As I'm sure many people reading my blog know, there's a guy named Fred Phelps who protests homosexuality (and anything that he can leverage into publicity) in the name of Christ.  In the past he and his group have protested at a variety of functions including funerals for those killed during war and high schools, waving their "God Hates Fags" signs and making a general nuisance of themselves.

This was taken from the site Phelps-a-Thon.com - a web site geared at turning these protests into fundraising opportunities for the very people Phelps is protesting.  By supporting this site, and the groups therein, we are able to take some of the sting out of the hatred that's being spread and we can actually look forward to these opportunities to raise money for groups that support and affirm GLBT youth.  I realize it's not a solution, but it's a step in the right direction and it gives people who might not otherwise be able to respond a chance to do something... and maybe it'll give the Phelps Team a reason to leave early!

I found out about this site because Fred Phelps' group will be here this Thursday, protesting two events.  One of them is North Central High School's production of The Laramie Project, a story about the town where Matthew Shephard lived and their reactions to his violent murder.  I was invited to attend this event and though I won't be able to join the counter-protest, I will certainly watch the play and I'm lending my money to the cause.

Now that I know about this site I'll be bookmarking it and looking for more opportunities to respond to the hate that's being put forth in the name of Christ.  Even if you're still not sure about supporting GLBT organizations, I hope you'll investigate both this site and the work of Fred Phelps and understand the evil he's spreading and the need for some light.