So much for free expression.
The much-publicized performance of a gay-themed play at Tarleton State University, scheduled for Saturday morning, was canceled Friday night due to safety concerns, The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tarleton State President F. Dominic Dottavio issued a statement earlier Friday calling the play “offensive, crude and irreverent,” but adding that stopping the production would amount to a violation of free expression. However, the university issued a statement later saying the class’s professor canceled the play due to concerns about students’ safety and the need to maintain an orderly academic environment.
Also, Friday, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst issued a statement condemning the play, according to The Texas Tribune. Here’s what Dewhurst said:
“Every citizen is entitled to the freedom of speech, but no one should have the right to use government funds or institutions to portray acts that are morally reprehensible to the majority of Americans.
Texans don’t deserve to see their hard-earned tax money used to debase their religion. This lewd display runs completely contrary to the standards of scholastic excellence and common decency that we demand in our publicly-funded institutions for higher learning.”
I am saddened to see the “Christian” extremists get their way by threatening the school. This will only embolden them to continue. I think John Otte is a brave young man for exposing the homophobic bigots in small town Texas.
According to Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst “no one should have the right to use government funds or institutions to portray acts that are morally reprehensible to the vast majority of Americans” Does this include incest?
I guess Texas will soon be banning Shakespeare’s Hamlet,Measure for Measure ,The Tragedy of Locrine,…. because of the incest that is morally reprehensible.
What does this mean for Otte’s project? I hope the religious loons have some form of compensation for their meddling besides praying for his heathen soul. Another WIN for Texas education (for those raised in TX, that was sarcasm).
Things like this make me embarrased to admit I am a Texan
What a bunch of fuckin’ assholes. (pardon my French, I wouldn’t want to offend any delicate sensibilities)
OK. Who knows the theater crowd here in Dallas. Wright? You’re the critic, how about finding a place here where Otte can put on his play. Maybe find a bus to bring him and any students along. A fundraiser. Let’s publicize the hate from our “leaders”. I volunteer to help. Let me know what I can do.
These bigots have been pissing me off for too long.
@Montamalone:
That would be Jones, Arnold Wayne Jones. I’m the news editor. But I agree, someone should put on the play. Bring the actors over in a bus, maybe have a little fundraiser for Chavez, who’s running against Dewhurst.
The Democratic nominee is Linda Chavez-Thompson: https://www.electchavezthompson.com/.
I think you guys have the right idea…. It would be great to see Dallas or Fort Worth host such an event. Fort Worth would probably be close enough for people from Tarleton. Doesn’t Q-Cinema use a theater in Sundance Square for its monthly films? Maybe someone should contact Todd Camp.
–Matt
Wow, I guess the University didn’t trust their own peace keeping Police to engage in this free speech exercise either. Funny how all the hypocrites flocked to see the Davinchi Code and didn’t scream about that huh?
Why does it always seem to be the assholes who have the most to hide complain the loudest? Are they all terrified that someone is gonna open their closet doors? Pretty pathetic when you think about it.
I’m willing to bet that most of these hateful self-proclaimed straight men have deep dark homosexual secrets that would destroy them if others ever found out. Men have been having sex with other men in Greece for thousands of years and this is a well known fact. So why is it so hard for these American liars to get over their own phobias?
So someone comes up with a “What if” kinda play and the brainwashed hate filled make a stink like this? What do you suppose is going to happen if someone does one that portrays their God as a Goddess? OMG.. time to panic…
I will never understand how all of these “Christians” can spout off about morals and then threaten people based on their disagreement with the material of a play.
If you don’t like the material, then DON’T GO TO THE PLAY. Stop forcing your beliefs on everyone else to a point that a play has to be cancelled. Let others who are interested in the play go see it. Complete idiocy from the so-called “moral” people.
Where in their “Christian” beliefs does it advocate violence towards others for ANY reason. STOP THE HATE! IT IS NOT CHRISTIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Robert
It was not a matter of not trusting their own campus police. It was that they don’t have enough police to ensure the safety of the students and the campus. The level of threats was extremely high. We passed along a threat received at Dallas Voice to the administration on Friday.
The administration discussed safety with state troopers, but when the Lt. Gov. comes out and condemns this class project, it was questionable whether the state was going to provide the security the campus needed.
However, the administration of Tarleton State backed John Otte completely. They were shocked at the level of homophobia and hatred toward the LGBT community in their area.
My choice for this year’s grand marshall for the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade is Tarleton State president F. Dominic Dottavio and the vice presidents and deans and professors who did nothing but answer hate mail and hate calls for the past two weeks.
As I said to a couple of them, “Welcome to gay activism.” They laughed, but understood.
Looks like the fine institution of Tarleton State high-school subserviently bent over last night and sadly consented to be sodomized by idolaters of an ideology COMPLETELY subversive to that of their namesake. Christ does not condemn. David Dewhurst hasn’t read the bible. JOHN 3:17. Note to self-ONE MUST ASSUME THE BIBLE BELT HAS NEVER ACTUALLY READ THE BIBLE(certainly not the second testament and/or the gospels).
I cannot wait to leave this hapless, regenerate and reactionary place behind. I’m ashamed of being an affiliate of such bigotry.
