimactic: Only about six members of the Phelps clan showed up, and most of Gaga's fans ignored them. Additionally, the police did an excellent job partitioning the two groups, with ea ... More >>

The Westboro Baptist Church vs. Lady Gaga in St. Louis: Round Two

Kiss, kiss​Although round one of the Westboro Baptist Church vs. Lady Gaga was thwarted by inclement weather in January, it appears that round two will be happening this Saturday, July 17, before Gaga's Scottrade Center show. From 7:10 p.m. to 8 p.m., the group will be at the venue protesting ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church to Picket Cardinals Game Saturday

Fred Phelps: Knows a thing or two about Cardinals sin. ​The Rev. Fred Phelp's Westboro Baptist Church is planning to picket outside Busch Stadium this Saturday when the Cardinals are in town to face the Dodgers. The church announced the protest on its website, calling St. Louis "that evil city wit ... More >>

The Westboro Baptist Church Does Lady Gaga Karaoke, Part Two: The Snooze-worthy "Ever Burn"

​The Westboro Baptist Church -- which let a little snow and ice keep 'em away from a protest at Lady Gaga's January show at the Fabulous Fox -- is again vilifying the pop star for her ways. Specifically, Megan Phelps, the church's designated Lady Gaga karaoke queen, has re-done "Telephone" as ... More >>

Ass Clown(s) of the Week: Rev. Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church

Phelps packs it up after a convincing victory.​The votes are in and the first Ass Clown of 2010 goes to a man and his followers who are well accustomed to derision and buffoonery. Forty-one percent of Daily RFT readers last week picked Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church as Ass Clowns ... More >>

Ass Clown of the Week: Who's the First Moron of 2010?

​We're only eight days into the new year, but based on the number of outrageous and depraved acts revealed this week, oh what a year 2010 shall be! That said, it's time to vote on the year's first crop of Ass Clowns. Choose the local news-maker below who you think brought the most shame and disgra ... More >>

Lady Gaga Protesters and Supporters Cancel Tonight's Pre-Concert Events

As reported earlier today here on A to Z, Lady Gaga's fabulous show will still go on tonight as scheduled, despite the snow.But protesters and supporters of the singer have canned their respective grandstanding because of the weather.Which means drivers who happen to pass the Fox tonight around 7 p. ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Church Calls Off Protest of Tonight's Lady Gaga Show in St. Louis

Fred Phelps​As reported here at Daily RFT a couple weeks back, the Rev. Fred Phelps and the followers of his Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church planned to protest tonight's Lady Gaga concert at the Fox Theatre. Why? Because the "hussy" (a.k.a. Gaga) "teaches rebellion against God". Sadly, though ... More >>

The Westboro Baptist Church Does Lady Gaga Karaoke: "Yeah, You Just Got Your Whorish Face"

​On New Year's Eve, Megan Phelps, the granddaughter of Westboro Baptist Church pastor Fred Phelps, posted her own version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." The WBC, as you'll recall, will be protesting Gaga's sold-out January 7 show at the Fabulous Fox. (A counter-protest is also planned; more deta ... More >>

Protesters Will Get Gaga for Lady Gaga Before Her January 7 St. Louis Concert at the Fox Theatre

Human lightning rod Lady Gaga and her handlers aren't letting many press photographers into her show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on January 7, but there could be more news cameras outside the venue when her tour hits St. Louis.Timothy Norris / LA WeeklyLady Gaga at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles o ... More >>

The Westboro Baptist Church: Lady Gaga Is a "sleazy God-hater," "proud whore"

Wow. The Daily RFT just posted a press release from the Westboro Baptist Church, which states its intention to picket Lady Gaga's sold-out January 7 show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The release calls Gaga a "sleazy God-hater" and a "proud whore," among other things. Go read the entire thing here.

Last Week's Most Popular Daily RFT Posts, June 29-July 5, 2009

If you missed any of these items posted last week on the Daily RFT -- or were like some of us and just checked-out for the holidays by Monday -- here's your chance to catch up before you have to do any real work this morning.Michael Jackson Watched Donald Duck to Fall Asleep, Exercised with Incredib ... More >>

Oh, My GOD. Funeral Protests By Westboro Baptist Church Right-wingers Can Go On While America Goes to Hell

www.godhatesfags.comOn Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by the state of Missouri, which has a law banning protesters from funerals. Missouri passed the law in 2006 in order to banish the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church from disturbing the peace at military ... More >>

Clever Boy

He says he was too subtle for police; they say he wouldn't behave