Oregon Public Broadcasting

A group affiliated with the Westboro Baptist Church is in Oregon today, with its signature brand of protest.

The Church, led by Fred Phelps,  takes a radical stance against gay rights.

Several dozen counter-protestors met the group in Portland Monday morning, urging church members to take their message elsewhere.

That's exactly what the group planned to do, targeting Silverton's mayor-elect Stu Rasmussen at midday.

Rasmussen is believed to be the country's first openly-transgender mayor. He says he has no plans to alter his schedule because of protesters, but neither would he go out of his way to engage them.

Stu Rasmussen: "You know, it's kinda like going to meet a rattlesnake, they've got their own agenda, and I'd just as soon view them from afar.   There's a group of people in town that made the decision it really isn't any of the Phelps' family business what happens in Silverton, Oregon. They're talking about doing some kind of counterprotest."

Rasmussen says he appreciates the actions of supporters, but had no plans to join in.