The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, has scheduled its controversial, anti-LGBTQ+ protests at two Fresno-area high schools later this month.

The “God Hates Fags” protests are scheduled to start at 3:45 p.m. Oct. 28 at Roosevelt High School in southeast Fresno and at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at Reedley High School.

Fresno Unified spokeswoman Diana Diaz said Friday that that district is aware of the scheduled appearance by members of the notorious Kansas church. She said the protest is not affiliated with the school and will not be held on school grounds.

The district is working with the Fresno Police Department to ensure that students will be able to safely leave Roosevelt while the Westboro protest is underway, Diaz said.

“The PD traffic division and special event division are aware of the event, and we are working closely with them to implement additional safety measures as needed,” she said in an email. “Our priority is to ensure that our students are not affected as they leave school.”

Kings Canyon Joint Unified School District and Fresno police department spokespeople did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Later Friday, Kings Canyon spokeswoman Alisha Gallon sent the following statement: “”Kings Canyon Unified has been made aware of a planned demonstration outside Reedley High School. This event is not affiliated with the school and we are not in contact with anyone who has planned or is attending the demonstration. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are always our top priority. We are coordinating closely with campus security and local law enforcement.”

Why Roosevelt and Reedley?

Drew Harbaugh, president of the PFLAG Fresno chapter, said his organization became aware of the scheduled demonstrations by the Westboro group on Tuesday and reached out to the Fresno Unified office that is a liaison for LGBTQ+ students.

PFLAG is the nation’s largest and longest-running organization dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their supporters. Until 2014, the group was known as Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Harbaugh said he and others have no idea why the Westboro group, which has traveled around the nation spreading its message of hate since the 1990s, would choose two Fresno-area schools for appearances.

The Tower District has been the target in the past for anti-gay protests and would have seemed a more natural destination, Harbaugh said. Possibly they chose Roosevelt because it’s a school of the performing arts, “and they equate arts with gay which is stereotypical and offensive to both straight and gays,” he said.

Harbaugh said he has heard that other local groups are planning a counter-protest, but PFLAG is not planning to join them in part so as not to give the Westboro group’s activities additional attention.

“They don’t really have motivations other than causing chaos,” he said. “They’re very good at it, which is why I don’t want to feed them.”

Jason Scott, president of LGBT Fresno, said the organization is planning a counterprotest for both the Roosevelt and Reedley demonstrations, with rainbow flags and rainbow umbrellas to help shield students from Westboro’s message of hate.

Scott said LGBT Fresno has set up a text system for supporters to stay in touch and get updates about the counterprotest on the group’s website at this link.

Alternative to Counter-Protest

PFLAG Fresno has offered to assist Roosevelt students if they want to start up a fundraiser in support of any groups that the Westboro church is protesting but had not heard back yet, Harbaugh said. “We would love to have some sort of response that would benefit the community and irritate the Westboro Baptist Church.”

The Westboro church has elicited nationwide attention since its founder, Fred Phelps, began leading his followers to different towns and cities with their message, “God Hates Fags.” Although Phelps died in 2014, the church’s protests have continued.

The message of hate is countered by PFLAG’s message of love, Harbaugh said: “PFLAG always believes that love is stronger than hate. The Westboro Baptist Church will be here for half an hour. PFLAG has been here for 30 years, and will continue to be here long after they’re gone. We’re gonna be continuing to do the work to make the world a safer, more empowering, and loving place for people — long after they’re gone.”