Religionwestboro protestsWestboro Baptist ChurchVicky Beeching

Christian Rocker Has The Perfect Response To Westboro Baptist Church

Christian Rocker Has The Perfect Response To Westboro Baptist Church
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By 

Reporter, HuffPost

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Westboro Baptist Church is no match for Christian rock singer Vicky Beeching.

The singer joined fellow Christians in Portland, Oregon over the weekend to present the keynote address at the Gay Christian Network's annual conference. Also in town for the weekend were Westboro Baptist Church picketers, there to protest the event with signs of hate and bigotry.

Beeching came out as gay in an August 2014 interview with The Independent, after which she received countless messages ranging from the supportive to the hateful. Instead of responding with her own anger when confronted with Westboro's antics on Saturday, Beeching had only messages of love to share:

"I am very aware of the damage groups like Westboro have caused, and I'm in no way minimizing that," Beeching said in an email to The Huffington Post. "Their message is extremely harmful."

But despite the group's notorious track record, Beeching insisted that she was only fulfilling Christian teachings by extending a conciliatory hand.

"It's simply following what Jesus taught when he said in John 13:34, 'Love one another as I have loved you.' His love showed radical acceptance toward those who hated him, and on that basis, so should mine."

In typical Westboro style, the hate group announced its intent to picket Saturday's event with plenty of prior warning, giving Beeching the chance to prepare:

It also gave dozens of counter protestors -- many of them local Christians -- enough forewarning to show up with their own signs and form a "wall of love" to protect conference-goers from Westboro's abuse.

"As we arrived, we walked through the protestors, and then through a line of Christians telling us God loved us," Beeching said. "Some of them had even made their own positive placards about God's love being stronger than hate, and seeing those was a real encouragement."

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Before You Go

10 Amazing WBC Counter Protests
God Responds(01 of10)
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At a 2010 WBC counter protest in Portland, Oregon, one man showed up dressed as God, himself. "No I don't," his simple sign responded to the WBC's notorious "God hates ___" signs. (credit:Flickr)
Pure Love(02 of10)
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Sometimes the best way to combat hatred and intolerance is through love. The adorable "couple kiss" counter protest has been an popular and powerful way many have confronted the WBC's intolerance. (credit:Buzzfeed)
Angel Action(03 of10)
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One of the most powerful WBC counter protests was the 1999 Angel Action wall of love outside the courthouse where Matthew Shepard's accused killers were on trial. The event has been recreated over the years in the acclaimed play, The Laramie Project. (credit:The Laramie Project/Duke)
The Human Wall(04 of10)
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In July of 2012, hundreds of Texas A&M students gathered to create a human wall around the funeral service for a soldier, which the WBC had come to protest. As one organizer wrote on Facebook, "In response to their signs of hate, we will wear maroon. In response to their mob anger, we will form a line, arm in arm. This is a silent vigil. A manifestation of our solidarity." (credit:Facebook/Leslie Mott)
9-Year-Olds(05 of10)
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Nine-year-old Josef Miles and his mother, Patty Akrouche, were walking around the Washburn University campus in Topeka, Kan., in May 2012 when they saw a group of Westboro Baptist Church protesters armed with signs. Miles asked if he could make his own sign and wrote the humble, powerful words, "God hates no one." (credit:Patty Akrouche)
Grandmas Supporting Soldiers(06 of10)
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In 2008 the WBC staged a protest against the funerals of three soldiers from the HM-15 Blackhawks. Counter-protesters came out in droves to deliver a different message, including this amazing woman. (credit:Flickr)
The Foo Fighters(07 of10)
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WBC picketed a Foo Fighters concert in 2011, inspiring the band to stage their own protest across from the Westboro picketers. Dressed in overalls and wigs, the band played "Keep it Clean (Hot Buns)," which, as it turns out, is a song about the lonesome life of a gay long-haul trucker. (credit:NBC)
Style and Patriotism(08 of10)
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This photo, posted by Twitter user @yadnulsirhc, shows just how sassy, stylish and patriotic a WBC counter protest can be. (credit: yadnulsirhc/Twitter)
Motorcycles and Flags(09 of10)
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This human wall of love and patriotism came about at the same WBC counter protest in support of the Blackhawk soldiers who lost their lives. Motorcycles, American flags and endless love sounds like a much better demonstration than whatever WBC put together. (credit:Flickr)
More Human Walls(10 of10)
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In February of 2014, the WBC landed in Missouri to protest the coming out of football player Michael Sam. An estimated 2,000 students and supporters braved the snow to form a “Stand with Sam” human wall, blocking the WBC protesters' view from campus. (credit:Colin Lovett for LGBTQ Nation)
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