Hundreds Counter-Protest Westboro Baptist Church Hate-Mongering At Clayton Missouri High School, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Condemns Anti-Gay Comments Made By Albuquerque Pastor, Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff Joins Bosses, Rob Gronkowski And Matt Light Shirtless Dance, Eli Manning Makes The Late Show

In Missouri, KMOX-TV reports that by the time about a half-dozen members of the controversial Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church arrived at Clayton High School Monday morning, they were greeted by hundreds of counter-protestors waving rainbow flags and chanting “Love conquers all” to drown out the Westboro contingent. School officials were glad that barriers, and a heavy police presence, kept things peaceful. “It’s been as much of a non-event as something like this can possibly be,” said Clayton Schools spokesman Chris Tennill as the Westboro protest was winding down after less than a half-hour. “Clayton police have done an excellent job putting a plan in place to keep our students, our staff, and all of our visitors safe this morning.” Tennill said it was the school district’s intention to turn the tables on the Westboro members by using their hate-filled protest as the basis for a “teachable moment” in class today. “And not just with our high school kids,” Tennill added. “I mean I’ve talked about it with my second grader and my fifth grader because they’ve picked up on (the protest).” Members of Clayton High’s GSA, or Gay Straight Alliance, spearheaded the local response once word leaked that Westboro would target the school, but those in the crowd also included parents, teachers, and even students from other schools who made the trip specifically to speak out against the anti-gay protestors. Kirkwood High School sophomore Caroline Bird was asked what she’d tell Westboro Church members if she could speak to them face-to-face. “I would tell them that God lives everyone equally,” she responded. “At least that’s how I was raised.” Kim Martino-Sexton has a son at Clayton High, and she brought along her grade school-aged son to witness the counter protest. She was gratified with the large turnout. “It really pulled the community together, so I think it’s done the opposite that the hate-mongers were hoping for,” she said. To drive home the counter protestors’ message of inclusion for all lifestyles, there were people dressed up as unicorns and even a Wookiee from Star Wars holding a sign saying “Wookiees love everyone”, which drew a cheer from the large crowd. Meanwhile, the tiny group of Westboro members were kept separated by two barrier walls with a large DMZ in between, but one leather-lunged member could still be heard singing “God Bless America” — with the word “bless” replaced by the word “hates.” They waved the same signs seen at countless other protests here and across the country, saying things like “America is Doomed” and “Soldiers Die for Gay Marriage.” The Westboro Baptist Church members were on their way home to Topeka, Kansas from Indianapolis, where they protested outside the Super Bowl. Clayton School District spokesman Chris Tennill had a theory as to why, out of all the schools and other potential protest sites along that route, the Westboro group chose Clayton High to make their stand. “We did have (church founder) Fred Phelps’ estranged son Nathan here last year to speak,” he pointed out. “We’ve heard that they’ve had Clayton High School on their radar for awhile.” On Westboro Baptist Church's website, an announcement indicates the visit comes at the request of a Fort Zumwalt East student. "His e-mail was to the effect of 'We've got proud homosexuals strutting up and down the halls of this school. You've got to come,'" said Margie Phelps, an attorney for Westboro Baptist Church, and daughter to the pastor.

