by Caleb Fort
Flowers with the message "God does indeed love you" were handed out to people attending a love fair at the Duck Pond on Saturday.
Students from various Christian groups in Albuquerque handed out the flowers at the Love is Love is Love Fair. The event was organized by the LBGTQq Alliance as a response to picketing by the Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas.
Ariana Sweeney, who helped plan the event, said it was necessary to do something to counter the message sent by the church. However, she said she did not want respond in a reactionary way with a counterprotest.
"There's really no point," Sweeny said. "They're just trying to hurt people. We're just here to have fun and celebrate our diversity without allowing them to anger us or hurt us."
The fair's biggest expense was $75 for two security guards, which Justin Stewart, chair of the alliance, paid for. He said security had to be at the fair, and he decided to pay for it because the event was a necessary counterpoint to the church's demonstration.
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"There needed to be some kind of opposite," Stewart said. "We felt it was an alternative to picketing, and would give a voice and a community to people."
Fred Phelps, the pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, did not come to Albuquerque, but several of his family members represented him at the corner of Central Avenue and Stanford Drive.
Student Nathan Swanson said students were trying to make it clear most Christians disagree with Phelps's interpretation of the Bible.
"It's real easy to take the Bible out of context and make it say things God doesn't want it to say," Swanson said.
Heather Wax, a TVI student at the fair, said the way Phelps interprets the Bible to justify hate speech is disturbing.
"The thing that bothers me about it is that God's message is one of invitation, and theirs is one of exclusion," Wax said.
Jeffery MacCanon, singer of the band Vertigo Venus, said he wanted his band to play at the fair as soon as he heard about it.
"We love benefit shows," MacCanon said. "It's what we're all about.
Chris MacCanon, Jeffery's brother and Vertigo Venus guitarist, said he disagrees with Phelps's views and liked the idea of the fair.
"It's amazing how people tie in their religious beliefs with hatred," he said.
Daniel Garcia and Black Rose also played at the event. All the bands played for free.
The fair also featured a safe-sex booth, an Agora Crisis Center booth, a kissing booth, a bake sale, a raffle and information booths.
Sweeney, outreach director for the alliance, said several Nob Hill businesses such as Il Vicino, Larry's Hats, Angel Alley and Buffalo Exchange donated gift certificates to give away in the raffle.
Sweeney said all proceeds from the fair will go to the alliance, New Mexico AIDS Services and Commonbond's under-21 group, which offers support to young lesbians and gays.
Fred Hardy, who helped book bands for the fair, said the Westboro Baptist Church's visit to Albuquerque was ultimately beneficial, because it sparked the organization of the fair and brought together UNM's gay community.
Chrystal Proue agreed and said the fair was success whether or not it sent a message to Phelps.
"I'm having so much fun," Proue said. "It's definitely effective in that it brings us together."
