Westboro Baptist to Picket Funeral of Elizabeth Taylor

The Wackos from Westboro are at it again. As the world mourns the loss of a beloved Hollywood legend and fierce AIDS activist, Margie Phelps, daughter of Anti-Christ Fred Phelps, tweeted the following yesterday:

"No RIP Elizabeth Taylor who spent her life in adultery and enabling proud fags. They cuss her in hell today. #Westboro will picket funeral!"

The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Phelps klan has the right to protest outside the funerals of military personnel killed in action, which has emboldened the family.

"Fred Phelps and his vitriolic anti-gay followers are simply trying to exploit their so-called 'faith' by spreading messages of hate at a time when Americans are grieving the loss of an extraordinary woman, actress and advocate," GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios tells E! News.

"Overwhelmingly, communities of faith are beginning to embrace lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender congregants and sending messages that promote equality for all. GLAAD is urging media to share Elizabeth Taylor's legacy with stories of hope and acceptance, and which highlight her life's work to create a world in which everyone is respected and valued for who they are."

Not to take this lying down, the LGBT community has already begun to take action. Counter protests are being organized via FaceBook. Click here to take part.

Related articles

• Westboro Baptist Church Losers Threaten Elizabeth Taylor Funeral Boycott (thehollywoodgossip.com)
• Westboro Baptist Church Plans to Protest Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral (newsfeed.time.com)
• Anti-Gay Church Reveals Plan to Picket Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral (eonline.com)

GLAAD & HRC Demand Apology From Letterman Over Transphobic Joke

David Letterman's pathetic attempt at humor Tuesday night at the expense of Amanda Simpson, a trans woman appointed by President Obama as Technical Adviser at the Commerce Department, has put him in the cross hairs of The Gay and Lesian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Both groups have written letters to the "Late Show" host and to CBS calling on Letterman to apologize.

The joke, posted here yesterday depicts "Late Show" announcer Alan Kalter running screaming from the studio in a fit of trans panic after Dave announced Ms. Simpson's appointment.

HRC wrote, "The decision to ignore the fact that Ms. Simpson is incredibly well-qualified for this vital national security position and focus instead on her gender identity reflects transphobia.”

“You may not be aware that the punch line in your skit has been used as a defense in nearly every hate crime perpetrated against transgender people that has come to trial."

 The letter from GLAAD president Janet Barrios reads, “Amanda Simpson and transgender people want the same things all Americans do: to earn a living and be recognized for their contributions to society. Instead of using humor to raise awareness about the lives of transgender people, the show ridiculed the first transgender presidential appointee and one of the most vulnerable minorities in this country.”

“By promoting unfair and cruel reactions to transgender people, the David Letterman Show is feeding an epidemic of discrimination and violence that currently faces transgender Americans,”

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• HRC and GLAAD Slam Letterman (slog.thestranger.com)
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• Gay Group Demands Letterman Apologize for Mocking Transgender Appointee Amanda Simpson (abcnews.go.com)
• Transwoman Amanda Simpson Appointed To Department Of Commerce (lezgetreal.com)
• Amanda Simpson, First Transgender Presidential Appointee, Begins Work at Commerce Department: 'Being The First Sucks' (huffingtonpost.com)