Controversial Church To Protest at LGBT Center, Two Universities: Report

NASHVILLE, TN — Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for its fiery protests against the gay community, are planning on Oct. 31 to picket Belmont and Vanderbilt universities and a Nashville LGBT center, according to a media report.

The small church in Topeka, Kan., has gained national attention by picketing military funerals, concerts and other events to preach against the LGBT community. In a press release on its website, the church says members will picket OutCentral, an LGBT center.

The church has been denounced as a hate group, according to media reports. In 2011, it won a Supreme Court case upholding free speech after a military family in Maryland sued Westboro Baptist for picketing their son's funeral.

At Belmont, Westboro Baptist members will aim their protest at Bridge Builders, an "LGBT organization focusing on exploring the connections between faith and sexuality," the Nashville Tennessean reported Thursday.

A top official at Belmont, a private Christian school, told The Tennessean that the university is working to build "a diverse and inclusive community," and will discourage students from engaging with the protesters.