11 replies to this topic

[Lori]

Transsexual Jesus play sparks candle-lit Christian protests

"About 300 protesters held a candlelit protest outside a Glasgow theatre over the staging of a play which portrays Jesus as a transsexual."

Read the article online at http://arbroath.blog...s-candle.html  

.... Admin ducks and watches for lightening  

[Shannon]

I can see where the story of Jesus' resurrection - and the story of a transsexual's transition could be metaphorically compatible themes - if one has an open enough mind to examine metaphorical themes, that is. I believe in the past even certain Christian sects have recognized, and in their own ways interpreted that compatibility too. I think it's sad that some people feel so threatened by anything that falls outside of that which is familiar to them.

[Shannon]

I agree with you that this play was probably written in order to stir up controversy. However, as long as churches and other religious organizations continue to promote legislation that limits the rights of others - particularly those who do not even believe in the faith - religion will remain a target for parodies, as well as other types of critical social commentary - and rightly so.

While Jesus Christ might be a literal figure to those who choose to follow the Christian faith, he is simply another fictional character to myself and many other non-believing members of the general public. Personally, I don't find any artistic re-interpretation or 'appropriation' of the Jesus character to be offensive... but I do find the idea of having my rights and freedoms manipulated according to the supposed whims-and-wishes of somebody else's imaginary friend to be pretty damn disturbing.

[Shannon]

The difference I see is that those writing parodies and plays are merely trying to raise awareness. On the other hand, there are churches and religious organizations that are actively lobbying to restrict the rights of others whom they feel are less worthy than themselves, so I really don't see any reason why the GLBT community should be the ones making nice to the church.

[Sieggy]

Depends on the intent of the play . . . was it inflammatory and provocative, or was it insightful and provocative? Was it in your face or your heart? There's a lot of the old school Tyl Eulenspiegel / Abby Hoffman agents provocateur out there who love nothing more than to tweak the nose of The Man and freaking the breeders. The problem is that freaked breeders vote on such things as constitutional amendments, reforms, etc, and the Freakees tend not to view their Freakors in a positive light . . . A lot of the Gay Pride parades are fundraising opportunities for the fundies.

Sieggy

[UsernameOptional]

either i'm getting old...or i've been more sheltered than any one person should be. i might understand the latest on this conversation if i knew what "freakees," "freakors" and "freaked breeders" were. finally figured out what a "fundie" was after a considerable number of braincells went up in smoke.

and whatever "freaked breeders" are, must not be good by ashlee's reaction. i'm really not up on the "speak" of blogs, facebook, twitter, and all these other fang-dangle communication platforms that are over-ridden with abbreviations, bad spelling and teen-speak.

[Sieggy]

Takingbackashlee, on 23 November 2009 - 02:13 PM, said:

I doubt it was intentional sieggy, but I see it done too much in the glbt community.  Cisgendered, straight individuals, Im willing to bet, do not like being referred to as breeders.'  I can understand the anger many in the community have, but thats the whole problem with the glbt community.  That's just as bad As me calling gays and lesbians 'fags and bulldykes' or calling trans women 'tranny' or 'shemales.'

Again, Im betting you meant no offense by it, but all of my closest friends, and my family are 'breeders.'  I wouldn't ever dream of calling them something like that.  Unity comes from finding common ground, not keeping score and kicking back.

No, their words, not mine. I was using what I had heard personally and read online from the organizers and marchers of various gay parades, functions, and venues. I've worked a few as staff as well as a vendor. In most cases, the people putting them on have to keep a tight rein on their more radical elements, and when the radical elements are the organizers, it can get . . . uuuummmm . . . interesting. There's a sense of bitterness and desire to lash out that permeates many activists (on all sides, mind you - it's part of the activist pathology), and the GLB community has its own bigots like any other group.

My feeling is that the TG community has been lumped with the GLB community on the basis of outward appearance, and the TG community is being adversely affected as a result. The fundamental bases of both camps are different; gays want to be free to do what they want with who they want, TGs want to be free to be who they are. Being gay implies outlook and activity; gender implies a state of being. If someone gay is celibate, society considers him/her straight. It's the gay sex act that makes them gay. A TG who is celibate is still TG. As long as sex as an activity is conflated with gender as a condition, acceptance is going to be an uphill battle.

It doesn't help that the perception of the public is colored by the fact that they can't tell a drag queen from a crossdresser from a transvestite from a transgendered, and have no idea that there's any difference. Toss in ill-informed and sensationalistic media coverage that stirs everything into a big stewpot of Tranny, and serves it up with a side of Gay Pride Parade, the message gets totally lost.

It's sort of like the blacks & the jews on the left . . . not much in common, really, don't like each other very much, but what the hell, politics makes for strange bedfellows. Being neither, I've heard some truly ripper jokes from each regarding the other . . .