Fred Phelps’ Granddaughter Poses for NOH8

Libby Phelps, granddaughter of the late Fred Phelps Senior who was the figurehead of the Westboro Baptist Church (infamous for picketing funerals and their slogan ‘God Hates Fags’), has posed for the NOH8 campaign.

Libby Phelps left the church in 2009. Earlier this year she gave an interview condemning the church and its practices.

“They think that they are the only ones who are going to heaven and if you don’t go to that church you’re going to hell.” she said.

“There was a point when we started praying for people to die… I didn’t actually do that but I was around when they did it.”

Her involvement with the NOH8 this week makes her the first Phelps to pose for the campaign. The first former member of the church to pose for the campaign was Lauren Drain, who did so last year.

Libby Phelps tweeted an image of herself posing for the campaign alongside campaigners from Equality House, and her baby son Paxton.

The message is simple: No hate. We want people to be happy, healthy and hopeful. pic.twitter.com/GIraZ1G7Ph

— Libby Phelps (@LibbyPhelps) June 10, 2014

 

The church’s former leader Fred Phelps Senior, Libby Phelps’ grandfather, passed away in March this year. Phelps Senior’s grandson, Zach Phelps-Roper renounced the church in May, and stated that he had met some members of the LGBT community who were very kind to him.