Bravo for these teens.

The death of Marine Capt. Kevin Kryst of West Bend, Wisconsin was a tragedy. He was another victim of the botched interventionists foreign policy of the Bush government. But not everyone agrees with that.

Timothy Phelps blames the man’s parents “for raising a child for the devil.” Eight members of the Westboro Baptist Church gathered at the funeral with signs thanking God for killing American soldiers. These Calvinist Baptists hate America because America does not execute homosexuals.

Sara Phelps, another church member, which is mainly made up of the family of the abusive Fred Phelps, said: “The government should invoke the death penalty for being gay.” These Christians argue that God is killing American soldiers as punishment for America’s “liberal” position on homosexuality.

Four local teens found out of the hate protest and decided to stage their own protest. Devin Merget, 16, said that church leader Fred Phelps “is the nation’s foremost homoephobe. I want to stress the importance of opposing bigots like these.” Ben Barker, 14, said “It’s ridiculous to think they are representing God.”

I applaud these teens as loudly as I can. (If one applauds on the internet does anyone hear it?)

As for the vile Phelps: well, he does more to turn middle America away from hating homosexuals than anyone I can think of. Most Americans, even those who are antigay, are disgusted by his actions. Just as the actions of the Klan helped civil rights for black Americans the actions of Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church help the cause of gay equality. When full equality for gay people arrives, and it will arrive, Fred Phelps ought to get a medal for his service to the gay cause.