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    Villanova University cancels gay artist's workshop

    By PATRICK WALTERS | Associated Press – Tue, Feb 21, 2012

    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Villanova University has canceled a workshop on personal narrative by a gay performance artist, saying his shows aren't in keeping with its Catholic values.

    Artist Tim Miller, once dubbed the "patron saint of the gay performance world" by the Los Angeles Times, said he was scheduled to lead the five-day workshop for students in April but the university abruptly scrapped it on Sunday. He said his workshops focus on personal narrative and the students guide the direction they take but topics often include issues such as faith, sexuality, self and truth.

    Miller said he thinks his being gay played into Villanova's decision to cancel.

    "The thing that they worry about, I think, is that I am a gay person," he said. "Being a gay person with political opinions."

    Miller said on Tuesday he has done similar workshops at Chicago's DePaul University, the nation's largest Catholic university, and other schools. He said Villanova, a Catholic private university with about 10,000 students just outside Philadelphia, did not tell him why it was canceling his workshop.

    "This is not my first time at the dance," Miller said, noting the cancellation came after blog postings that were critical about him. "It's clearly homophobia and panic."

    In a statement, Villanova said it had concerns that Miller's workshops "were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission."

    "Therefore, Villanova has decided not to host Mr. Miller on our campus," the statement said. "Villanova University is an open and inclusive community and in no way does this singular decision change that."

    A spokesman said the university would not answer questions beyond the statement on Tuesday.

    Miller gained notoriety in 1990 when he and three others had grants vetoed by the National Endowment for the Arts. His work is frequently provocative, and he has been arrested in the past for demonstrating for AIDS research funding. He said some of his performances have featured nudity but there has been no nudity for about a decade.

     

    14 comments

    • Daniel Mackler
      Daniel Mackler  •  3 mths ago
      what's controversial about his work, i wonder? certainly being gay isn't.
    • Trojanhorse
      Trojanhorse  •  Wappingers Falls, New York  •  3 mths ago
      Get the feeling there's more to this story?
    • Thinker
      Thinker  •  3 mths ago
      I don't understand why he was booked to begin with. Politics aside, what was that?
    • DevinN
      DevinN  •  3 mths ago
      This is biased. Villanova University is becoming a supremacist orginization and is encouraging supremacy by being intolerant. This is disusting!!!! Just because he is gay doesn't make him a bad person. I'm a gay-rights activist. I hate the way gays are treated nowadays. Part of values is tolerance for all human beings, regardless of sexuality. Wake up and practice tolerance, all staff at Villanova University!!
      • Rick Wainio
        Rick Wainio 3 mths ago
        The funny to me is, is KNOWING that a young gay HIV infected man is becoming so severely depressed from the continuous gay bashing that he finally ends his life tonight. :-) How is THAT for tolerance? :-)
    • lil devil
      lil devil  •  3 mths ago
      Maybe they should loose their tax exempt status and no longer receive FEDERAL money since they are such hypocrites!
    • pj
      pj  •  3 mths ago
      Nothing is more in line with the values of Catholic priests than gay sex.
    • A Yahoo! user
      A Yahoo! user  •  3 mths ago
      Aw, Tim Miller. I wish that educational institutions could put aside their religious biases and focus on educating their students. While Tim Miller's work may not be in keeping with their "values", it is certainly informative and discussion provoking. As a practicing theatre artist, it saddens me to see artists like Miller discounted based on a predetermined values system. Just because you don't like what he has to say doesn't mean we can't have a rational and informative discussion about it, and as such learn more about each other's beliefs and values. Perhaps if institutions like Villanova were more interested in fostering dialogue we would have a healthier, more stable community and country.
    • REAL DEAL
      REAL DEAL  •  Pompano Beach, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      What about the pedifile priests. I am not gay, but not like there is anything wrong with that . If anybody wants to pay to watch some gay guy twinkie dance for his so called art . They should put this dazzler out there for the world to see and make his parents proud as punch to see her/his act and let the world know they bred a spandex wearing sissy and everybody will be so happy and giddy and everything will be right with the world
    • Shonique
      Shonique  •  3 mths ago
      They should have invited him and then told him to repent so he can go Heaven.
    • angelo
      angelo  •  3 mths ago
      An example of Right wing political correctness. As if this school has no gay or lesbian students....
      • Face Plate
        Face Plate 3 mths ago
        No, political correctness is subverting one's beliefs to make a public statement that is not in keeping with their beliefs. By standing up for their beliefs, they are NOT being politically correct.
    • wildkitten
      wildkitten  •  3 mths ago
      anyone ever see any of his artistic work? How about an example?
      • lil devil
        lil devil 3 mths ago
        That's really not the point is it...I've seen lots of hideous art, but that is not the point either...its DISCRIMINATION!
    • Stan
      Stan  •  Woodstock, Georgia  •  3 mths ago
      Boo-freaking-hoo. There's a reason Villanova is known as "Vanillanova." Who the hell booked this fruit in the first place? They should be fired.
      • Stan
        Stan 3 mths ago
        When I was at Drexel, we also called it "Villanovagina." :)
      • lil devil
        lil devil 3 mths ago
        Gee Stan, I see you making a lot of bigoted comments on a lot of other gay issues...you seem to have an unnatural association with Gay issues....any problems you need to discuss with your parish priest or shrink?
    • Earleen
      Earleen  •  3 mths ago
      Maybe had it just been an "ARTISTS" WORKSHOP without advertising ones sexual orientation it may have flown. You sure don't see many "hetero" artists workshops. Hmmmm.
      • lil devil
        lil devil 3 mths ago
        I've seen plenty of hetero workshops and some are quite provocative!
    • Conscious Conscience
      Conscious Conscience  •  3 mths ago
      Let s/he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.

      Judge not lest ye be judged.

      What ever happened to those sentiments' popularity, amongst all the people who think they "know" the Bible??
     Post a comment
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