Anti-gay pickets draw counterdemonstrators

KENNEBUNK – Sunday’s anti-gay pickets at churches in this coastal town drew a crowd of counterdemonstrators and words of scorn from Maine religious groups, but police said there was no violence.

About a dozen followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., showed up to picket against homosexuality. Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were on the protesters’ itinerary.

Phelps’ followers, who held signs saying that God hates homosexuals, were far outnumbered by counter-demonstrators, who held signs with messages such as “No Hate Here” and “Satan Loves Bigots.”

Aside from a shoving match and some shouts between the two sides, there were no confrontations as the area was well-patrolled by local and state police.

Phelps, who was not present at the Maine demonstrations Sunday, said earlier that Kennebunk was targeted in response to Maine’s referendum on gay rights earlier this month. His church has about 200 members.

The anti-bias proposal was narrowly rejected statewide despite overwhelming support in the southern Maine town. In 1998, Maine voters repealed a gay rights law that had been enacted by the Legislature.

Before Sunday’s events, the Christian Civic League of Maine condemned what it labeled as Phelps’ “message of hate.”

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland issued a statement Saturday saying, “It is a tragedy and scandal that these demonstrations will take place in the name of religion.”

Phelps’ followers were next headed for New Hampshire for a protest at a private school, and Vermont, which has legalized same-sex civil unions.

Westboro Baptist Church members have picketed at the funerals of homosexuals, including that of Matthew Shepard, who was brutally beaten and tortured in Wyoming in October 1998.