There is continuing fallout over an Albuquerque, New Mexico pastor's statement about an openly gay PRC commissioner. On Sunday, gay rights activists rallied outside Legacy Church because of comments made by pastor Steve Smothermon about District 3 PRC commissioner Doug Howe. Smothermon told the blog NMPolitics.net that he was disappointed when Gov. Susana Martinez appointed Howe, a gay man, to replace Jerome Block Jr. on the Public Regulation Commission, when Block Jr. plead guilty to felony charges and resigned. In the blog piece, Smothermon was quoted as saying "These aren't the people we voted you to appoint." Martinez's spokesperson told NMPolitics.net that Howe was the most qualified person for the job. On Monday, Smothermon issued this statement in response to Sunday’s protest: “As the Pastor of Legacy Church I am proud of our record of community involvement and as a church we believe deeply in our constitutional rights as Americans - including the freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Neither the church nor I am ‘targeting’ anyone, but as a congregation, we do have a Biblical world view and do not apologize for our beliefs and our faith in God.” Also Monday, PRC Commissioner Doug Howe issued an official statement on the controversy regarding his appointment by Governor Martinez. Here is his statement in full: “The media has run a number of stories recently concerning statements made by Rev. Steve Smothermon about Gov. Susana Martinez’ appointment of me to the interim position of commissioner for the 3rd District of the Public Regulation Commission (PRC). I am issuing this statement today as my first and last comments on Mr. Smothermon’s statements and the controversy that has enveloped them. Gov. Martinez has made it repeatedly clear that she chose the candidate for PRC on no other basis than ability to get the job done. I believe she correctly determined that given the condition that the PRC was in, it was important to fill the position as quickly as possible with a candidate who was highly qualified, experienced in regulation and could hit the ground running. I believe that the governor is to be commended for having put the interest of New Mexico ahead of political expediency. It is unfortunate that a small minority is using the governor’s PRC appointment process to promote an agenda of intolerance and bigotry. But I have no control over the actions of others and I will not be distracted by them. Job #1 for me is to focus on the important and complex issues in front of the PRC and, in the remainder of the year that I will serve on the commission, to put all of my efforts into leaving it a better institution with a brighter future than past.”

Daniel Radcliffe returns to the cover of the United Kingdom’s Attitude magazine for next month’s issue, which is devoted to tackling homophobic bullying and telling the stories of bullied gay youths. The March edition asks leaders of the three main political parties to meet with the parents of bullied children to hear their stories first-hand. Radcliffe, who has been honoured for his work promoting suicide-prevention charity the Trevor Project, is among those discussing bullying in next month’s issue. The actor, 22, says the prevalence of teen suicides is “not surprising when you consider how accessible a bullying victim is now. You used to be able to escape at the end of a day: now you can be hunted by mobile phone, Facebook, Twitter. It’s terrifying.” The Harry Potter star says people should not define themselves only by sexuality: “Don’t define as straight or gay, define yourself as people and help another person if they’re in trouble.” On equality in marriage, he says that, “The ultimate reason gay marriage should be legalized everywhere is because, as a kid, you look to your mum and dad and they’re married; then you look at the gay couple who’ve been together for the same amount of time, but because they can’t get married their relationship doesn’t seem the same. Yes, gay marriage is about symbolically blessing a relationship, but the larger issue is about transmitting a fundamental message about equality. Gay people should have equality in law everywhere.” Editor Matthew Todd told PinkNews.co.uk they had chosen Daniel Radcliffe to be on the cover of the issue “because he speaks directly to the masses and because he is a patron of the Trevor Project in New York and so genuinely passionate about helping to stop homophobic bullying. Anyone who thinks that it has gotten significantly better in schools should read the stories in the new issue of families whose lives have been devastated by homophobic bullying. We know these kids are out there – we were all young and gay once – but their voices are never heard. Often in the past the parents have been too distraught to speak out or just not wanted to.”

Sanaa Lathan and Glee heartthrob Jonathan Groff have landed new regular roles on the second season of Starz’s drama series Boss. Deadline.com reports that the Lionsgate TV-produced series stars recent Golden Globe winner Kelsey Grammer as ruthless Chicago mayor Tom Kane. Lathan is finalizing a deal to play Mona, Kane’s incorruptible new chief of staff, who becomes an obsession for him. Lathan voices the female lead on Fox’s The Cleveland Show and was most recently seen in the feature Contagion. Groff will play Ian Todd, a smart and ambitious staffer in Kane’s office who steps into the void Ezra Stone (Martin Donovan) has left to offer astute council to Kane. The openly gay Groff is best known for his recurring role as villain-turned-good guy Jesse St. James on the Fox musical dramedy Glee.

Celebrating their Super Bowl loss at a post-game party, Deadspin.com reports (with accompanying pictures) that New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski and Matt Light spent the night dancing – shirtless, naturally.

Meanwhile, the Super Bowl champion New Giants quarterback and game MVP Eli Manning spotted arriving at The Late Show with David Letterman, the oh-so-cute Eli having been flown up from Florida where he visited Walt Disney World.