Westboro Baptist Church recruits Pokémon in fight against LGBT community
The God Hates Fags group is using Jigglypuff in its ongoing bid to promote homophobia.
Following the release of the eagerly-anticipated Pokémon Go, it seems some users are preparing to battle beasts of a different kind.
The new augmented reality game – which connects to a user’s phone GPS – has sent fans battling in local parks, shopping centres, popular landmarks… and the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC)?
As people across the US dedicated their weekends to catching them all, one Pokémon Go user noticed that the WBC was listed as a gym on the app.
The user – nicknamed ‘PinkNose’ – decided to take over the gym, with help of the Pokémon Clefairy.
However, the group – famous for picketing funerals and spewing homophobia across America – was quick to retaliate, using popular, pink Pokémon Jigglypuff.
“We try to speak whatever language is being spoken,” said Steve Drain – a WBC elder.
Drain insisted that Pokémon Go is light entertainment, despite saying that some might idolise the game over religion – a sin in itself, according to the Bible.
Although Jesus Christ is a fan – apparently…
“Pokémon Go and sin no more. That’s what the lord Jesus Christ said,” Drain added.
“This little church, as despised and vilified as we are, the location of this church will be memorialised throughout eternity.
“We’re willing by God’s grace to say that homosexuality is wrong, and that’s what we’ve been known for, even though we preach the whole counsel of God.”
It was unclear at the time of publication whether a Pokémon battle has ensued between the Clefairy and Jigglypuff.
Luckily, the popular fictional creatures are normally used for good.
As every Pokémon trainer knows, adventures begin with a single choice – usually between a fire type, a water type and a grass type.
So when Brett proposed to Max last year, he decided their life adventure should begin in the same way – custom-designing three ‘starter’ rings and Pokéballs to hold them.
