Gay Censorship, Political Pressure Sparks Controversy at Smithsonian

Source: LGBT Weekly

The National Portrait Gallery's "Hide/Seek" exhibit sparks controversy\Source: specificobject.com

Recent pressure to remove a controversial art work from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery exhibition “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” has sparked a debate concerning the over-arching issues of free expression and artistic censorship in the nation’s capitol.

After a video component of the exhibit depicting ants crawling on a crucifix drew complaints from the Catholic League and threats of funding withdrawal from the Republican Congress, Smithsonian secretary Wayne Clough pulled the film from the exhibit. However, a number of Smithsonian officials and other commentators have decried Clough’s action and Congress’ stance on the matter, stating that the religious objections to the piece were merely a guise for anti-gay discrimination against late gay artist David Wojnarowicz (who created the video) and the gay focus of the exhibit overall.

…Read the entire article here…

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