HENAGAR, Ala. — A drive-in theater in Alabama has decided not to show the new “Beauty and the Beast” live-action film after the movie’s director revealed to reporters this past week that one of the characters is portrayed as homosexual and has a “gay moment.”
The owners of Henagar Drive-In Theater posted a notice on social media on Thursday explaining that because of the film’s content, they have decided not to schedule a showing.
“It is with great sorrow that I have to tell our customers that we will not be showing Beauty and the Beast at the Henagar Drive-In when it comes out. When companies continually force their views on us we need to take a stand. We all make choices and I am making mine,” the statement read.
“If we cannot take our 11-year-old granddaughter and 8-year-old grandson to see a movie, we have no business watching it. If I can’t sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me, then we have no business showing it,” the owners explained.
They recognized that some might disagree with their decision, but advised that the theater is run in accordance with their Christian faith.
“I know there will be some that do not agree with this decision. That’s fine. We are first and foremost Christians,” the statement said. “We will not compromise on what the Bible teaches. We will continue to show family oriented films so you can feel free to come watch wholesome movies without worrying about sex, nudity, homosexuality and foul language.”
The post generated over 6,000 reactions and over 3,000 comments—some angry and some supportive.
“Maybe you could take your 11 and 8-year-old grandchildren to see the movie and teach them that love is love so they don’t grow up hateful and miserable like you. Stop taking a book so literally. And stop claiming ‘Christianity’ for your hateful agenda,” one commenter wrote.
“Good for you. It’s your theater: Show what you want, and don’t [show] what you don’t want. There’s way too much cultural shaping coming out of Hollywood these days. If people want to see that kind of thing they can go elsewhere,” another stated.
“Thank you for standing up for decency, our children and Christian values everywhere! It’s rare these days in this sin-laden culture. We thank you and applaud you! Stand firm, keep the faith!” a third wrote.
As previously reported, “Beauty and the Beast” director Bill Condon, who is also an open homosexual, told the outlet “Attitude” last month that the character LeFou, who serves as the sidekick to Gaston, will have a subplot surrounding his attraction to Gaston. Luke Evans, an open homosexual, was cast as Gaston, and Josh Gad plays LeFou.
“LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston,” Condon told the publication.
“He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings,” he continued. “And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that’s what has its payoff at the end, which I don’t want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.”
Condon also told Attitude that homosexuals have had a history with “The Beauty and the Beast” as the man who wrote the lyrics for the animated version of the film, released in 1991, had been fighting AIDS while working on the project. Howard Ashman died before the movie was released in theaters.
“It was his idea not only to make it into a musical, but also to make Beast one of the two central characters,” Condon outlined. “Until then, it had mostly been Belle’s story that they had been telling.”
“Specifically for him, it was a metaphor for AIDS,” he said. “He was cursed, and this curse had brought sorrow on all those people who loved him, and maybe there was a chance for a miracle—and a way for the curse to be lifted. It was a very concrete thing that he was doing.”
The group One Million Moms consequently launched a pledge drive, calling on parents not to support Disney until it stops pushing the homosexual agenda. It generated over 40,000 signatures since Wednesday.
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