“People who are gay have to hide the reality of their identity and orientation or risk being ostracized, insulted or degraded by the religious community,” he said. “Most gays and lesbians who don’t want to hide who they are — or can’t hide who they are — end up leaving their religious communities.”

And for Phelps-Roper and others in Westboro Baptist Church, gays and lesbians who are open about their identities aren’t the only ones who are a threat to the establishment. The church gained national media attention in the past year for picketing the funerals of soldiers who died in Iraq, claiming that the war was a result of “fag policies” and corrupt government.

“God doesn’t just hate fags — God hates America, and God hates most of this generation. The reason we focus on homosexuality is because (everyone else) focuses on it,” said Phelps-Roper. “You’re being myopic if you believe it’s just homosexuality — wrapped up in all of it is a general filth of life.”