Shawnee Mission East High School

The students of Shawnee Mission East High in Topeka, Kansas didn't set out to be heroes when they elected a gay Homecoming King in 2008. The election incited Westboro Baptist Church, a group known for picketing the funerals of soldiers with hateful anti-gay messages, to come to Topeka and picket the school. The students turned the protest into an opportunity to spread their message of love and tolerance and raise funds for AIDS organizations.

When Westboro members, led by pastor Fred Phelps, waved signs with messages such as “God hates fags” and “America is doomed”, the students responded with “God loves everyone” and “Jesus wouldn't hate, why should you?” They started an impromptu fund for AIDS research and pledged to donate for every minute that Westboro remained on the street corner by their school. An hour later, the protesters had left and the students had raised $5,000.

After Kansas and national news sources picked up the story, the students were nominated for the Wings of Justice award “for their courageous efforts to ensure that America remains a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people.” Their principal stated that he “could not have been more proud of our kids” when he learned of the award.

What can we learn from this successful counter-protest? First, we should try to see opportunity within adversity - they transformed an attack by a hate group into a fundraiser and a further chance to show their support for LGBT students. Second, love and respect are an effective response to rage and intolerance. The students countered Westboro without stooping to their level of discourse. Their positive attitude in the face of hate has earned them a place of honor in our community's history.