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| Transsexual Jesus sparks protests | Transsexual Jesus sparks protests |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| About 300 protesters held a candlelit protest outside a Glasgow theatre over the staging of a play which portrays Jesus as a transsexual. | About 300 protesters held a candlelit protest outside a Glasgow theatre over the staging of a play which portrays Jesus as a transsexual. |
| The protest was held outside the Tron Theatre, where Jesus Queen of Heaven, in which Christ is a man who wants to become a woman, is being staged. | The protest was held outside the Tron Theatre, where Jesus Queen of Heaven, in which Christ is a man who wants to become a woman, is being staged. |
| It is part of the Glasgay! arts festival, a celebration of Scotland's gay, bi-sexual and transsexual culture. | It is part of the Glasgay! arts festival, a celebration of Scotland's gay, bi-sexual and transsexual culture. |
| Festival organisers said it had not intended to incite or offend anyone. | Festival organisers said it had not intended to incite or offend anyone. |
| The Christian protesters gathered outside the theatre ahead of the opening night of the production on Tuesday. | The Christian protesters gathered outside the theatre ahead of the opening night of the production on Tuesday. |
| Jesus Queen of Heaven, which runs until Saturday, is written and performed by transsexual playwright Jo Clifford. | Jesus Queen of Heaven, which runs until Saturday, is written and performed by transsexual playwright Jo Clifford. |
| The demonstrators sang hymns and waved placards. | The demonstrators sang hymns and waved placards. |
| One read: "Jesus, King of Kings, Not Queen of Heaven." | One read: "Jesus, King of Kings, Not Queen of Heaven." |
| Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life Steven Thomson Festival producer | Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life Steven Thomson Festival producer |
| Another said: "God: My Son Is Not A Pervert." | Another said: "God: My Son Is Not A Pervert." |
| Festival organisers described the banners as "fairly provocative" and said they could be viewed as inciting homophobia. | Festival organisers described the banners as "fairly provocative" and said they could be viewed as inciting homophobia. |
| Glasgay! producer Steven Thomson said: "Jesus Queen of Heaven is a literary work of fiction exploring the artists own personal journey of faith as a transgendered person. | Glasgay! producer Steven Thomson said: "Jesus Queen of Heaven is a literary work of fiction exploring the artists own personal journey of faith as a transgendered person. |
| "Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life. | "Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life. |
| "This work is not intended to incite or offend anyone of any belief system, however, we respect your right to disagree with that opinion. | "This work is not intended to incite or offend anyone of any belief system, however, we respect your right to disagree with that opinion. |
| He added: "We welcome genuinely interested audience members who wish to understand the artistic intention behind this work." | |
| Glasgay! is described as "Scotland's annual celebration of queer culture" and is funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Event Scotland, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Glasgow City Council. | Glasgay! is described as "Scotland's annual celebration of queer culture" and is funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Event Scotland, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Glasgow City Council. |