The Catholic Media Office and Evangelical Alliance have written to complain about the exhibition "Was Jesus a Homosexual?" currently on show at London's Decima Gallery.
Although the Catholic Media Office declined to send anyone to view the exhibition, the Evangelical Alliance sent a Free Presbyterian priest (the same extremist sect as the notorious Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley) on the evening of Saturday, 10th March, to protest against the exhibition.
While some of the exhibits apparently offend doctrinaire Christians with no sense of humour, the artists have obviously derived great satisfaction from producing their work. Items include a "brass rubbing" by Gilbert & George, and Prof. James Kirkup's poem "The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name" which led in the 1970's to the prosecution of "Gay News" by Mrs. Mary Whitehouse.
Evidence supporting the thesis that Jesus was gay was uncovered in 1958: as reported by OutRage! before the 1998 Lambeth Conference. The presbyterian priest, believing homosexuality to be a sin, considered this notion blasphemous.
 Rart & Sete "Fuc King Wan King Suc King Spun King" 1999 (detail) |
 Shane Wheatcroft "The Sins of Saint Sebastian" 1999 |
 Shane Wheatcroft "Sleazus H Christ" 1999 |
The exhibition runs until Sunday, 18th April. The Gallery is at 3, Decima Studios, Decima Road, London SE1; tel/fax 020-74.03.60.20.
The "Ecce Homo" exhibition by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson last summer was held in Sweden's most important cathedral, Uppsala.
The exhibition included a controversial painting of the Last Supper, depicting Jesus in high heels and the Apostles in drag: but was defended by Lutheran Archbishop Hammar, and indeed by all the Swedish bishops bar one.
When the Pope then cancelled an audience with the Archbishop, Hammar held a press conference, stating that "as a church leader, I'm not only an institution, I have a duty to push for development".
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