Community pledges will raise money for every minute Phelps pickets

Denver - The Colorado Anti-Violence Program and the Center’s Legal Initiative’s Project (CLIP) today announced the kick-off of a 10 day "Lemonade Campaign", asking Colorado community members who oppose Fred Phelps' message of hate to pledge money for every minute that he pickets here in Denver.

"It’s a very simple idea," said organizer Denise de Percin, Executive Director of the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, "for every minute he pickets, Phelps will raise money for the people and community he hates. We are turning something negative into something positive for the entire community, making lemonade out of a very sour, bitter bunch of lemons."

Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, is scheduled to picket in Denver at the City and County Building from 4 – 5:30 p.m. on March 25th. A notorious homophobe, Phelps is coming to protest a ruling by Judge John Coughlin in the joint parenting arrangements of two mothers and their daughter. The judge, in addition to guaranteeing equal parenting time for the both mothers, also ruled that Cheryl Clark, who since the breakup of the relationship has become an Evangelical Christian, "make sure that there is nothing in the religious upbringing or teaching that the minor child is exposed to that can be considered homophobic."

"Children deserve the broadest possible safety net we can give them. That includes two willing and responsible adults who raise and care for a child," commented Mike Brewer, Public Policy Director of the GLBT Community Center of Colorado, and former Legal Director with CLIP.

"We’ve already had overwhelming support for the campaign," commented de Percin. "Over a dozen very diverse community leaders have pledged their support, and are encouraging others to do the same. The message to Phelps is clear: we can all agree that Colorado is not the place for his hatred and violence."

Phelps is known for "celebrating" the deaths of gay men who die of AIDS, and most recently has been trying to erect a memorial to "commemorate the day Matthew Shepard entered hell" in public parks in Casper Wyoming. Phelps, who operates the website www.godhatesfags.org, also plans to picket at several area churches in Denver on March 28th.

Funds raised from pledges to the Lemonade Campaign will be divided between the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, the Colorado Legal Initiatives Program, and Dr. Elsey McLeod, the lesbian mother in the custody case that Judge Coughlin ruled on, to help defray her legal expenses. "Of course we’ll send Phelps a very nice thank-you note for his generous support," added de Percin.

Plans are also in the works for a "Diversi-Tea" that will be held during the time Phelps is picketing in Denver on the 25th.

"We’re really encouraging people to stay away from Phelps, and not to interact with him at all. We want to offer people an alternative, positive event that celebrates real Colorado values – respect, inclusion, and celebration."

The Diversi-Tea will serve tea with lemon, lemonade, lemon cookies and lemon bars at a location that will be announced. "There are some security issues in finding the right place for the Diversi-Tea," commented de Percin. "And we don’t want Phelps showing up at our party."

People can pledge by going to the website www.blacktie-colorado.com/lemonade. If you have any problems pledging at the Blacktie website, contact the Colorado Anti-Violence Program at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Founding Lemonade Pledge Supporters

• Cathy Hazouri, ACLU
• Rep. Mark Larson - Cortez
• Rabbi Steven Foster, Congregation Emanuel
• Linda Meric, 9-5 National Association of Working Women
• Bill Vandenberg, Colorado Progressive Coalition
• Bruce DeBoskey, Anti-Defamation League
• Joyce Bignell, The National Conference for Community and Justice
• Kristen Thomson, Women’s Agenda
• Jack Finlaw, Director, Arenas and Theaters
• Sen. Jennifer Veiga – Denver
• Lisa Calderon, Colorado Unity
• Rep. Alice Madden – Boulder
• Mitch Ackerman, SEIU Local 105
• Rev. Phil Campbell, Park Hill Congregation Church
• Trish Thibodo, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Rep. Mike Cerbo – Denver
• Marge Taniwaki