“We refuse to concede Jesus to those who act like they own the copyright on Christ, then use him as a weapon to dominate others,” writes Kittredge Cherry about her new book The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision.
The provocative book and accompanying artwork by Doug Blanchard tells the story of a modern day gay messiah, in which the “contemporary Christ figure stands up to priests, bankers, politicians, soldiers, and police…He is jeered by fundamentalists, tortured by Marine lookalikes, killed as news cameras broadcast his pain, and rises again to enjoy homoerotic union with God.”
And while we’re all for appropriating made-up stories with the purpose of lifting spirits, the book is predictably enraging many right-wing Christians. Because Jesus was obviously a straight white man who looked like Jim Caviezel.
It’s been blasted as an “abomination,” “disgusting” and “an outrage to mock Christ in this manner,” and Cherry says Facebook even initially pulled its ads for being too “shocking” — a move they reversed after outcry. Or as she aptly puts it, they “resurrected” the ads.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Here’s a sampling of some of the art, which to us on a scale of one-to-shocking ranks somewhere between an occupy protest and a Quentin Tarantino film.
You can find more info on the book here.
Dakotahgeo
The conservative Fundie faux Christians would shit bricks if Jesus returned in drag! It would serve them right!
Xzamilio
Oh, look… more religious pandering and the evermore notion of an Anglo-Saxon Jesus when we know good and damn well if this mythical man existed, he’s look more like Zayn Malik and not Harry Styles. I’m sorry, but it’s just sad that LGBT people need so bad to hold on to this particularly useless side of humanity… especially one that has done so much harm while pretending the good from it is solely through its existence.
Tobi
Yup, nothing like a gay Jesus to bring the Mary Whitehouses crawling out of the woodwork.
Bruce Dillon
Let the unintended consequenses of our corrupt, ignorant, hate-filled, money loving, war-mongering republiKKKLan state-sanctioned sharia hate laws BEGIN!
(*;*()
onthemark
I don’t think Gay Jesus would wear a tan sport jacket.
Billy Budd
Jesus is definitely sexy. Almost nude on a cross, muscular, blond, sweaty. I would JO for Jesus.
o.codone
Gay men mock and ridicule Jesus, forgetting that there are many gay men and women who believe in Him. Where’s the respect?
Ogre Magi
@o.codone:
The only part I liked was the one where he is gettin a whuppin!
http://www.passionofchristbook.com/uploads/3/9/8/3/39836699/1683973_orig.jpg
aliengod
@o.codone: I agree with you. And crap like this does nothing but hurt the LGB community. You don’t make peace by intentionally offending an entire group of people. There are many true Christians that love and accept the LGB community.
polarisfashion
Imagine the hysteria if Jesus was actually portrayed by an actual Jewish person! Even more outrage if the actor is balding!!!
Xzamilio
If you want respect for your religious nonsense, then get evidence for it. Otherwise, keep it out of our laws and public policies, and keep it in your own lives, your homes, churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and your imaginations where it belongs. Clean up your own damn house of intolerant Christians before you go trying to demand respect from those of us who reject this religious nonsense for its lacking evidence, substance, and justification for numerous atrocities. Religion had its purpose in the beginning, and was behind some of the most awe inspiring finds in literature, the natural world, and science, and then turned right around and tried to suppress the very things it contributed to…
And I’ll be damned if someone tries to say what crap hurts the LGBT community when they intentionally leave off a integral letter in that acronym. We need straight allies, but we damn sure don’t need religious nonsense which has had NOTHING to do with our success.
Xzamilio
I see the same thing happening here that happened with slavery… Christianity was used to justify it in America and then when slavery was abolished, Christians took credit for that while conveniently forgetting that THEY were behind its implementation. And I’m pretty sure when gay marriage is legalize nationwide, Christianity will try to once again claim to be responsible for turning the tide. The only thing that has united people of faith is common goals of human decency and morality, and these transcend all religions and existed long before the first sky daddy was crafted. Sorry if that hurts your feelings, but I think we’ve coddled this crap for far too long…
Saint Law
@aliengod: “I agree with you”
The words every queerty poster lives in dread of.
Ron King
Let’s hope so….it would sure be an improvement…
Daggerman
…if anyone—looked at the habits, style and the unmarried status of Jesus, is it that surprising the human race for centuries has decided to ignore the fact that Jesus Christ could have easily been GAY…
Alan down in Florida
@polarisfashion: As an actual Jewish person I enjoyed your comment. As a semi-lunatic your remark made me realize that Jesus was probably cut. Never thought of that before.
sebbie3000
@<a href="#comment-89228@o.codone: Respect the fact that someone can have a religion. Nowhere is there any need to actually respect those beliefs themselves. Especially loony ones, like all religions are.
edwardnvirginia
This is vary bad art. It has no evocative energy whatsoever. It is bland and boring.
In part it is boring because it is very bad historical reflection. Accounts of Jesus’ seat are as terrifying and gory as the worst video coming out from ISIS’s public denunciations, tortures, and beheadings/burning alive.
The lack of historical reflection further drains out all important cultural and social commentary. Its like a stupid TV show where social problems are ‘solved’ in 20 minutes (10 minutes for commercials).
The racism latent in the art is clear by transposing a person of color (Jesus) into ‘White’ iconography. The character drawn as Rosa Parks in the ‘last supper’ transposition looks offended, as the true Rosa Parks would likely have been.