Xena strikes out

The Lord is no lady-lovin' lady-lover

Hot on the heels of Hindu protests in India against Deepa Mehta’s lesbian-themed film Fire, comes complaints from Hindu and yogic groups over the queer “inference” in an episode of Xena: Warrior Princess.

Global Television, which airs the TV program in Canada, axed the offending episode last month, showing a re-run in its place. But a spokesperson for the station claims the decision was made due the show’s violence, rather than to the religious objections.

Entitled “The Way,” the episode featured Xena calling upon Hindu deity Lord Krishna to assist her in rescuing Gabrielle, her blonde sidekick and, according to many a dyke, domestic partner. Portraying Lord Krishna as aiding the lesbian-in-all-but-name couple, and therefore condoning homosexuality, enraged many devotees. “It has lesbian inference,” Merril Lobel of the Canadian School Of Meditation told The Globe And Mail.

But Shea Warrington, senior Global publicist, denies that the religious groups’ complaints were behind the cancellation of the episode. “A week before we even heard of the controversy, we decided not to air the episode because it was extremely violent, more so than in the usual shows,” she says. “By the time we received complaints, the show had already been cancelled.”

Rachel Giese is a deputy national editor at The Globe and Mail and the former director of editorial at Xtra. She lives in Toronto and is an English speaker.

Keep Reading

How trans comics can save the world

ANALYSIS: The world is growing increasingly hostile toward the LGBTQ2S+ community. We need superheroes now more than ever

‘Disappoint Me’ is a study in compassion

Nicola Dinan’s second novel raises big questions about forgiveness, justice and responsibility
A pink background with two hands made out of American dollar bills in a handshake; behind the hands are women playing sports

Womens sports is booming. Can it continue ethically?

ANALYSIS: The WNBA and PWHL are thriving, but will problematic partnerships in the interest of profits threaten their success?
Protestors under a silhouette of a singer.

Is it time for Eurovision to face the music over Israel’s participation?

Pressure is mounting for the über-popular song contest to drop its most controversial contestant