A controversial Jesus impersonator at Belfast Pride has prompted backlash, raising questions about religious respect, taxpayer funding, and double standards in freedom of expression.



A man sparked backlash after dressing up as Jesus Christ in a crown of thorns while he attended the Belfast Pride Parade in Northern Ireland last Saturday.

Adam James Pollock, an author from Northern Ireland, posted to social media a photo of the Jesus impersonator, who wore a mock crown of thorns, while standing next to what seemed to be a woman wearing a transgender flag and another wearing a rainbow halo with a pair of red wings.

“The Belfast Pride parade this weekend featured an individual dressed as Jesus, complete with a mock crown of thorns, dancing down the street and giving high-fives to supporters,” Pollock wrote on X.

“I am so incredibly tired of this nonsense, and so sick of how normal attacks on Christianity are.”

It is said that the image first appeared on the Facebook account of Progressive Politics NI, which characterizes itself as “a cross-party political activist group working towards an inclusive & more forward-thinking [Northern Ireland]” but has since been deleted from the page, The Christian Post reported.

Ann McClure, the equality spokesperson for Northern Ireland's small unionist Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party, also denounced the Jesus impersonator.

"Not only did we see the usual examples of 21st-century blackface, with grotesque parodies of womanhood on parade and overtly sexual displays, but there was also someone dressed as Jesus Christ—complete with a mock crown of thorns — dancing down the street and high-fiving people on the pavement."

"This is extremely offensive to Christians and would not be tolerated if it were directed at other religions. Belfast Pride likes to portray itself as edgy and anti-establishment, but there would have been no question of Mohammed being mocked in such a fashion."

"Christianity, on the other hand, is regarded as a soft target."

McClure also added that her party will be challenging public sector organizations that possibly have violated Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 by using tax dollars to sponsor it. According to the legislation, public authorities must have due regard to promote good relations among people of different religious beliefs.

"TUV will be challenging the public sector bodies that used taxpayers’ money to purchase a place in the parade, asking how participation was compatible with both their Section 75 obligations to people of different religious beliefs and the requirement for an apolitical workplace," she said.

"Belfast Pride cannot wash its hands of this attack on Christianity. Marshals were present along the route, and yet this individual was permitted to proceed."

The Belfast Pride Parade, founded in 1991, is "the biggest event of the year for LGBTQIA+ people of Belfast.”

"It is a protest and a celebration, a call for equality, a stand for solidarity and a celebration of the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in Belfast and beyond," the organizers said.

In 2020, Northern Ireland legalized same-sex marriage.

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