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Man Buys House Opposite Westboro Baptist Church And Paints It With Pride Flag

Man Buys House Opposite Westboro Baptist Church And Paints It With Pride Flag

Aaron Jackson purchased the house after spotting it go up for sale close to the controversial church group

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

A man who bought a house opposite to the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church painted it with a huge pride flag - and it is still the headquarters for his LGBTQ advocacy group.

Aaron Jackson purchased the house in 2012, after spotting it go up for sale just over the road from the controversial church group.

In fact, it was close enough that it could be seen, and now, there's no chance that the hateful group would be able to miss it.

Google Maps

Jackson is the founder of a non-profit organisation called Planting Peace. Among its initiatives are environmental campaigns and support of LGBTQ rights - something the Westboro lot are famously against.

The church's views are so extreme, that it has even linked events such as 9/11 to homosexuality, as well as a whole load of other hateful rhetoric, which doesn't even deserve the time it takes to repeat it.

Deciding that he would fight hate with his paintbrush, Jackson and his colleague painted the rainbow in 2013, creating 'Equality House'.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church display their well known hate signs.
PA

The website reads: "The Equality House is a symbol of compassion, peace, and positive change. The house, which is painted the colors of the Pride flag, serves as the resource center for all Planting Peace human rights initiatives and stands as a visual reminder of our commitment, as global citizens, to equality for all."

Speaking to the LA Times, the man who was hired to paint the house, Mike McKessor of Kansas City, Mo., was more than happy to be a part of it.

McKessor said: "I'm a veteran too, and those guys mess with veterans, not just the gay people. They mess with everybody."

He said that when the painting started, people would stop when driving past to congratulate him.

YouTube

He said: "Every neighbour that I encountered was so happy, and everybody was smiling when they go by.

"It was on a busy street, and everybody slowed down and took pictures. I'm not exaggerating. Dang near every car stopped and said, 'Good job! Good job!' ... I've never had people so happy for painting a house."

He added: "Anytime anybody's going to help people, I'm willing to help, so I said, 'Sure, let's do it."

The Westboro Baptist Church and its members have publicly condemned gays, Catholics, orthodox Christians, Jewish people, Muslims, celebrities, American soldiers, politicians and a range of other groups, organisations and individuals.

The church has been around for more than 60 years, but started to gain infamy in the US in the 1990s and early 2000s, when members began picketing certain events, which were unaligned with their world view. They became the subject of several documentaries, with one of the most popular being Louis Theroux's America's Most Hated Family, which was released 10 years ago.

Featured Image Credit: Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images

Topics: News, US News