[LCC] BBC: Phelpses excluded from UK

[Terrence Lockyer]

BBC NEWS
Anti-gay preachers banned from UK

* A father and daughter from a US church which preaches 
hatred of homosexuals have been banned from entering 
the UK by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. *

Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from 
the Westboro Baptist Church had urged protests against 
a play being put on in Hampshire.

Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke is staging The 
Laramie Project, a play about a man killed for being 
gay.

The UK Border Agency said it opposed "extremism in all 
its forms".

A spokesman added: "Both these individuals have engaged 
in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a 
number of communities.

* 'Punished by God' *

"The government has made it clear it opposes extremism 
in all its forms.

"We will continue to stop those who want to spread 
extremism, hatred and violent messages in our 
communities from coming to our country.

"The exclusions policy is targeted at all those who 
seek to stir up tension and provoke others to violence 
regardless of their origins and beliefs."

The Westboro church's website advertised the picket 
which was set to take place on Friday, proclaiming: "In 
merry old England they plan to further enrage the 
living God by putting on the farce known commonly as 
The Laramie Project.

"We will picket them, and see if they actually believe 
those lies they tell about how tolerant and accepting 
Brits are."

Hampshire Police said they were aware of the planned 
protest and officers were monitoring the situation.

The church was unavailable for comment on whether it 
expected UK-based members to carry out a protest at the 
college.

Members of the group - based in Topeka, Kansas - have 
denounced homosexuality for years and have in the past 
targeted the funerals of Aids victims.

In 2007, the church was told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) 
after its members cheered a soldier's death as 
"punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/hampshire/7898972.stm

Published: 2009/02/19 12:45:20 GMT

© BBC MMIX

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Posted by
Terrence Lockyer
Johannesburg, South Africa