Westboro’s Planned Protest of David Bowie’s Funeral Backfires in the Most Beautiful Way Possible [View all]

[KamaAina]

http://usuncut.com/news/westboro-baptist-bowie/

The greatest trolls in the world, the Westboro Baptist Church, are preparing to protest at the funeral of David Bowie. But rather than inciting outrage from observers, as is their traditional modus operandi, Westboro’s action is prompting America to respond with compassion.

Earlier this week, Bowie died of cancer at age 69. The Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church — known for picketing funerals of U.S. soldiers killed overseas waving signs that say “GOD HATES FAGS” — has pledged to be at Bowie’s funeral with offensive signs in tow saying things like, “GOD SENDS THE CANCER.” They even went so far as to parody David Bowie’s Fame with a homophobic, condemning-the-masses remake called Shame.

In response to Westboro’s hate-filled action, the organization Planting Peace, which operates the rainbow flag-colored Equality House across the street from the Westboro compound, is instead using the opportunity to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of Bowie to help find cures for cancer. Planting Peace president Aaron Jackson told the Huffington Post he wanted to turn the negativity of the Westboro protest into something that created value:

“David Bowie inspired generations of people who loved him for his music, his artistry, and his larger than life personas… He was a role model when it came to transcending any social norms or boundaries with his individuality and personal expression. He taught us all that being different was something to embrace and celebrate. This is a small gesture to honor his legacy and the difference he made to so many. When the WBC began tweeting hateful messages to Mr. Bowie’s family and targeting various memorials for picketing, we felt like launching a fundraiser and providing a positive outlet for support that will help children and families battling cancer would be the perfect way to honor Mr. Bowie and show that acts of love and compassion speak louder than messages of hate.”