Westboro
Protesters No Match for Oregonian Allies

As four fundamentalist protesters gathered outside of Silverton, Ore.'s City Hall Monday to protest its transgender mayor, residents of the city came out to counterdemonstrate in support of their mayor, Stu Rasmussen.

The four protesters from Fred Phelps's controversial Westboro Baptist Church stood spread out on North Water Street, standing on American flags, hoisting signs in the air that read "God Hates You," "You're Going to Hell," and "Fag Media Shame." They traveled through the state on Monday, first landing at Portland State University, and the Swedish, German, and Finish consulates in the Portland area before heading south to Silverton.

About 150 people came together, facing them on the opposite side of the street to counter-protest, according to The Oregonian. Their signs read "My Love Is Bigger Than Your Hate" and "We Love Stu."

As the four protesters stood defiantly on the street, Silverton residents young and old, some cross-dressing themselves, came out to support their mayor.

Victoria Phelps, the 16-year-old daughter of the Topeka, Kan., church's founder, said the group was there to protest an "abomination."

"I don't expect for it to sink in, but it's our duty to come out here and preach to these people because they're so proud of having a transvestite mayor," she said. "It's disgusting. And where was it? Was it Isaiah? Deuteronomy? About it being an abomination?"

Rasmussen, a former mayor of Silverton, was returned to that office by voters earlier this month in a race against incumbent Ken Hector. He dresses as a woman but still identifies as a man. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)