Equality House

The Equality House at 1200 SW Orleans Street is one of Topeka's most visited landmarks by visiting journalists, activists, and curious travellers. The juxtaposition is stark: a cheerfully rainbow-coloured house directly across from the WBC compound, which has been the source of anti-LGBTQ protests and publicity campaigns since the 1990s. The WBC building itself is nondescript; the Equality House is not.

Planting Peace, the organisation that owns the house, has used it as a base for fundraising for LGBTQ causes and a symbolic statement about the power of peaceful, persistent opposition. The house is open for photos from the street, and staff are sometimes present for conversation. The location draws visitors who want to see the geography of the conflict in person — the two buildings, close enough to shout across.

things to do sight
A story
The Equality House is a private residence painted in the colours of the rainbow Pride flag, positioned directly across the street from the headquarters of the Westboro Baptist Church. It was purchased and painted in 2012 by Aaron Jackson of Planting Peace as a deliberate, permanent visual counterpoint to the WBC's campaigns against LGBTQ people. The house has since become a symbol and a pilgrimage destination in its own right.