Skeletor!
Just kidding, that’s Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Though it’s still a bit sketchy – it looks like some of the WBC may be heading up to Seattle this summer to protest the Seattle SlutWalk.
Inspired by our friends and allies in Toronto, we Western Washingtonians are ready to stand up, fight the sexist social acceptance of rape in our culture, and reclaim the word “slut.”
Some SlutWalk organizers are worried that the Phelp’s presence – more specifically the presence of counter-protesters who are bound to be drawn to the walk to respond to the notoriously hateful rhetoric of the WBC – will detract from the message of the event, but I think this has the potential to be a great boost for the group.
Nothing says progressive relevancy like getting the attention of the most hateful family in America.
Additionally, while I was on the fence before about whether or not I would attend, now I’m totally planning on going. And I’m going to bring friends. And silly signs. And maybe funny hats. Maybe.
I think it’s a worthwhile event to attend, and I think it’s possible to both support it AND do a little taunting of the WBC while I’m there without detracting from the event itself.
And I think you should come too! Here’s the when-where-what:
SlutWalk Seattle will be held on June 19, 2011. We’ll meet at Bobby Morris Playfield at 12PM, then walk west along Pine Street to rally at Westlake Center until 3PM.
This is a great opportunity to support the message behind SlutWalk – that women who enjoy sex are not in any way asking to be raped, nor should they be judged because of the way they dress or the choices they make in the bedroom – and/or to come out and give the Phelps clan a healthy dose of irreverently snarky Washingtonian sarcasm as they bellow antiquated, fearful hate from whatever street corner downtown they end up squatting on.
As a woman who both enjoys sex AND dislikes Phelps, his family, and his message – I’ll be there for both.
