The Westboro Baptist Church has gained a less than favorable reputation with their anti-gay hate speech and the picketing of deceased soldiers. The notorious church has apparently added another occasion for their sign-bearing gatherings, San Diego Comic-Con.

The church, led by Fred W. Phelps of Topeka, Kansas, made an appearance this past weekend at the Convention Center for the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International event. The normally upbeat and excited gathering of self-proclaimed fanboys and fangirls was interrupted with the church’s usual display of hateful signs. Some included statements such as the famous, “God Hates Fags” and “Antichrist Obama” slogans which littered the area outside of the convention center. Comic Con International was a new stop for the church in their schedule of all things to hate. Steering away from the norm of picketing Pride parades, Westboro had a new target in mind, comic ‘nerds.’

Flocks of convention goers, either driving to the convention center or boarding/dismounting at the nearby trolley station were greeted with hate speech. Most attendees shrugged them off, knowing they will be enjoying a day filled with panels, showroom floors and costumes. Others had a different, more humorous idea in confronting the hate mongering protestors.

Droves of anime boys and girls, furries, jedis, cosplay enthusiasts and just general con-goers held a counter-protest after hearing that the Westboro Baptist Church would be gathering outside the convention center. Many came armed with costumes, protest-inspired shirts and signs of their own. Many mirrored the church’s, but with a twist.

Among the many signs used for counter protests, some included slogans such as “God Loves Gay Robin,” “God Hates Jedi,” “The Cylons destroyed the 12 colonies for your sins” and “Kill All Humans,” held by one particular counter-protestor clad as Bender, the human hating robot from the hit show Futurama. All in the appropriate costume or with appropriate counter-protest signage, the con-goers also voiced their opinions of the church’s protest by chanting, “What do we want? Gay sex! When do we want it? Now!”

The Westboro Baptist Church has made numerous television appearances and each has been just as appalling as the previous appearance. Some include interviews on the ever conservative Fox News, The Tyra Banks Show, and CNN.

The Westboro Baptist Church cited on their website, equally as appalling (godhatesfags.com), that: “Comic Con is an excuse for whores to wear skimpy get-ups…You idolaters [Comic Con attendees] have far too much time on your hands! Get on with some sober obeying; the time is short…Put away your action figures & get about the business of serving your God. You fail as a human being because you shun your only obligation in this life: ‘Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man’”. The church also cited that the Comic Con attendees have, “…turned comic book characters into idols; they worship the work of their own hands…”

Luckily, the likes of gay Robin, Bender, Jedi Knights, Trekies and fangirls & fanboys were there to save the day!