First and foremost, let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of your work-
( can’t wait till you come to DC in April) And I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences at the tragic and untimely passing of Heath Ledger. As a Gay man, I would like to thank you for being a voice for our community. But as a gay man AND a christian- the Phelps clan and their interpetations of homosexuality and the bible are completley off base. I am baffeled that “conservative” christians constantly use one scripture in the book of Leviticus to justify their ignorance and intolerance. (Im’ getting on my soap box now and need to set the record straight on a few things- scriptually, that is) That particular passage of the bible refers to the Holiness code- written over 2000 years ago. It also says ( on the same page) that you couldn’t wear two different types of fabric on your body at the same time. Your couldn’t touch a woman on her period or you would be unclean for seven days. and for eating shellfish- you could be stoned to death! You couldn’t eat meat that had been dead for three days- and over SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY OTHER RULES. “Man should not lie with man as man lies with woman, it is an abomination.” in 21st century english, “abomination” means- something that makes God want to vomit. BUT- 2000 years ago, the “abomination” was the pagan sex rituals where entire families would have sex with one another in order to ensure fertillity. If you historically look back at all of the pagan civillizations that the children of Isreal came into contact with, (the babalonians, assyrians, cannanites, thessolonians, egyptian* 400years) you will see that was the case. Now with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, (which is used quite frequently to bash us) God decided to destroy the city before the angels even got there! (no kidding, it’s all there, check it out for yourself- and tell me Im’ wrong!) There are two different ways of interpeting the bible- the literal method- which is simply taking the text and interpeting it as it stands, leaving no room for study, spiritual growth, or development. The second, is the Historica-Critical method of interpetation. Taking into account the language that the people where speaking in over 2000 years ago, and researching exactly what the circumstances where at the time the text was written. The prior- (also called fundamentalism) has been responsible for NUMEREOUS attrocities during the course of human history. ( the crusades, the salem witch trials, the subjugation of women in the chruch and as property, numerous holy wars, the spanish inquisition, and let’s not forget about african enslavement.) Furthermore, the word “homosexual” was not even a part of the english language until 1935! the word in the times of the bible was “eunuch.” There is even a passage in the bible where Jesus says of the eunchs: ” There are those who where made eunuchs by men, those who chose to become eunuchs, and those who were BORN eunuchs- to best serve the glory of the Kingdom of God.” (scriptually clearing up yet another mystery- BORN GAY) and even ANOTHER passage where God speaks of the Eunuchs: “Let not the Eunuch say that I am a dry tree, for if they walk in my precepts and honor my ways, I shall give their name a place on the wall in my eternal city in a place which is higher than that of sons and daughters.” But you never would hear that from “reverend” Phelps. It’s all in the same bible. Jesus gave a STERN warning to people that use the bible to further their owns selfish and hateful ambitions: “WOE TO THE SHEPHEARD WHO SCATTERS THE FLOCK.” What did Jesus say about homosexuality? NOTHING.
Sorry to fly off on a tangent- but I feel that needed to be said.

I’ll be at your show when you come to DC — can’t wait. I’ll be happy again come April!

I mean, picketing people’s funerals? Wtf is that?

R.I.P. Heath Ledger