Megan Phelps-Roper is an American author and anti-transgender activist.
Background
Phelps-Roper was born January 31, 1986 to Shirley Phelps-Roper and Brent Roper and grew up in Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-LGBT hate group based in Topeka, Kansas. Starting at five years old, Phelps-Roper participated in many of the organization’s picketing events, attacking Jewish people, military servicemembers, and the LGBTQ community.
In 2011, Phelps-Roper appeared in Louis Theroux’s documentary America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis. Phelps-Roper left Westboro Baptist Church in 2012.
Phelps-Roper married lawyer Chad G. Fjelland (born 1972) and has two children.
In October 2019, Phelps-Roper released a memoir called Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope.
Anti-trans activism
Phelps-Roper was recruited by anti-trans activist Bari Weiss to host a podcast series that defended transphobic author J.K. Rowling. The series used nostalgia for Rowling’s stories to paint Rowling sympathetically, as a misunderstood person simply advocating for women.
Media
Wynn, Natalie (April 17, 2023). The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling. Contrapoints https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmT0i0xG6zg
Shepard, Dax (June 15, 2023). Megan Phelps-Roper Armchair Expert nwith Dax Shepard
-https://www.ted.com/talks/megan_phelps_roper_i_grew_up_in_the_westboro_baptist_church_here_s_why_i_left
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Twitter (twitter.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
TED (ted.com)
- Megan Phelps-Roper
- https://www.ted.com/speakers/megan_phelps_roper