Petrelis Files

Phelps Klan in SF Oct 27
to Protest 'Fag' Paul Newman Tribute

If I could beam the Rev. Fred Phelps klan into every home in California through TV news stories, and show voters the faces of hate and those who oppose gay marriage equality, I'd do so in an instant. I believe many CA voters would vote no on 8, if they knew voting yes on the hateful proposition puts them in bed with the like of Phelps.

The God Hates Fags crew have announced on their site that they'll be in San Francisco on Monday, October 27 for a few pickets at foreign consulates in the day, then they'll put in an appearance outside a fundraiser for a summer camp for ill children supported by the late great humanitarian and actor Paul Newman. From the haters' site:

Davies Symphony Hall - Paul Newman Is In Hell 201 Van Ness Ave. We will picket your "Special Tribute" for Paul Newman. What the heck are you talking about, you fools. He lived a life of pure filth. From his desire to be a movie star to his personal life as an adulterer. You know full well that nobody had a CLUE who Paul Newman was until he played a drunken fag in Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof with the WHORE Elizabeth Taylor, then his acting career took off (as they say). You know full well that Joanne Woodard was NOT HIS WIFE. More importantly, you know that he sold his never-dying soul for a little bit of human praise.

Some pretty big and glamorous names will be inside Davies Hall on Monday night, report celebrity gossip web sites:

Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks will be among the A-list stars who will pay tribute to movie legend Paul Newman at a benefit gala for the late actor's California kids camp The Painted Turtle.

Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Danny DeVito, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Billy Crystal will also take the stage at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, California on October 27.

The stars will perform a stage reading of "The World of Nick Adams," an adaptation of a number of Ernest Hemingway's autobiographical stories, written by Newman's longtime pal A.E. Hotchner.

I sure hope that stellar line-up of liberal Hollywood friends of the gay community take the opportunity from the stage on Monday night to not only honor Paul Newman, his philanthropic work and the Painted Turtle, but that they also strongly denounce the hate of the Phelps klan and forcefully speak out for the defeat of Prop 8.

Anyone up for organizing a counter-protest at 6 PM on Monday at Davies Hall? It would be right in the middle of Phelps' protest, and one hour before the start of the tribute to Paul Newman.

We could not only "welcome" the Phelps haters, we could additionally promote voting No on 8 with signs and chants, while also sending a message to the stars inside the concert hall to use their voices to stop the hate of Prop 8.

Gays, Phelps and celebrities -- all practically guarantee media coverage. Let me know if you're game for a picket of love on Monday at Davies Hall.