QRC to hold protest to counter “God Hates Fags” group

PSU’s Queer Resource Center will be holding a counter-protest rally Monday morning against the Westboro Baptist Church, who plan to march on campus the same day in protest of the existence of the QRC.

The church members, who also refer to themselves as the “God Hates Fags” group, are planning to protest at PSU Monday, Nov. 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the corner of 13th Avenue and Market Street.However, Zena Piccolo, student life coordinator at the QRC, said PSU wouldn’t take the protest lying down.

“The university is formulating a coherent, unified response to this group being on campus,” Piccolo.

The QRC staff is meeting with university administrators and faculty members Friday to discuss where and how this counter-protest will be carried out.

“The Gods Hates Fags group has been known to incite violence, and the QRC wants to present a nonviolent response, so we want to be careful about the location we choose,” Piccolo said.

According to Piccolo, the QRC will hold the meeting at 1 p.m. Friday to discuss the protest, and to make signs and posters for the counter-protest.

According to their Web site, the God Hates Fags group is specifically protesting the existence of the QRC, the equal opportunity policies of the university and the inclusion of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus.