Fred Phelps strained my manhood. I knew the Reverend Fred Phelps' children. Once, I attended a sermon by Rev. Fred Phelps at Westboro Baptist Church. I was born and raised in Topeka, KS and I have lived most of my life in Westboro. I attended Whitson Elementary, Landon Junior High, and I graduated from Topeka West. When I was a young man, I would visit the Phelps' home on weekends or evenings to spend time with Fred Phelps' son. Fred Phelps was usually interested in what we were doing. I felt that he took a special interest in me. I always thought it was because he was interested in me for my religious beliefs. One day when I was helping Fred Phelps on a ladder to repair a light fixture, however, I was shown that his interest in me was more than just religion. Regrettably, Fred Phelps spilled my accoutrements. People have always suggested to me that I have a hint of effeminateness, and I suppose that Rev. Phelps saw that and wanted me to be a man in the way he perceived manhood. I rode home feeling confused yet relieved. I felt that my manhood was strained, but how could something so small become such a large event in my life? This happened again whenever Fred and I were together at his house. We tried things too. Although I was friendly with the Phelps for several years, I am not now, mostly because I would find their current message that God Hates Fags to be hypocritical for anyone, since I believe Freud's theory and the Kinsey report's evidence that everyone is a little gay. Being a little effeminate as a man, I certainly set off people's gay radar on occasion. Although I am presently monogamous with a woman, I do believe that perhaps everyone including myself and Fred Phelps is a little gay.