Student compelled to dissension,
Brandon Mangan
Face it, christians are under fire and desperation has officially set in. Other religions are infringing on their home turf, jews are being elected to congressional seats and young people are leaving mainline churches in record numbers. Slavery, for which the christian movement fought so hard to maintain was abolished over 150 years ago. Nuclear families, the mainstay of the “christian” lifestyle are now a small minority. Divorce among “christian” couples is at an all time high. Same sex marriage is becoming more acceptable among the general population, including some christians. The fundamentalist christians have lost every significant battle they have waged over the past two centuries, and now they are waging battle against the LGBT community because we are, officially, the last minority to which they can attempt to suppress and control. Winning the war against homosexuals is crucial to their survival. If they lose this battle, the so-called “christian” movement will crumble under the weight of a more secular society. These so-called “christians” will not only have lost the battle, but also the war. Personally, I hope I live long enough to see it all happen.
There are so many creative and contemplative works of art to choose from but this student director made his class project into his soap box…ie….it’s all about him and his personal problems. The homosexual community supported him and made his class project into a political event about them.
It is obvious that this young man will have issues and internal conflict with Christianity and his being gay. How can he possibly make a heartfelt statement of faith in Christ, believe he is a Christian, and then express his committment to this same Christ by depicting Him, the Christ of the Bible, born of a virgin, holy and sinless, as a homosexual? How can he do that?
Easy! He did it easily. Have we no shame? Why are defenders of the true Christ called homophobes? Who is intolerant of whom?
Respect is earned and the homosexual community can’t scream blasphemies, and the worst of all at Christ, and then demand respect….but they do. It’s actually interesting to look at who really is intolerant and for what reason. If people want to practice homosexual sex in the quiet and privacy of their home with the shades pulled down ……well what does that have to do with the true Christ, anyway?
Tarleton University respected the RIGHTS of the student to free speech but did not respect the students work or the political statement, nor did the Stephenville, TX community or the majority of other students working to get a education. Thank God!
I personally think depicting Christ and his disciples as gay during the Easter season, or anytime, is a shameful thing to do and I thank God that there are people who will stand up and say so. They are the true defenders of the Christian faith.
Christians not acting very Christ like, threaten students and the school, not a big surprise. This article fails to mention the local religious radio station that fomented this un-Christian like behavior. Happy Easter!
pathetic buckling.
David – You’ve got to be kidding…if they had stood up and presented the play despite the threats, THEN I would have put the guy up for some type of recognition. Did Rosa Parks go to the back of the bus because she was threatened or afraid? NO.
Brandon – You are as messed up as the college you are attending. Why would you use some derogatory remark about getting “sodomized”? You should think before you put fingers to keyboard.
Sam – crawl back in your hole. I have no more respect for your illusions of “christ” then I have for muslims, hindus, witchcraft or jim jones followers. You haven’t earned respect, and you don’t deserve it. Your “Christ” was a homosexual born to a woman who lied about what was inserted into her person. That’s all. Discuss amongst yourselves.
Is there any word about any of the actor’s unions or theatre advocate organizations or famous actors speaking out against the cancellation of the play?
Funny that all this is going on while Spring Awakening is playing in Dallas at the Winspear. It has a similar history and uber-homophobic Fort Worth’s Bass Hall turned it down because of “scheduling conflicts”.
Is there any word about moving the play to the metroplex? I’m guessing that it would have to be Dallas, but not certainly not at homophobic SMU. I’m guessing the uber-homophobic Fort Worth would never allow it at Bass Hall or even one of the smaller venues. I’m guessing that uber-homophobic Denton would force it out of UNT also.
I guess Texas education will just have to be happy with being 40-something out of 50 states. Any effort for learning is met with a 16th century mentatity and witch hunt by the right wing religious nut cases that are nothing more than terroists with Bibles and Klansmen sans robes.Thank Jesus he created Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, etc. so Texas doesn’t look so backwards.
Tom, you provided the perfect example with your thrashing of 3 peoples comments that you insist are intolerant in your own subculture. You must be more righteous than the rest of us. Who do you respect?
Do we have to sexualize everything???? Do you really still pretend that sex equals love? Wouldn’t that be nice? So to be a Christian, and show the love of Christ, we display that by performing a play at a PUBLIC institution making Christ and His followers into acting out gays that the violent homophobes killed? Really, are you serious? Where did you get that? I understand Christ laid down His life willing for us all, homosexual or straight. Again, why do we have to sexualize everything?
Then Christ is no longer righteous to anyone, even homosexuals.
Tarleton State is a public institution where everyone is to be respected……including Christ! I have enjoyed being at that University many times and used to feel really safe on that sleepy small campus. The most wonderful thing about Tarleton was the peacefulness and the cooing of the doves in the trees as you walked along campus. Everyone ALIKE was allowed to feel the peace. Now you can’t even drive across campus because of fear and police. Why would this student director do this to his own school and to the One he claims he is a follower of ? To prove he could……okay….he proved it. He could and did………but he gained great disrespect. And I suppose he is angry now at the world – when it was he who chose to exploit Christ in this manner.
The homosexual subculture is so mean to itself. Such harshness….and to Christ….why? If we want to be taken seriously then we have to be careful about these serious matters. Christ and the Bible are thankfully about so much more than just sex. He is about relationships. In case you haven’t noticed no one is stopping anyone from having homosexual sex. They only asked that Christ not be preverted. I am happy to believe that Christ is praying for us all.