Kan. group protests homosexuality in Lexington
Residents turn backs to message
LEXINGTON -- As a man loudly condemned what he called perversions in town, a group of about three dozen residents turned their backs on him in silent protest yesterday.
Steve Drain, who led a protest from the sidewalk in front of St. Brigid Parish, used derogatory language to attack homosexuals and their supporters, and added, ''I respectfully submit to you in love that God will deal with you."
Another man stood to the side, periodically rotating signs with phrases such as ''God Hates America" and ''AIDS Is God's Curse."
About a dozen members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., fanned out and picketed yesterday morning outside five churches in Lexington -- St. Brigid (Roman Catholic); Lexington United Methodist Church; Church of Our Redeemer (Episcopal); Hancock United Church of Christ; and First Baptist Church.
But protesters were outnumbered by about 10-to-1 yesterday by residents who gathered outside St. Brigid and silently turned their backs to the protesters and their message.
After about 30 minutes, the protesters got back into their cars and drove away.
''They want attention," said Susan Elberger, a former Lexington School Committee member. ''And we want to keep this town peaceful and supportive."
The Kansas church is an independent congregation of about 100 people. Since 1991, its members have traveled the country to picket against homosexuality.
The group, which demonstrated last year in Boston, Cambridge, and Provincetown, targeted Lexington after David Parker, 42, recently protested a book called ''Who's in a Family?" that was being used in his son's kindergarten class. The book depicts a same-sex couple along with other types of families.
Parker was arrested April 27 and charged with trespassing at the Joseph Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington because he wouldn't leave until the school promised to notify him when his son's class discussed homosexuality. He is due in court Aug. 2.
After hearing that the group was coming to town, the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association mobilized for a protest of its own.
About 180 residents were trained last week in nonviolent demonstrations, said Jill Smilow, chairwoman of the town's No Place for Hate steering committee. About half-a-dozen police officers were stationed at the churches yesterday, although there were no direct confrontations.
As they left St. Brigid, one of the Kansas church members said, ''You're going to hell. Have a nice day."
Today, the church members plan to picket outside Estabrook Elementary; John Glenn Middle School in Bedford, where a rainbow flag labeled ''gay pride" was hung in a hallway last year; and Englesby Intermediate School in Dracut, where a student won an essay contest by writing about lesbian comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
Superintendents have discouraged counter protests.
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com. 