A planned play at Tarleton State University that portrays a gay Jesus has raised emotions in Stephenville to the point where a Christian radio show was jammed with protest calls and some student actors have been pressured to quit.
John Jordan Otte, the student who is directing Corpus Christi, said he understood that the play would likely create controversy, but he never imagined this level of anxiety. He said he wants to convey the turmoil that gay Christians sometimes experience and create a sense of acceptance, tolerance and unconditional love.
Corpus Christi will be among four plays performed Saturday at Tarleton in Stephenville. The performances are part of a class project, and only 90 seats are available.
"We all share this world," said Otte, who is gay. "We're no different. Everything Christ has said applies to us as well."
To many in the community, the depiction of a gay Jesus who performs a marriage ceremony for two of the apostles is offensive, especially on the weekend before Easter. Letters have been written to the local newspaper, and some alumni have called Tarleton to express their opposition.
"This is a conservative community," said Carroll Cawyer, a Stephenville man active in conservative groups. "It's just sticking a thumb in the eye of the standards of this community. That's what a lot of people are upset about."
Responding to the outcry, Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio released a letter March 11 to the campus community, stating that he would allow the play to be performed because Tarleton "is committed to protecting and preserving the freedoms of thought, speech and expression."
The play, written by Terrence McNally, opened Oct. 13, 1998, at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York. Some religious groups condemned it.
In the play, Jesus goes by a parallel character named Joshua. Joshua grows up in McNally's hometown of Corpus Christi in the 1950s and '60s. Before he is crucified, Joshua heals the sick, feeds the hungry and provides spiritual guidance.
Controversial moments include scenes where Judas and Joshua kiss during their senior prom at Pontius Pilate High School and when Joshua marries the apostles James and Bartholomew. Before the ceremony, James pauses and speaks the Scripture: "If a man lies with a man as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them."
Joshua responds: "Why would you memorize such a terrible passage? 'And God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good.'... God loves us most when we love each other."
Otte, 26, said he grew up in the Mormon Church, traveling to Italy for a few years on a Mormon mission.
After an emotional upheaval when he accepted that he was gay, he left the church, which condemns homosexuality. A gay-themed play steeped in religion appealed to him when he was asked to pick a project for his advanced directing class, Otte said.
"I was extremely faithful" as a Mormon, said Otte, who is a junior. "I did everything you were supposed to do."Cast members have paid a price. Chase Sikes, 18, a senior at Stephenville High School, said he has been called a gay slur by classmates when he walks down the hall. He plays Judas, and he's straight. Auditions were open to the community.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/22/2059143/in-stephenville-college-play-featuring.html#storylink=omni_popular
