LTCC’s ‘Laramie Project’ protest in the works

By Kathryn Reed

Lake Tahoe Community College officials were alerted Tuesday that members of Westboro Baptist Church will picket the college during the March 19 production of the “Laramie Project” at Duke Theatre.

Members of this Topeka, Kansas, church run by Fred Phelps travel the country preaching that God does not like homosexuals.

In fact, the web address for the church is www.godhatesfags.com.

Matthew Shepard

LTCC President Paul Killpatrick enlightened the board at the regular meeting Tuesday about the planned protest. Killpatrick said the college would be contacting law enforcement to ensure play attendees are protected and that the protest is peaceful.

The “Laramie Project” is about the death of Matthew Shepard, the college student who made national headlines after he was tortured and killed near Laramie, Wyo., in 1998 because he was gay.

The church has a protest schedule. LTCC is there. The reason for the protest spouts hatred.