Based in Topeka, Kansas, non-profit organization Planting Peace created the rainbow-hued Equality House, which happens to be located right the street from Westboro Baptist Church.
Now, the org has another strategy to battle the hate group: they’re hoping to buy another house in the hood and dedicate it to the trans community.
According to Huffington Post, Planting Peace is trying to crowdfund $70,000 in order to purchase a house that’s directly next door to the Equality House. (HuffPo reports that it’s “essentially on the front lawn of The Westboro Baptist Church.”)
They intend to paint the house the colors of the transgender flag.
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In order to achieve their goal, they’re enlisting the help of Avery Jackson, an 8-year-old who’s been very vocal about her own transition.
Aaron Jackson, President of Planting Peace, tells HuffPo:
The purpose of Planting Peace’s Equality House is to counter the actions of hate groups like the Westboro Baptist Church with love and compassion, and serve as a symbol to the LGBTQ community that they are not alone, that they have support from so many people.
“We’ve painted the house the colors of the transgender flag each year to honor the transgender community and, specifically, those who have taken their lives because of violence and bullying. I was deeply touched when Avery visited us and said it brought her joy and gave her confidence. She inspired us to partner with her to create a symbol of support for the transgender community by expanding the Equality House and permanently painting our neighboring house the colors of the transgender flag.”
Avery Jackson tells the blog:
I loved the rainbow [Equality] House when it was painted like the transgender flag. I felt so happy and proud to be transgender. I wish people weren’t afraid of transgender people. I’m not a monster. I’m not scary. I just want to be treated like every other human.”
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