Westboro Baptist Church protests against Gene Simmons

Members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church protested Monday at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Illinois ahead of a Kiss concert.

The State Journal-Register reported that around ten Westboro Baptists held signs attacking Israel and homosexuals.

The Westboro Baptist Church believes that God is punishing the United States because of America's acceptance of homosexuality and has gained infamy for picketing the funerals of public figures and military families with offensive signs such as, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "God Hates America."

Church member Shirley Phelps-Roper said the Westboro Baptists were protesting Kiss member Gene Simmons’ involvement with the “NOH8 Campaign,” opposing California's same sex marriage ban, and his Jewish ethnicity.

Around 20 counter-protesters took to the opposite side of the street.

The Illinois Senate passed legislation in May aimed at restricting members of the Westboro Baptist Church from protesting at funerals. The bill would require anyone picketing a funeral to be at least 300 feet away, adding an extra 100 feet to current Illinois law.

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