Villanova Accused of Homophobia by Cancelled Performance Artist

It was probably inevitable.

Amid cries of “homophobia,” the news has become a hot topic and numerous articles have been published. What’s the terrible offense? Acting on concerns reported by The Cardinal Newman Society, Villanova University’s president canceled the University’s invitation to a militant gay rights performance artist who has reportedly appeared nude and simulated sex on stage.

Just a few days ago, the school released a statement that it had cancelled its invitation to Tim Miller, who had been asked to be an “artist in residence” at the Augustinian college this April.

Now, Miller is being quoted as saying what he believes is at the heart of the cancellation. “Villanova tries to present itself as being this really tolerant place,” he told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “but clearly they’re really succumbing to homophobia.”

The University reportedly said that Father Peter Donohue, the president of Villanova University, hadn’t known of the university’s invitation to Miller until the original report was published by The Cardinal Newman Society. And he then researched Miller’s art and found it to be “explicit” and “graphic.”

Donohue, former director of Villanova’s theater department, said that “as an artist and a priest, I find the choices that Mr. Miller makes to be disturbing.”

“I want to be clear that this had nothing to do with Mr. Miller’s sexual orientation, and I believe it is untrue that Villanova is a homophobic community,” he said. “Such a description concerns me far more than a cancellation.”

Fr. Donohue said that after learning of the invitation from The Cardinal Newman Society, he viewed Miller’s “performance art.”

The decision not to host Mr. Miller came after viewing his performance work and the manner in which he conveys his messages. The interpretation of art is open to debate. All art should provoke a response. As a theatre director, I have faced the issue of how to evoke such a response in a way that I deem appropriate for myself, my actors and audiences. There are always issues around language, content and production elements that need to be addressed. These choices are important in creating art.

As an artist and a priest, I find the choices that Mr. Miller makes to be disturbing. While some may disagree, as president of Villanova University I can assure you it is the explicit, graphic and sexual content of his performances that led to this decision—a decision that in no way was affected by issues of sexual orientation.

Fr. Donohue insisted that Villanova “is and always will be an inclusive community.” Nearby Bryn Mawr College has announced that they intend to invite Miller to lead a student workshop there.