Christians protest at portrayal of Jesus as transsexual woman - Herald Scotland | News | Home News#have-your-say#have-your-say
Christians protest at portrayal of Jesus as transsexual woman
Protesters wave placards opposing Jesus, Queen of Heaven at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.
Martin Williams
0 commentsPublished on 4 Nov 2009
More than 300 Christian protesters demonstrated in the centre of Glasgow last night against a publicly funded play that portrays Jesus as a transsexual woman.
The demonstrators, who waved placards and sang hymns and gospel songs, blocked Chisholm Street for about two hours from 6.30pm as they held a candlelit vigil outside the Tron Theatre where Jesus, Queen of Heaven will run until Saturday.
A ecumenical congregation including Catholics and evangelical Christians voiced their disapproval of the show, which presents Christ as a man who wants to become a woman.
One placard said: “Jesus, King of Kings, Not Queen of Heaven”.
Another stated: “God: My Son Is Not A Pervert”.
The production is part of the Glasgay! arts festival, Scotland’s annual celebration of homosexual culture, which receives funding from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Arts Council.
The Christian Institute, which is opposed to equality for gay people, has said the festival is “further proof of an agenda to use taxpayers’ money to fund assaults on Christian values.”
Protesters said last night that they did not feel their demonstration would give more publicity to the show they wanted banned.
Jack Bell, pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in Polmadie, said: “We are here to protest against the blasphemy of this play.”
Another demonstrator, Peter Campbell of St Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Greenock, said: “I am here to say enough is enough. I feel I have to do something because I don’t feel this is right and I have to stand up for the cause of Jesus.”
Publicity material for the play shows the writer and lead performer of the piece – transsexual Jo (formerly John) Clifford – posing as Christ with crucifixion wounds and a halo.
Glasgay!, which is supported by the city council quango Culture and Sport Glasgow, has already provoked outrage over an exhibition that encouraged the public to graffiti a Bible.
!!!! CORRECTION !!!!
Readers should note that Glasgay! had nothing to do with the Sh[out] exhibition’s Bible “Made In God’s Image” work which is referred to incorrectly here. This work was made by other Culture & Sport funded artists who have nothing to do with Glasgay!.
Jo Clifford’s new theatrical play “Jesus Queen of Heaven” is a literary work of fiction exploring the artists own personal journey of faith as a transgendered person. Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life. This work is not intended to incite or offend anyone of any belief system however we respect your right to disagree with that opinion. We welcome genuinely interested audience members who wish to understand the artistic intention behind this work.
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