‘God hates fags’ church furious at film about anti-gay murderer

The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church picketed the Sundance Film Festival yesterday over a film about a homophobic preacher who begins murdering people he thinks are gay.

The church, best-known for its slogan of ‘God hates fags’, took issue with film Red State for “mocking God”.

Red State, directed by Kevin Smith, satirises the anti-gay movement.

Westboro Baptist Church members travelled to Park City, Utah, to protest the film’s premiere.

They were met with a counter protest of mainly students, some of whom held signs bearing message such as “God hates signs”.

Another, in reference to church spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper, said: “Shirley you can’t be serious”.

Mr Smith was photographed holding signs made by his supporters and carried some of the placards into the theatre with him.