Arts & Entertainment

Netflix comedy implying “Gay Jesus” stirs conservative wrath

Published

6 years ago

December 23, 2019

A Netflix Christmas special which heavily suggests Jesus is gay has drawn the ire of religious conservatives in Brazil.

The Brazilian-produced show, titled “A primeira tentação de Cristo” (“The First Temptation of Christ”), is a 46-minute comedy in Portuguese, in which Jesus (Gregório Duvivier) brings home his new friend, the obviously gay Orlando (Fábio Porchat), for a 30^th-birthday visit with his family – Mary, Joseph, and God (whom Jesus has been told is his uncle) – after the two have spent 40 days in the desert together. The show strongly implies that they are lovers, with Orlando trying to reveal their relationship while Jesus repeatedly changes the subject.

The short film is the product of Brazilian comedy troupe Porta dos Fundos (Backdoor), who began sharing their satirical videos through their You Tube channel in 2012. Their popularity led to a show on Fox Network Brazil in 2014 and a theatrical film, “Contrato Vitalício,” in 2016. The group’s 2018 special “The Last Hangover” – which was also streamed on Netflix – won an International Emmy for Best Comedy Web TV Special.

After the new Christmas special premiered on Netflix on December 3, it quickly become a target for religious conservatives in the heavily Catholic Brazil. An online petition was organized demanding that the show be removed from the streaming service’s catalogue, that its creators be “held responsible for the crime of vilification of the faith,” and that Netflix issue a “public retraction, for they have seriously offended Christians.” At the time of this writing, the petition had collected over 2 million signatures.

According to Vice, fundamentalist leaders and opponents of pro-LGBT agendas have taken further action, including calling for boycotts of Netflix, demanding a Parliamentary investigation of the comedy group, and suing the government to censor the episode.

Federal Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro joined the fray by tweeting, “We are in favor of freedom of expression, but is it worth attacking the faith of 86% of the population?”

The congressman is the son of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government has taken an aggressive stance against LGBTQ equality, and who recently objected to a ruling by the country’s Supreme Court criminalizing homophobia and characterizing it as a form of racism by saying he is a “proud homophobe” and that he would prefer a “dead son to a gay son.”

As for the show’s creators, they have taken a characteristically humorous approach in their response to the backlash, with Porchat (who is one of the founders of Porta dos Fundos as well as appearing in the special) tweeting, “Guys, you can let me work it out with God, that’s fine, you don’t have to worry about it. Now you can get angry again with the inequality that destroys our country. But you have to be outraged with equal passion, okay?”

He also told Variety in an interview last week that protest against the special was “homophobic,” and that Netflix had been supportive. “They haven’t said anything to us like, ‘Maybe we should stop making the special available’,” he said. “They support freedom of speech.”

When asked for comment last Monday, Netflix declined. However, on Tuesday, it was reported that the comedy special had become the best performing Brazilian program in the streaming network’s history, and that Porta dos Fundos had been commissioned to create a third Christmas special in 2020.

The show remains available on Netflix. You can watch the trailer below:

Up Next

‘Special’ to return to Netflix for second season

Don't Miss

‘Rise of Skywalker’ gets a pass from Chinese censors – but not from toxic fans

FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Sports

Jason Collins dies at 47

First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer

Published

21 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Jason Collins (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.

The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.

Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.

Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.

Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.

The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”

“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”

“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”

Photos

PHOTOS: ‘Studio 69’

Glitterati Productions hold party at Bunker

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Michael Key

'Studio 69' was held at Bunker on Friday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week

Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Staff reports

The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.

Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”

Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.

Event Details:

📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026

⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP