Editing Fred Phelps (section)

===Picketing Years (1991-2011)===

Phelps and the WBC began picketing around 1991, in order combat homosexual activities at Gage Park. Although the protests started out small, and gained little attention, the church soon began gaining attention nationwide, the most notable event being the funeral protest of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Around 2003, the WBC began to protest the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, claiming that they died for a doomed nation.<ref>[https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/His-church-was-bombed-and-now-he-protests-1175893.php His church was bombed, and now he protests funerals of the war dead], ''Seattle PI''</ref> Several laws were soon made to restrain the church protests. While not banning them from picketing outright, the laws passed made member keep a large distance from the funeral.

The church made headlines once again in 2006, when Albert Snyder, father of Matthew Snyder, a fallen Marine whose funeral the WBC picketed, sued Phelps and the church for invasion of privacy, emotional distress, and other charges. Synder was soon awarded $10.9 million in damages. In Steptember 2009, the church brought the case before an appeals court, who ruled in favor of the Phelps', and Synder was forced to pay the court costs.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/06/-Snyder-vs-Phelps-Supreme-Court-protects-hateful-speech-near-funeral/58271299402300/ Snyder vs. Phelps: Supreme Court protects hateful speech near funeral], ''United Press International''</ref> In 2010, based on another appeal, the case was soon brought to the Supreme Court. Margie Phelps, one of Pastor Phelps' daughters, represented the church, and in 2011, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the WBC 8-1. This case brought about much media attention, and many were disappointed by the outcome.