Westboro Baptist Church Brings Anti-Gay Hate to NBA Play-offs
Dallas, Texas—
It’s not what fans coming to the game three of the NBA finals expected to see outside the American Airlines Center.
"What are they trying to do by standing here? It doesn't make any sense to me," spectator Richard May said.
"What are they trying to do by standing here? It doesn't make any sense to me," spectator Richard May said.
A handful of protesters, with their children by their side and the American flag under their feet, demonstrated against a new NBA policy on hurtful language toward gays. They're members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas.
"I think it's a little strange; a little crazy. I thought there were more constructive things to do," May said.
Several weeks ago, NBA commissioner David Stern put the policy in place, saying hateful language toward gays was unacceptable. Since then, Kobe Bryant and Joakim Noah have been fined for using gay slurs.
"Now David Stern, the tyrant commissioner of the NBA is jamming a message down the throat of America that not only is it okay to be gay, but you don't even want to use the word 'gay' in a negative connotation," church member Steve Drain said.
They demonstrated for one hour, with Stern's image plastered on one of the signs: "God hates f*gs. God hates f*g enablers. Therefore God hates David Stern and the NBA."
But demonstrators didn't get much support from the fans.
"I feel really bad for the kids. Adults have their reasons to have signs up. The kids feel like forced upon", basketball fan Shantee Rangnekar said.
"It's absolutely sad and ridiculous holding a sign saying god hates f*gs;" spectator Dawn Fisher said.
But one man rallied the crowd with his own on counter-protest.
"Gay or straight god will love you gay or straight, gay or straight. John 3:16; whosoever believes in him. Not republican, not democrats not straight people, whosoever believes in him, the unidentified man said.
"I think it's a little strange; a little crazy. I thought there were more constructive things to do," May said.
Several weeks ago, NBA commissioner David Stern put the policy in place, saying hateful language toward gays was unacceptable. Since then, Kobe Bryant and Joakim Noah have been fined for using gay slurs.
"Now David Stern, the tyrant commissioner of the NBA is jamming a message down the throat of America that not only is it okay to be gay, but you don't even want to use the word 'gay' in a negative connotation," church member Steve Drain said.
They demonstrated for one hour, with Stern's image plastered on one of the signs: "God hates f*gs. God hates f*g enablers. Therefore God hates David Stern and the NBA."
But demonstrators didn't get much support from the fans.
"I feel really bad for the kids. Adults have their reasons to have signs up. The kids feel like forced upon", basketball fan Shantee Rangnekar said.
"It's absolutely sad and ridiculous holding a sign saying god hates f*gs;" spectator Dawn Fisher said.
But one man rallied the crowd with his own on counter-protest.
"Gay or straight god will love you gay or straight, gay or straight. John 3:16; whosoever believes in him. Not republican, not democrats not straight people, whosoever believes in him, the unidentified man said.
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