'Rent' protesters shouted down by hecklers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 25 (UPI) -- Hundreds of California counter-protesters shouted down an anti-gay church group picketing a high school production of the play "Rent," witnesses say.

Three members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas who came to Newport Beach, Calif., to picket the Corona del Mar High School theatrical production asked to be escorted to their cars by police Friday after they were heckled by about 300 counter-protesters, the Orange County (Calif.) Register reported.

Westboro Church member Fred Phelps, Jr., Betty Phelps and another supporter arrived at the school carrying signs reading "Fags are beasts" and "America is doomed." Fred Phelps told the newspaper, "('Rent') is catering to the totally out-of-control youth of this nation. They've got no discipline, no morals. Only doom and destruction lie ahead for them."

But Rosanne Fall of Costa Mesa, Calif., and a member of the Orange County Equality Coalition, said, "We're here to support 'Rent.' It's important for the kids. We shouldn't discriminate based on sexual orientation."

The Tony Award-winning musical, which deals with homosexuality and AIDS, was allowed to proceed by principal Fal Asrani after "school-safe" version of the play was approved, the Register said.