By Jeremy W. Steele
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Protesters of a controversial play depicting Jesus as a gay man showed no signs of relenting Saturday, two days after the show opened in an Over-the-Rhine theater.

More than 100 people gathered at Sycamore and Liberty streets to pray and chant Saturday evening. It was the largest Cincinnati protest to date against the Know Theatre Tribe's production of Corpus Christi. About 50 people protested Thursday's debut.

"The Lord is not gay. This kind of stuff can't go on," said Judy Velten of Oakley, holding a sign that read, "If anyone destroys God's temple God will destroy him.''

"We can't just turn our heads away from this kind of thing."

The play's main character is Joshua, a Corpus Christi, Texas, gay man who is also the second coming of the Messiah. His 12 apostles also are homosexuals.

The show is meant to spread the message of tolerance and love, said Know Tribe artistic director Matthew Pyle. It deals with the modern conflict between being a homosexual and being a Christian.

"It's absolutely not blasphemous," Pyle said. "If this play does anything, it opens up the story of Christ to the gay and lesbian community, which has been ostracized from that story."

Each demonstration against the show has been met with a counter-protest in front of the Know Theatre, which is housed in a church basement. About 20 counter-demonstrators held signs and stood in front of the theater Saturday.

The most recent demonstration against the play was organized by America Needs Fatima, the advocacy arm of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, a Pennsylvania-based Catholic group that has protested films, art exhibits and theatrical productions it says stand in the face of church teachings.

Although spokesman John Horvat II said he doesn't remember whether he's read the entire play, he said its characterization of Christ is blasphemous.

"The context of showing our Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles as homosexuals is very offensive," Horvat said. "Already people are making the association of blasphemy with the Know Theatre. Maybe they won't feel the impact of that today, but they will someday down the road."

The show sold out its first three performances, and ticket sales for upcoming shows are going well, Know Tribe executive director Jay Kalagayan said.

The play, which opened in 1998 in New York, has long attracted demonstrators. The New York show was almost cancelled after threats of violence against the theater and cast. Corpus Christi author Terrence McNally, who is gay, received death threats after the show opened in London in 1999.

The Know Tribe hired security staff for the production. Thursday, four people who stood and protested vocally were removed from the theater.

Know Tribe organizers say they are surprised by the amount of opposition to the show, but plan to continue performances as scheduled.

"It's a good play," Pyle said. "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry."

But protesters Saturday said they are willing to come back to demonstrate every performance.

"We're not saying hate homosexuals," said Bardstown, Ky., resident Pat Sweeney, who traveled to Cincinnati with seven others. "It's a great sin. We're supposed to love and pray for people."

If you go

What: Corpus Christi.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday through June 28.

Where: Know Theatre Tribe, Gabriel's Corner, 1425 Sycamore St. (at Liberty).

Tickets: $12.

Information: 300-5669.

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E-mail jsteele@enquirer.com