page_title: Megan Phelps-Roper
hierarchical_section_title: Megan Phelps-Roper
caption_attribution_description: English: Megan Phelps-Roper
context_page_description: Megan Phelps-Roper is a former member and spokesperson of the Westboro Baptist Church. Her mother is Shirley Phelps-Roper and her grandfather is the church's founder Fred Phelps. She grew up in Topeka, Kansas in a compound with other members of the church. She was taught the Westboro Baptist Church doctrine and at 13 she was baptised as a member of the church.
  Phelps-Roper participated in the church's protests against homosexuality and other perceived sins. She picketed various events including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the funerals of soldiers who died in the War in Afghanistan and the War in Iraq. In 2009 she became an active member on Twitter to preach the church's doctrine. Phelps-Roper began to doubt her beliefs when Twitter users pointed out contradictions in Westboro Baptist Church's doctrine and a nine-person council took over the church's decision-making process. She also disagreed with church elders that pressured her into posting doctored photos of the church picketing events such as the British Royal Wedding and the funeral of Whitney Houston.
  Phelps-Roper left the church in 2012 after she was unable to reconcile her doubts with her beliefs.
context_section_description: Megan Phelps-Roper (born January 31, 1986) is a former member and spokesperson of the Westboro Baptist Church. Her mother is Shirley Phelps-Roper and her grandfather is the church's founder Fred Phelps. She grew up in Topeka, Kansas in a compound with other members of the church. She was taught the Westboro Baptist Church doctrine and at 13 she was baptised as a member of the church.
  Phelps-Roper participated in the church's protests against homosexuality and other perceived sins. She picketed various events including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the funerals of soldiers who died in the War in Afghanistan and the War in Iraq. In 2009 she became an active member on Twitter to preach the church's doctrine. Phelps-Roper began to doubt her beliefs when Twitter users pointed out contradictions in Westboro Baptist Church's doctrine and a nine-person council took over the church's decision-making process. She also disagreed with church elders that pressured her into posting doctored photos of the church picketing events such as the British Royal Wedding and the funeral of Whitney Houston. 
  Phelps-Roper left the church in 2012 after she was unable to reconcile her doubts with her beliefs. Following her departure, Phelps-Roper became a prominent critic of the group's philosophy and practices. She travels around the world to speak about her experience in the church and advocate dialogue between groups with conflicting views. She is a member of Twitter's Trust and Safety Council and works with law enforcement agencies to combat extremist groups. In 2019 she released her memoir Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope, leaving the Westboro Baptist Church.
caption: Megan Phelps-Roper giving a TED Talk in January 2017 in New York City.
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