Turn to any news feed right this moment, and some hateful group or ideology is being debated. My heart first goes to the children raised in these hate-filled homes. How do you free your mind of racist, xenophobic, or homophobic ideas taught to you from birth? Not My Father’s Child is a blueprint for escaping these environments and leading a life free of hateful indoctrination.
While Phelps and the members of Westboro Baptist are well-known for their "God Hates Fags" public protests, the excruciating abuse levied by Phelps against his wife and children has remained, for the most part, hauntingly hidden away for decades. Told through chilling re-enactment scenes and personal interviews with Nate, Mark and Dortha, "Not My Father’s Child" reveals the untold story of the only three first-generation runaways. From their daily struggle to endure the abusive outbursts of their father to breaking free from the indoctrination of a belief system grounded in hate to their search for emotional and psychological healing to their desire to eradicate hate and help others, they invite viewers to join them for a behind-the-scenes look at their journey from hate to hope.
"My core purpose for joining my brother and sister in this documentary about our family is to support them in telling the truth. My father’s abusive use of religion was unique to his pathology and it was dark and evil. I know my father’s god condemns, and enjoys crushing the life out of human beings. Fred W. Phelp’s hateful god leaves the world with no hope" – Mark Phelps.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with this team and the opportunity to get this message out...the cure for bigotry of the brain is to inoculate the heart with loving connections" – Nate Phelps.
Our Kickstarter campaign showcases the film’s trailer, full letters from the Fred’s exiled children, and 15 minutes worth of sample scenes already cut from the film. The campaign is live now through the month of August ending, September 8th at 11:59 PM.
The Kickstarter page can be accessed here, and the film’s website can be accessed here for additional information.
