In Langley’s performance of “The Laramie Project,” there is a scene in which members of the Westboro Baptist Church protest the funeral of Matthew Shepherd, the boy whose death forms the premise of the play. Shepherd was killed due to his open sexual orientation as a gay man. On the Friday that the Laramie Project was set to premiere at Langley, that same Church announced on their website that they would protest the play (at Langley) on Saturday, Dec. 18 because it “spread homosexual propaganda.”
The Westboro Baptist Church has attracted the media’s attention for months because of its protests, which usually take place at military funerals and other public events. Because the message it spreads focuses on “anti-homosexual propaganda,” “The Laramie Project” has also been one of its targets.
“Matthew Shepherd died for his sin and the rebellion he was taught by his mother and father. He is in hell,” said Shirley Phelps-Roper, the Church’s spokeswoman.
In the days leading up to the opening of Langley’s performance of the play, word of the possible protest began to spread among the student body; some students even threatened a counter-protest in response. However, the cast and crew of “The Laramie Project” stayed adamant in their desire that nobody engage in such protests against the church. “The ultimate counter-protest would have been to sit down and watch the play,” said junior Alex Van Lichenstein, a Laramie cast member.
However, at the Saturday performance of the play, members of the Westboro Baptist Church were not in attendance, and any plans of a counter protest were discarded. “We had other places to be,” said Phelps-Roper. “We are a small church, we try to get to many places, and some days something has to get bumped off the schedule.”
The Church’s absence was no surprise to Principal Matthew Ragone, who claims that this is a common outcome of many of its proposed protests. “They don’t usually come out and protest when they say they will. Their goal is to make everyone’s blood boil to the point of counter attack, but students know to ignore them,” he said.
The Church’s attention to the play was one of many controversies surrounding it. But the cast is nonetheless proud of their accomplishments. “We realized the magnitude of our play and the worldwide controversial issue on which it touches, so we were just so grateful for the opportunity to present it,” said junior cast member Taylor Goodson.
“I am so proud of the students for being so bold and organizing a counter protest. This play spreads a message in a very effective way. Getting the attention of the Church itself was a victory,” says Mr. Ragone.
Despite the Church’s absence, Phelps-Roper had some final words for Langley students.
“All the rebellion of this nation has brought the wrath of God upon you. The time is so very, very short, the destruction of Doomed America is imminent.”