‘Gay Christ’ poster sparks protests in Spain, with some saying the depiction of Jesus looks ‘homosexual’

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From the Associated Press

A poster in the southern Spanish city of Seville depicting a young, handsome Jesus wearing only a loincloth has caused a storm on social media. Some labeled it an insult to the image of Christ, while others posted vile comments and memes making fun of the image.

The poster, painted by internationally known Seville artist Salustiano García Cruz, depicts a clean-faced Jesus, without a crown of thorns, without a suffering face, and with no scars on his hands or ribcage. It was commissioned to promote Holy Week celebrations ahead of Easter in Seville. The artist dismissed the poster’s criticism as outdated. The mayor of Seville said he liked the poster.

As soon as it was released last week, it sparked widespread criticism on social media and debate over how the risen Christ should be portrayed. Many criticized it as disgraceful, inappropriate, too beautiful, modernist, and out of keeping with Seville’s Easter traditions.

Spain has a Catholic majority, and church traditions such as marriages, baptisms, and religious parades are very popular among believers and non-believers alike. A campaign on Change.org calling for the Jesus poster to be taken down has gathered around 14,000 signatures from across the United States.

Artist Garcia defended his work and dismissed the poster’s critics as outdated.

“There is nothing revolutionary in this painting,” Garcia told Atlas News Agency. “Although there is contemporaneity, all the elements I used are elements that have been used in sacred art over the past seven centuries.

“I don’t know at what point or what elements people who don’t like it will dislike it,” he said.

In a separate interview published in the daily newspaper El Mundo, Garcia responded to criticism from conservative groups that his portrayal of Jesus was “effeminate” or “homosexual.”

“Gay Christ because you look nice and handsome, come on! We’re in the 21st century,” Garcia said.

The artist said he used his son Horacio as a model for the poster.

“We were even more surprised because everything was done with respect,” Horacio García told Atlas.

“A lot of controversy stems from the fact that the models are too good, that Christ is too handsome, that Christ is too attractive,” he said. However, it wasn’t all bad. Horacio Garcia also said he received many compliments and well wishes from people.

The General Council of the Brotherhood has so far ignored calls to replace the posters before Holy Week at the end of March. In the past few years, some posters for various Catholic festivals have been removed after receiving criticism.

Seville Mayor José Luis Sanz called the controversy “artificial”.

“I like this poster,” he said, adding that not all Holy Week posters are the same every year. “Some posters are more dangerous, some are more classic, and some are bolder.”