Protester buys $81,000 house opposite homophobic Westboro Baptist Church - so he can re-paint it with colors of gay rights rainbow flag

PUBLISHED: 16:08 EST, 19 March 2013 | UPDATED: 05:41 EST, 20 March 2013

A charity founder bought a house opposite the Westboro Baptist Church headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, so he could protest against the group and celebrate homosexuality by painting it in rainbow colors today.

Aaron Jackson, 31, who founded Planting Peace which supports orphanages in the developing world, decided the paint-job would be the perfect counter protest to the organization who are known for their 'God Hates Fags' placards and anti-gay preaching.

The two bedroom house, which cost $81,000, now sits proudly re-colored directly opposite the founding base of the non-affiliated group which describes itself as a 'church'.

Before: The 2-bedroom $81,000 property sits directly opposite the headquarters of the Westboro Baptist Church. It was a bland gray color, pictured, before it received its protest makeover

Rainbow house: Aaron Jackson painted the property in rainbow colors with the help of volunteers this morning

Bright idea: Aaron Jackson, pictured, decided to make his public protest against the sect six months ago when he bought the property. However, he waited to paint the house today

The guerrilla protest against the Westboro Baptists is particularly fitting given their sporadic demonstrations interrupting the funerals of dead servicemen with their odd anti-gay rhetoric and chants.

The small sect believe homosexuality is the root of all the world's evil and the refusal to denounce it is the cause of all tragedy, including deaths in war.

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Jackson says other neighbors on the street have pledged their support for his stand against the group and their perverse preaching.

'Instead of millions of children around the world getting this hate message, they're going to see this message of compassion and love,' Jackson told Gawker.

Work in progress: The group began painting in the early hours today and were soon able to admire their handy work

Painting with pride: Aaron Jackson enlisted the help of a team of volunteers who gave the home a complete makeover in a matter of hours

Room with a view: The Westboro Baptist Church Headquarters, pictured, is opposite the house in Topeka

Founder: Fred Phelps established the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka in 1955. A placard in the background demonstrates the group's attitudes

'People keep coming out, honking horns, taking pictures,' he told Fox News.

The Westboro Baptist Church, which is believed to have just a few dozen members, was founded at the property in Topeka in 1955 by Fred Phelps.

Jackson bought the small house across the road six months ago but has waited to paint it in the multi-color design until today.

He told KUHF.FM he was inspired by 9-year-old Josef Miles who hit the headlines with his own Topeka protest against the Westboro Baptists.

Inspiration: Aaron Jackson says 9-year-old Josef Miles' simple protest against the Westboro Baptist Church anti-gay slogans, pictured, encouraged him to paint the house

The child stood in front of 'church-members' carrying their 'God Hates Gays' signs with his own pencil drawn 'God Hates No One' design on a sketchpad.

Jackson has named the property 'Equality House' and plans to fly a large rainbow flag outside on a 30-foot flag pole.

He doesn't intend to live at the property but hopes it can become a base for work on equality and LGBT rights.

'The view is what I bought the home for,' he said.

A Twitter account purporting to represent the 'church' mentioned the 'fag flag house' next door several times in Tweets today.

The rainbow flag has been an emblem of the LGBT movement since the 1970s.

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I don't take sides here, but i noticed, the house looks prettier this way.

- Grandma , Seattle, 20/3/2013 20:39

Click to rate Rating 10

I have nothing against pee pee kissers but I don't quite see the need to (parden the pun) shove this down anyone's throat.----- bluechip68 , memphis, United States, 20/3/2013 16:16----As opposed to having religion shoved down everyone's throat?

- sacha , hereandthere, 20/3/2013 19:56

Click to rate Rating 13

I'm definitely not a fan of this "church" I am not religious myself, i have my own beliefs about the world and its creation, however, this "church" needs to be shut down! even I know that no normal church in their right minds would do what westboro do....It's disgraceful

- BassKitt , Fountain US Used to be in UK, 20/3/2013 18:08

Click to rate Rating 28

There is a GOD! Best response EVER!

- Cowboy Mouth , Fort Worth TX, 20/3/2013 17:28

Click to rate Rating 31

Now THAT'S funny!

- RT Fan , NYC, 20/3/2013 17:12

Click to rate Rating 32

of all the pictures, my favorite one is the one with 9 year old Josef Miles.

- jgresham , Anywhere, United States, 20/3/2013 16:54

Click to rate Rating 36

I have nothing against pee pee kissers but I don't quite see the need to (parden the pun) shove this down anyone's throat.

- bluechip68 , memphis, United States, 20/3/2013 16:16

Click to rate Rating 89

Hee hee, absolutely great. That poor house is not long for this world, but I hope it gets some good mileage before 'Under the cover of night, a furtive figure.....'

- kestral , Tulsa, United States, 20/3/2013 16:14

Click to rate Rating 35

I"m not big on either cause, but this is funny.

- shazzbot , handford, 20/3/2013 15:51

Click to rate Rating 11

I would have painted the church first

- PewPewPew , AMERICA, United States, 20/3/2013 15:18

Click to rate Rating 43

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