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  I left Westboro — and now I’m fighting for gay equality
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ContributorCOSDem 
Last EditedCOSDem  Apr 16, 2013 12:11pm
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CategoryGeneral
AuthorLibby Phelps Alvarez
MediaNewspaper - New York Post
News DateMonday, April 15, 2013 06:10:00 PM UTC0:0
DescriptionI’m sitting in the living room of the Topeka “Rainbow House,” looking out across the street at the church that used to be my home. I’m so close. And I’m really nervous. I don’t want anyone to see me. I don’t want to disappoint my parents.

But I like hanging out with the guys here. I’ve been here a few times now. I like how open they are, and how I can have conversations with them about anything. Growing up, I would always be afraid of getting things wrong, afraid of what my family would think of me if I did.

I knew what the rainbow colors meant when I first saw the house — I’ve picketed gay pride parades before, after all. I don’t quite know what I think about it all. It’s not like I want everyone to be gay. But I think everyone should be treated equally.

This is not the kind of teaching I grew up with. My grandfather, Fred Phelps, is the founder of Westboro Baptist Church.

Gramps, as I called him, is a Southern gentleman. You just want to be in his orbit. He’s always very sweet with Gran, always gives her kisses. But with Gramps and my dad — Fred Phelps Jr. — the only way to get their love and affection was to talk about hell. I remember sitting by the pool in the backyard when I was young, writing in my pink notebook about hell and the descriptions of it. Gramps came up to me and kissed me on the forehead and said, “I love you. I love you. I love you.” Three times in a row.
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