Homophobic neighbours threaten edgy Lethbridge theatre troupe

Perhaps there are limits to the open-mindedness of some Albertans.

As an openly lesbian RCMP officer took command of Alberta's Mounties this week, news came from the southern Alberta city of Lethbridge about a theatre group that claims it's being chased out of its space by homophobia.

Theatre Outre calls itself an alternative to mainstream theatre.

"We provide an uncensored and uncompromising voice to those in our community who are often considered to exist beyond the fringes of social propriety, sexual norms and gendered expectations," its mission statement says. "Our season is selected to entertain, enlighten, challenge and provoke."

But the theatre company's new, bigger venue, dubbed Bordello, has come under fire from other businesses in the downtown building.

The group said two "hateful, hurtful and defamatory emails" were sent to the building landlord by other tenants questioning whether Bordello belongs in the same building with an insurance broker and a music school for children, the Huffington Post reported.

"Unfortunately, in the span of just the past few days, ignorant and homophobic neighbouring tenants in the McFarland Building have made it clear in various ways that we are not welcome in their midst," the theatre company's principals said in a blog post.

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The emails expressed concern that the presence of the theatre group would expose others to "homosexual lifestyles, 'transsexual endorsement,' child molestation, rape, indecent exposure and acquiring STDs from the building’s toilets," the group said on its blog.

The group made no apologies for its "body positive and sex positive mandate . . . designed to challenge gendered and sexual norms.

"However, equating our work with child molestation and other criminal activities, based on one’s own ideas of morality, without having experienced the space or meeting us personally is hurtful, discriminatory, painful and might even be laughable if the result had not been so damaging to our company."

They also said the head of the music school circulated a petition to other tenants seeking to have the group evicted. A complaint to city hall also resulted in the city demanding that Bordello now be licensed as an "adult theatre," the group contended.

Theatre Outre said it has received funding grants from the city, as well as the Alberta Foundation of the Arts and had approval for the theatre from the city's Downtown Business Revitalization Zone, made up of local business leaders.

Neither side in this spat seems to be talking to reporters. The city said in a statement Wednesday a Theatre Outre representative showed up at city hall Monday and was advised the group would need to apply for a development permit to operate the theatre, and go through a municipal planning process for approval.

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The group said this requirement, after it had already nearly completed a different process to get Bordello licensed as a "club," would force it to close its doors.

Things seemed to brighten Thursday for Theatre Outre when the group said members of city council had pledged their support for the theatre and clarified the licensing process. But it apparently hasn't ended the trouble.

"We were visited by Lethbridge city police today with further complaints from our neighbours," the group said on its web site. "The constable was kind, listened to our concerns and treated us with dignity . . .

"Lethbridge is not homophobic, though some who live here may be. Many people in this community have stepped forward to support us and we are overwhelmed."