Life

Equality House celebrates anniversary with kiss outside Westboro church

Equality House celebrates anniversary with kiss outside Westboro church
Dozens celebrate the second anniversary of Equality House in Topeka, Kan., with a kiss outside the Westboro Baptist Church.
Dozens celebrate the second anniversary of Equality House in Topeka, Kan., with a kiss outside the Westboro Baptist Church. Planting Peace

TOPEKA, Kan. — Equality House, located across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church compound, home to anti-gay extremists famous for their “Gods Hate Fags” protests, celebrated its second anniversary over the weekend with one big smooch.

Equality House, Topeka, Kan,
Equality House, Topeka, Kan,

As part of the celebration, guests posed for a “Plant one for Peace” photo where all types of people kissed in front of the Westboro church.

“We did this to remind the world what we stand for: individuals celebrating and taking pride in who they are, and never being afraid to show acts of love, even in the face of bigotry,” said Nikki Sloup of Planting Peace.

“Beyond having all walks of life participate … LGBTQ couples, straight couples, and families with parents kissing their children, we even had ex-members of the WBC participate, with one member who recently left the church sharing a kiss with an Equality House staff member,” said Sloup.

Article continues below

Equality House is an initiative of Planting Peace, a progressive non-profit organization focused primarily on humanitarian aid and environmental initiatives, LGBTQ rights advocacy, a network of orphanages and safe havens, and conservation effort in the rainforests of Peru.

The group purchased a house across the street from Westboro in 2013, giving it a new paint job that pays homage to the rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBT pride.

Equality House serves as the resource center for all Planting Peace human rights and bullying prevention initiatives.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Texas same-sex marriage opponents call for ‘Biblical marriage’ in rally at state capitol

Previous article

Indiana governor ‘looking forward’ to signing anti-LGBT religious freedom bill into law

Next article