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Growing Up Phelps

Nate Phelps
Nate Phelps

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-958649.mp3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in favor of the free speech rights of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka. Fred Phelps and his family are infamous for protesting and picketing at funerals of fallen service members and people who died of AIDS. They hold up signs that read, "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags." But not everyone in the Phelps family follows along. Last year, KCUR's Brian Ellison talked to one of Fred Phelps' 13 children Nate Phelps, who describes the philosophy of the church.

He now speaks around the country about religion and child abuse, and is an advocate of LGBT rights. He is currently writing a book about his life's story.

For the entire Nate Phelps interview on the Walt Bodine Show, click here.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
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