Gay Jesus Play Canceled at Texas College

A performance of a play that drew controversy at a Texas college because it portrayed Jesus as gay was canceled this past Saturday.

According to The Dallas Morning News, the Terrence McNally play Corpus Christi was one of several student-directed productions to be performed at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

"The university said in a written statement Friday evening that the class's professor had canceled the four plays because of concerns about the students' safety, 'as well as the need to maintain an orderly academic environment,'" reported the Morning News.

"The university's president had said earlier Friday that he thought the play was 'offensive, crude and irreverent.' But he said he had made no effort to halt the production, because to do so would violate the principle of free expression."

Previously on Thursday, the university said it would change the time of the production to early morning and invite selected guests because of security concerns.

Theater student Jon Otte, who said he is gay and Christian, spoke with Texan TV News, a campus journalism project, about his decision to present the play. The interview begins in the clip below at the 13:10 mark.