ANTI-GAY protestors are threatening to picket a performance of a play by a youth group which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Basingstoke.

Last night, Freedom Youth performed its first show of The Laramie Project – a play about an American youth, Matthew Shepard, who was murdered because of his sexuality – at Central Studio at Queen Mary’s College.

But an extremist church group from America – Westboro Baptist Church – has announced that its members are to demonstrate before the final performance of the show tomorrow night.

Westboro’s core belief is that God will punish the West for its acceptance of homosexuality, and its members have previously picketed servicemen’s funerals in America with placards such as “Thank God for dead soldiers” and “God hates America”.

Westboro Baptist Church comprises mainly of members of the Phelps family from Kansas, America, who are notorious for their extremist views condemning homosexuality.

The Gazette contacted Shirley Phelps-Roper, a leading member of Westboro, who confirmed that plans have been put in place for fewer than 10 people to travel to Basingstoke from America after the group were told about the performance of The Laramie Project via email.

She said: “We do plan to come to the UK. The hour is now, time is short.”

She added: “We are going to assume that our group of travellers will get into your country and have carefully picked our signs to navigate around your draconian laws.”

When asked about the production itself, Mrs Phelps-Roper, said: “The Laramie Project has only one function – it teaches rebellion.”

She added: “What we’re saying is Matthew Shepard has only one important thing to tell you today – only one. He is in hell and he will be there for eternity.”

Mrs Phelps-Roper claims there are only two groups that God focuses on: “Those that serve him and those that serve him not”.

“Here’s what it’s about. When you take each of those sub-groups, homosexuals, adulterers, Jews, blacks, Indians, Hindus, Muslims, Islamic Jihadists, the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, each of those, the Catholic paedophile machine, all of them are heads of one monster. They’re called false religious systems.

“Don’t leave out the atheists – God hates them all. They are just the same monster called a different name. They disobey the standards of God and they’re headed, all of them, to the same hell and God hates them all.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has condemned the planned pickets and said: “The Laramie Project is a serious play with a serious message. It is completely unacceptable for Westboro Baptist Church, or any other organisation, to incite homophobic hatred in this way. There is no room for this type of intimidation in our community.”

Mrs Miller said she had raised the issue with the Home Secretary in relation to whether members of such a group, who may have convictions for hate-crime offences, would be allowed into the UK.

Mrs Miller said: “I have had confirmation that supporters of the Westboro Baptist Church have been excluded from coming to the UK and that the ports and airports have been alerted.”

She added: “The most important thing is that the performance goes ahead and people make sure the Phelps family don’t carry out their objectives – which simply is scaremongering.”

Freedom Youth group meets weekly and aims to provide a safe environment for young LGBT people to meet and explore how they feel by taking part in workshops, activities and trips.

Peter Edney, media and corporate communications officer for the north and east Hampshire operational command unit, confirmed that Hampshire Constabulary is aware of the planned protest action. He added: “Officers are carefully monitoring the situation and working to minimise any disruption to the local community.”

The Gazette understands there will be a police presence at Central Studio at each of the three performances.

Stephen Sheedy, principal at QMC, believes the call to picket is the Westboro Baptist Church’s attempt to whip up publicity in the media.

He said: “In all likelihood, no one will turn up to picket. It’s an amazing thing how this has all blown up via the internet.”

You can hear audio extracts from our interview with Shirley Phelps-Roper by clicking on the video link at the top of the page. If you have views on this subject, please comment below.