How to make a positive from an extremist’s actions: Use your moral imagination.

I think it is fairly clear how I feel about human rights. I'm a fan of them. For everyone. Even for people with whom I disagree. Maybe even especially for people with whom I disagree. That's what human rights means. Not just rights for the people who love me and agree with me and support the same causes as I do, but Every Single Human Being. And it's hard sometimes to love unlovable people, but there you have it. That's the challenge we face. It is easy to love lovable people. Not so much the hateful despicable ones who fight us.

We are blessed, particularly in this country, to be able to speak up about what we believe in. I do that regularly, and I do it with great respect for opposing viewpoints. I know that great fervor comes from great conviction, and I can respect that, even when I know that the conviction itself springs from ignorance. Respecting it doesn't mean, however, that I cannot raise my voice in opposition to those people who feel so strongly about something that they feel compelled to trample on the rights of others. Fred Phelps and his hate-spewing congregants would be one of those groups. My god isn't a god who shows up at a dead teen's funeral with huge signs announcing that he is now in hell because he is gay. My god doesn't even come close to that.

I think it is also fairly clear if you have been reading this blog for any length of time that I strive to be an effective advocate and ally to people who are straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, questioning, intersex, and beyond–right across the whole spectrum of our human experience. An advocate, an ally. Sweet, beautiful humans, we are all on that spectrum somewhere, and all those positions on that spectrum are connected, each informing the other.

I hope it is also clear from the words on this blog that I don't believe yelling at irrational people who are attached to being right helps anything. And that sometimes, I understand I need to give up my own attachment to being right.

When Matthew Shepard was murdered, I was outraged, OUTRAGED, by the appearance of Fred Phelps and his followers at Matthew's funeral, spewing hateful language at those in pain, those coming to say goodbye to a beautiful boy they loved.

Tomorrow, Phelps and his group will protest at North Central High School in Indianapolis that is hosting a production of the powerful play, "The Laramie Project," a theater production that centers around Shepard's death. In a fantastic twist, that very protest will be used to raise funds to support LGBTQIA students. They are asking people to pledge an amount per minute that the Phelps group protests. The more Phelps protests, the more money will be raised to support equality efforts:

When the Phelps group comes to North Central High School to protest, they will actually be raising money for LGBT equality at the school!

We are hosting a Phelps-A-Thon to counter Fred Phelps’ hateful message.  For every minute the “God Hates Fags” clan is protesting, we will be collecting donations that will be split between the North Central High School Gay/Straight Alliance and Indiana Youth Group (IYG). (Pledge Online) “IYG provides a safe place, a confidential environment, youth development programs and support services which foster personal strength and wellness among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. IYG advocates on their behalf in schools, on the streets, and in the community."

I hope you will pledge any amount you can to show support. The group plans to send a thank you note to Fred Phelps afterward.

There is no reason to counter such hate with hate. There is not even any reason to try to counter such hate with reason.

But this? This is a beautiful application of the moral imagination.

It's a great Catch-22. It's the best there is. Making a positive from an extremist's actions. That seems respectful to me. That seems right to me. That seems deviously perfect to me.

(Thanks to Kathryn Ruth Schuth for making me aware of this wonderfully perfect fund-raising effort)