US: Court smacks down God Hates Fags church’s bizarre legal challenge
A Kansas court has rejected an attempt by the Westboro Baptist Church to intervene in a same-sex marriage court case.
The notoriously homophobic group are known for their āGod Hates Fagsā banners and picketing funerals āĀ but filed a desperate attempt to interveneĀ and block same-sex weddings in Kansas this month.
The briefĀ claimed: “If this Court requires Kansas officials to treat what God has called abominable as something to be respected, revered, and blessed with the seal-of-approval of the government, that will cross a final line with God.
āThe harm that will befall this state, when the condign destructive wrath of God pours out on Kansans is the ultimate harm to the health, welfare and safety of the people.
āThe description of the utter annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah and three nearby cities is stark, and directly tied to homosexuality.ā
District Judge Daniel Crabtree – who alreadyĀ ruled earlier this week that the statesās ban on equal marriage violates the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution – delivered a seven-page rebuke of the group’s arguments.
He said in part: “The Court has considered each of these arguments, and concludes that they fail to make the compelling showing required.
“There is no evidence that Kansas officials would require WBC to participate in same-sex marriages or otherwise require WBC to tolerate same-sex marriages in their ministry.
“Permitting WBC to intervene to litigate a non-existent controversy only would clutter and confuse the issues needlessly.”
Same-sex weddingsĀ are set to begin across Kansas – including in Topeka, where theĀ church is based – on Tuesday.
