Boise, Idaho -
The Boise Parks and Recreation Commission has rejected plans to erect a monument condemning homosexuality.
Boise is the latest community the Rev Fred Phelps has targeted for the six foot statue that would bear a picture of Matthew Shepard, the gay student beaten and left to die in an anti-gay attack. The monument would bear the inscription: "Matthew Shepard, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."
Phelps has said he intends to place the monuments in parks across the country that have statues honoring the Ten Commandments, following a ruling by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that any city that displays a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow monuments espousing the views of other religions or political groups on that same property.
Phelps wanted the statue placed in Boise's Julia Davis Park. The commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend the city reject the plan. The decision must still be ratified by city council.
One of those on the commission who voted against the monument was Bryan Fischer, a local pastor and conservative Christian leader.
Fischer called Phelps´ language "inflammatory."
“I believe homosexual behavior is destructive,” Fischer said, adding that he would fight “with every fiber of his being” not to embrace it. But he said he would fight with the same fervor to keep Phelps and others from saying God hates homosexuals. “God does not hate homosexuals,” Fischer said. “God loves sinners.”
Shirley Phelps-Roper, attorney for the Westboro church and also Fred Phelps´ daughter, said the church may file a discrimination lawsuit.
The Phelps' clan has announced plans to stage protests in Boise this weekend.
Casper, Wyoming, the hometown of Matthew Shepard, and Greene County, Tennessee have also rejected the monuments.
©365Gay.com® 2003
Boise is the latest community the Rev Fred Phelps has targeted for the six foot statue that would bear a picture of Matthew Shepard, the gay student beaten and left to die in an anti-gay attack. The monument would bear the inscription: "Matthew Shepard, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."
Phelps has said he intends to place the monuments in parks across the country that have statues honoring the Ten Commandments, following a ruling by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that any city that displays a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow monuments espousing the views of other religions or political groups on that same property.
Phelps wanted the statue placed in Boise's Julia Davis Park. The commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend the city reject the plan. The decision must still be ratified by city council.
One of those on the commission who voted against the monument was Bryan Fischer, a local pastor and conservative Christian leader.
Fischer called Phelps´ language "inflammatory."
“I believe homosexual behavior is destructive,” Fischer said, adding that he would fight “with every fiber of his being” not to embrace it. But he said he would fight with the same fervor to keep Phelps and others from saying God hates homosexuals. “God does not hate homosexuals,” Fischer said. “God loves sinners.”
Shirley Phelps-Roper, attorney for the Westboro church and also Fred Phelps´ daughter, said the church may file a discrimination lawsuit.
The Phelps' clan has announced plans to stage protests in Boise this weekend.
Casper, Wyoming, the hometown of Matthew Shepard, and Greene County, Tennessee have also rejected the monuments.
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
