Horizons Community Services' Anti— Violence Project received a threatening letter from Fred Phelps' Anti Gay and Lesbian Coalition of North America ( AGCONA ) . Similar letters were apparently also received by anti— violence projects in Los Angeles and New York.
"Our slogan is god hates fags and dykes," the letter states. "AGCONA will make it right. We are for the elimination of all gays, lesbians and deviants like yourself in the world. We have the AIDS virus and many other diseases because of your sick and twisted life styles. AGCONA can solve many of the worlds problems by getting rid of people like you." ( Grammar from the original letter. )
"Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, how fire came from heaven to destroy gays and lesbians in the past, god has not changed, it will come upon you in the very near future. You will burn in hell if you dont repent. How could god allow anything as abhorrent as yourself to keep living." The letter goes on to list many "celebrity backers" of Phelps' operations, but most of those are on record denouncing Phelps' tactics. Among the list of anti— gay groups and individuals listed, but ones whose approach is less extreme than Phelps, who even pickets at funerals of gay men like Matthew Shepard and Randy Shilts: Jerry Falwell, Oral Roberts, Jim Baker, The Pope, 60 Minutes, and dozens of different religions and churches. They even say AGCONA is "currently talking with Islam, even though we differ in our beliving [ sic ] in the lord, we like their anti gay and lesbian stand. We hope to unite shortly with Islam inorder [ sic ] to clean up the earth from all the gays, lesbians, bi sexuals and deviants."
Horizons sent the letter to the media and is working with law enforcement authorities.
The letter was received through the mail, which could make the threats a federal offense, as is the case with recent arson threats sent to Oak Park gay groups by someone living in that west suburban community.