‘Rent’ fans pan protesters

More than 300 students and supporters clogged the sidewalks outside Corona del Mar High School and shouted down three Westboro Baptist Church members who flew from Kansas to protest the school’s spring production of the musical “Rent” on Friday afternoon.

Waving signs that read “love conquers hate” and “God loves you,” students sang bits of the song “Seasons of Love” from “Rent” and cheered as passing motorists honked and pumped their fists in support.

“We had to do something to stand up for ourselves — we couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, because they were coming to our school,” said Emily Morris, 17, a senior at Corona del Mar.

A soloist in the school’s production of “Rent,” Morris organized the counter-demonstration through the social-networking website Facebook, attracting 362 people who said they would attend.

“Rent” opened Thursday to sold-out crowds after sparking national outcry when the school’s drama teacher claimed the principal initially nixed the production over concerns about gay characters in the script.

The school denies that claim, and production moved forward after the incident drew national media attention.

Now the ACLU is suing the Newport-Mesa Unified School district, claiming the school fosters an environment rife with homophobia that is hostile to gay and female students.

Members of the Topeka, Kan.-based church known for picketing the funerals of Iraq war veterans across the country, waved signs with anti-gay slurs and dragged American and Israeli flags on the ground across the street from the school as students left class Friday.

“Go home,” one student shouted from a car to Westboro Baptist Church member Margie Phelps during the protest.

“Get a Bible and obey it, you brute,” she shouted back.

Daughter of Westboro Baptist Church leader, the Rev. Fred Phelps, Margie Phelps waved a sign that read, “The Jews Killed Jesus” and stood atop a soiled Israeli flag Friday.

“The Jews killed Jesus, and now they’re teaching the young people of America to be filthy sinners before God,” Margie Phelps said.

Church members said they had just returned from picketing the Israeli Consulate General in Los Angeles before stopping by the high school, and many of their signs bore anti-Semitic messages.

Church member Betty Phelps, who is married to the Rev. Fred Phelps’ eldest son, said she had never seen “Rent.”

“It’s a typical play that makes homosexuality look like a wonderful lifestyle, and it’s taking your children straight to hell,” she said. “I would not watch such a piece of junk.”

Many cast members from “Rent” and their parents were in the crowd who came out to voice opposition to the Westboro Baptist Church protest.

“That students would come out to support each other like this makes me feel really hopeful,” said Caryl Ketchum, whose daughter, Hail Ketchum, plays Mimi.

“Our school has really rallied behind the drama department and supported what we were trying to do,” said “Rent” cast member James Ramsey, 17, a senior at Corona del Mar.

“I’m glad people can see how much spirit and pride our school has today,” Ramsey said, who plays Angel.

One student, who declined to give his name, stripped down to a Speedo bathing suit for the protest and wrote “I saw Rent with God” across his chest in magic marker.

Students cheered and began marching down Eastbluff Drive as the three church members left.

“This is an incredible outpouring of support for ‘Rent’ that shows the true spirit of the community,” said Tom Peterson, a member of the Orange County Equality Coalition, who attended the protest.

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Reporter BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].