'God Hates Fags' church pickets Michael Jackson's funeral

By Toby Longhurst

The controversial God Hates fags, Westboro Baptist Church have picketed Michael Jackson's memorial service in Las Angeles last week.

While millions around the word mourned one of the greatest entertainers who ever graced a stage, a small number of protesters sang homophobic songs and carried signs such as 'Jacko in Hell”, “Fag Tinseltown” and “God hates Obama”.

Despite a call for protesters on their website www.godhatesfags.com, only a dozen protesters showed up, and even then they were unable to get within coo-ee of the Staples Centre where Michael's memorial was taking place because of the heavy police presence.

The Westboro Baptist Church, headed by Fred Phelps, regularly protests the funerals of AIDS victims and American soldiers who were killed in the line of duty. They have previously picketed the funerals of Matthew Shepard and Coretta Scott King.

Michael for years had denied rumours that he was gay, but cheekily hit back at tabloid reports in true Michael Jackson style - releasing his 1991 hit single 'In the Closet', in which he steamed up the screen with super model Naomi Campbell.

His memorial drew fans from every corner of the globe, with 1.6 million people attempting to win tickets to his spectacular send off which was one of the most watched television events in the world.