Lake Effect News

By DIMITRIOS KALANTZIS

Contributing Writer

Dressed in practical New Balance cross-trainers and denim shorts, 25-year-old Jacob Phelps, grandson of Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, a group that rallies against gays, liberals and Jews, is pretty happy about life.

Jacob Phelps, 25 grandson of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps, says he is often asked to topless bars by co-workers in a Target warehouse in Topeka, Kansas. (PHOTO/LORRAINE SWANSON)

 “What a great day he said,” during the second stage of the Phelps Family Chicago Tour, a day that began at the Emanuel Congregation synagogue and is expected to culminate in a protest of the Don Rickles’ show at the Auditorium theater downtown.

“The rain stopped because Jesus wanted his beautiful word to get out,” Phelps said, holding a “God Hates Jews,” sign on the corner of Halsted, Grace and Broadway while a few people shouted, “Bigots Go Home,” from across the street.

A warehouse clerk at Target in his native Topeka, Kansas, Phelps does a lot of traveling with his family to spread the word: America is doomed.

Behind a set of drug-store sunglasses and light pockmarks, Phelps discussed with LEN his earliest memories of Phelps protests, topless bars, his virginity and the possibility of his homosexuality.

“I never really thought about leaving the church,” Phelps said of his brief teenage angst. The extent of his teenage rebellion involved coveting material goods over the word of God.

“I wanted my own things,” he said.

But that quickly passed, namely with the help of his aunt, Shirley Phelps-Roper, who was also at today’s demonstrations, “who chewed my butt.”

Asked if any love interests tempt him toward marriage, Phelps said he “never kissed a girl,” or “hugged a girl.”

“No love interest,” he said. “Never have.”

Asked if that may suggest that he’s a homosexual, Phelps laughed, a laugh that seemed to stop above his mouth.

“I can guarantee I’m not a fag,” he said.

Presented with the possibility that he may be unaware of his sexual orientation and that he may indeed be gay, Phelps conceded, saying, “I could be,” before doubling back and saying “there’s no question” that he is straight.

“It disgusts me,” Phelps said, of homosexuality.

Spending an estimated one-third of his income on church activities and activism, Phelps has little time or money for R&R. But considering “our generation is a bunch of perverts,” there’s no need for that anyway.

His co-workers often invite Phelps to a local topless bar, Phelps said, but he has never taken them up on the offer.

Impure thoughts, though only occasional and always not involving men, get Phelps on his knees.

“I get down on my knees and ask my Lord to get those filthy thoughts out of my head,” he said.

But it isn’t easy to avoid the cheap and lascivious. Sometimes, and without his prior knowledge, a sultry sex scene pops up in a movie he may be watching.

“Oh, God,” Phelps said. “I cover my eyes.”

Read more about Westboro Baptist Church

Love Trumps Hate

Phelps Family Has Twisted Pickets Down To A Science

Slideshow of Westboro Baptist Church Protest, Chicago News Bench

‘God hates fags’ church comes to Chicago, Windy City Times

Another Westboro Baptist Protest Met With Peaceful Counter-Protest, Chicagoist