Gay Jesus Play Called Blasphemous, Xtra Security Needed For Performance
Security will be increased at Tarleton State University in Texas when a play in which Jesus is portrayed as gay will be presented on Saturday.
The production called "Corpus Christi" is being directed by student John Jordan Otte, who says he wants to offer a play that portrays tolerance and unconditional love.
Critics say the play is blasphemous.
School police Chief Justin Williams says university officers will be assisted with security by police in Stephenville, a city of 17,000 located 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio has said the play will be allowed because the school is committed to protecting and preserving freedom of thought, speech and expression.
The Terrence McNally play premiered in New York in 1998. A promotional clip is embedded below.
News Release from Tarleton
A scheduled student production that is part of an undergraduate theatre class at Tarleton State University will consist of four different one-act plays. All material is chosen, acted, produced and directed by students. It is a class assignment and not a university production.
One of the plays, “Corpus Christi,” is set in modern times in Texas and depicts a gay man whose life the playwright parallels to that of Christ in an attempt to seek higher awareness of Christ’s difficulties and torments. According to theater critics and the playwright, the overall theme is about tolerance and acceptance.
The university understands that the student’s selection of this particular material is offensive to some members of the Tarleton community. We value civility and always regret the use of words or actions that offend others.
“Having lived in Stephenville for more than 20 years, I am very committed to this community and I take care when selecting productions,” said Mark Holtorf, associate professor of theatre at Tarleton.
According to Holtorf, “The performance of “Corpus Christi” is being done in an advanced directing class. It is a class assignment, not a play intended for the general public. It is not part of our theatre season. The play was selected by a student, paid for by a student and will be performed by students as a part of that class.
“As a faculty member, it is my role to help students consider the implications of their choices, and I have done that in this case. However, it is not my role to censor the students’ selections of material for an advanced class. I must hold that freedom of artistic expression as a cornerstone of education. The First Amendment of the Constitution grants that freedom to all. If we censor one, we censor all.”
Public universities are expected to provide for students, faculty and staff the same constitutional freedoms afforded the general public, particularly in such areas as freedom of thought, speech and expression. Perhaps nowhere in our society are these freedoms more debated than in the fine arts. It is the case from time to time that a public university will be the site of a particular play, a specific speech, an art exhibit or reading of a piece of literature, poetry or prose that is viewed both within and without the university as offensive to some, as art by others.
Tarleton has reviewed this matter with legal counsel and confirmed that free speech is protected on the campuses of Texas public universities.
“The law clearly supports the students in the exercise of their rights granted under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” according to The Texas A&M University System Office of General Counsel. In addition to the students’ rights, there are important academic freedom rights of the faculty involved.
Tarleton State University understands that some persons may be offended by a performance, speech or other form of expression on campus. At the same time, the university as a public institution of higher learning is committed to protecting and preserving the freedoms of thought, speech and expression.
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Security will be increased at Tarleton State University in Texas when a play in which Jesus is portrayed as gay will be presented on Saturday.
The production called "Corpus Christi" is being directed by student John Jordan Otte, who says he wants to offer a play that portrays tolerance and unconditional love.
Critics say the play is blasphemous.
School police Chief Justin Williams says university officers will be assisted with security by police in Stephenville, a city of 17,000 located 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio has said the play will be allowed because the school is committed to protecting and preserving freedom of thought, speech and expression.
The Terrence McNally play premiered in New York in 1998. A promotional clip is embedded below.
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