It appears that the Sundance premiere of Kevin Smith’s Red State this Sunday has the honor of being picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church, they of the GOD HATES FAGS signs and military funeral picketings. You know, that classy group of individuals who allegedly have only survived through the centuries-old tradition of incest and who are so afraid of gay people that they travel around the country to look at them.

Why is the church picketing it? “The actors, directors, producers and fans of the doomed American motion picture industry celebrate the nation-destroying sin of sodomy with all their might,” says their website, which caters to the hate group’s 71 members. There might also be the fact that Red State was influenced by them, as you can see on the website for the fictional church that’s portrayed in the film.

Kevin Smith has rallied for people in a counter protest against that joke of a church, and released the below press statement.

One can only hope that it’s as amusing as the counter-protest at last year’s Comic Con.

@thatkevinsmith – Here are the facts: (1) The Westboro Baptist Church are haters of Biblical proportions! “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, & not suffer sin upon him.” (Lev 19:17) (2) The WBC’s punishment in Hell for their hatred will be administered by the very Jesus they blaspheme daily. “…he shall be tormented with fire & brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, & in the presence of the Lamb: & the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever & ever: & they have no rest day nor night.” (Rev 14:10-11)

The Harvey Boys are seeking the aid of the Mighty Thor, hoping he’ll lay down his hammer and instead pick up a protest sign on our behalf, in a Park City battle of the mega-gods! If he’s in reshoots, we’ll be reaching out to Sigourney Weaver to channel Zuul on our behalf. If she’s not at Sundance this year, we’ll start praying to Krom. And if you don’t help us, Krom? Then to hell witchoo.

For thirty minutes of fun-filled photo-opportunities, the Harvey Boys will peacefully counter-protest the WBC Eccles Theater Protest. All are welcome. Wear YOUR dopey sentiments nobody gives a shit about on a sign of your own making, as you stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the folks who’ve mastered the art of writing utter horseshit on cardboard! BYOS (Bring Your Own Sign)

The scoffing and the mocking will begin sharply at 6pm. Remember: this is a PEACEFUL protest. The only venom you bring is printed on a placard, your only weapon: wit.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness…” (Isa 5:20)

GOD DOESN’T HATE FAGS OR
ANYBODY ELSE FOR THAT MATTER.
GOD SAVES! THEN, GOD PASSES IT
TO GRETZKY – WHO ROOFS THAT
SHIT, TOP-SHELF! THEN GOD AND
GRETZKY HIGH FIVE & BELLY-BUMP,
CELEBRATING THEIR HOCKEY
PROWESS. AND NEVER ONCE DO
THEY GIVE A SHIT IF ANYBODY’S
GAY OR NOT.

A good friend of mine (Michael Hall) made a short documentary called Will and Right about the gay marriages that took place in 2004 up in New Paltz, NY, that sadly were protested by the church. One of the more haunting moments is where a young girl throws some slurs at the crowd of people there for weddings. You can see it online here.

For more on this sad group of individuals I’d recommend watching Fall From Grace (actually on Netflix Instant). It’s a  sad documentary about a sad man and his sad family, but it’s uplifting to think about what a joke they’ve all become in the last few years. The counter-protests alone show how seriously the world is taking them.