Three protest high school's production of 'Rent'
About 300 counterprotesters shout them down.
NEWPORT BEACH - Three members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas, who came to protest Corona del Mar High School's production of "Rent," were shouted down by 300 counterprotesters this afternoon at the school.
The group came with signs that read: "Fags are beasts" and "America is doomed." Another sign was anti-Obama, while a fourth sign used an obscenity and an image of a dead baby between two hamburger buns.
Counterprotesters' signs read: "Long live Elton John," "Hate is not a family value," and "Do you need a hug?"
After about 30 minutes of protesting, which started around 2 p.m., the three members of the Westboro Baptist Church asked police to escort them to their car. Students remained after the three left, holding signs and screaming and waving as drivers of passing cars honked.
Kaylin Alexander, a senior at Corona del Mar and of the counterprotesters, said "We think they are ridiculous. God loves everyone."
Fred Phelps, Jr., the son of the founder of the Kansas church, said, he was preaching to the crowd.
"(Rent) is catering to the totally out-of-control youth of this nation," Phelps said. "They've got no discipline, no morals. Only doom and destruction lie ahead for them."
Betty Phelps, also a member of the church, said, "This is the side of the fence we are always on. We speak the truth, and I don't know of any other church that does."
Rosanne Fall, of Costa Mesa and a member of the Orange County Equality Coalition, said, "We're here to support Rent. It's important for the kids.
We shouldn't discriminate based on sexual orientation."
Twenty Newport Beach police officers were on the scene for crowd and traffic control. There were no incidents or arrests at the protest, but there was a minor, noninjury traffic accident at the intersection of Eastbluff Drive and Jamboree Road.
The Tony Award-winning musical, plays tonight at 7:30 at the school and runs on select dates through May 2. The play deals with homosexuality and AIDS, became an on-again, off-again affair at Corona del Mar after drama teacher Ron Martin claimed that the school's principal, Fal Asrani, would not allow the play to go on. Asrani has denied that allegation and a "school-safe" version of the play was approved.
The play made its debut Thursday night in Corona del Mar's 230-seat Little Theatre.
Senior James Ramsey said he saw no reason for the "hoopla" because the school version has been pared down in comparison to the original.
"I think the school version does a very good job of bringing the material down and making it appropriate at a high school level," he said. "I feel like (homophobia) is just a common thing in high schools in general as well as in Orange County, being one of the most conservative counties in California."
Max Priestley, a sophomore and actor in the play, said the counterprotests are a peaceful way to express the students' side of the issue.
"It's amazing to do something this changing for so many people," he said. "Not just for me and the cast, but for so many others."
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