Evangelicals are outraged that Cynthia Erivo who is obviously female, queer and black has been cast to play the titular role in an upcoming three-night production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Erivo is eminently qualified to play the part of Jesus; she previously portrayed Superstar’s Mary Magdalen in the all-female 2020 concept album Jesus Christ Superstar: She is Risen. The renowned Broadway star won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in the Color Purple.

Erivo dismissed her critics saying “Why not?  Hopefully they will come to realize, Oh, it’s a musical, the gayest place on Earth.” She makes a solid point, there is a significant presence of LGBT individuals, especially gay men, in the Broadway community. Broadway is a welcoming space for the queer community, and evangelicals should check their homophobia at the door whenever they attend a musical.

Some two thousand years ago Jesus Christ was born a brown-skinned Jew, a despised religious and ethnic minority, in the Roman empire. If Jesus came today, who’s to say he wouldn’t be born as a black, queer woman?

The production, which will run from August 1 through August 3, will also feature Andrew Lambert in the role of traitor Judas. The gay-hating evangelicals probably think this is a perfect role for an actor and singer who is openly gay.

Evangelicals should chill the hell out, going to a musical is all about having fun and enjoying the pageantry and soul-stirring songs.