The Steady Drip: Artistic Director Defends 'Last Supper' Scene After Criticism (Connecting the Dots: International Olympic Committee, France, Vatican, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, LGBTQ, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, French-American Foundation & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Artistic Director Defends 'Last Supper' Scene After Criticism (Connecting the Dots: International Olympic Committee, France, Vatican, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, LGBTQ, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, French-American Foundation & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Saturday, 27 July 2024 02:15 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/olympics-2024-drag-queens/2024/07/27/id/1174193/

Drag queens took center stage at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, showcasing what many see as the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community — while also attracting criticism over a tableau reminiscent of “The Last Supper.”

Held along the Seine River, the spectacular four-hour event featured global stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, both considered icons in the gay community. The ceremony blended historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch, culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.

Nicky Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosting “Drag Race France,” participated in a high-octane fashion runway segment along with “Drag Race France” Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3's Piche, and Giselle Palmer. \

Le Filip, the recent winner of “Drag Race France,” expressed their positive “surprise” and “pride” at the ceremony’s scale and representation.

“I thought it would be a five-minute drag event with queer representation. I was amazed. It started with Lady Gaga, then we had drag queens, a huge rave, and a fire in the sky,” they said. “It felt like a crowning all over again. I am proud to see my friends and queer people on the world stage.”

Among their performances was a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring the drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant attention — and mixed reactions.

“The (French) government knows what it’s doing. They want to show themselves in the best way possible. They showed no restraints in expression,” Le Filip told The Associated Press.

On the other hand, prominent politician Marion Maréchal denounced the performance on social media.

“To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” she posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.

“... because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of #OlympicGames,” Eduard Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, afterward drew attention away from “The Last Supper” references, saying that hadn't been his intention.

“It feels like the words of somebody who didn’t get on the guest list. We could all be laughing together. It’s sad to me, honestly,” Le Filip said.

Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier was more circumspect, arguing that France still has significant strides to make in inclusivity.

“We know in the LGBTQ community in France we are far from what the ceremony showed. There’s much progress to do in society regarding transgender people. It’s terrible that to legally change their identity they are forced to be on trial,” Leperlier said.

He also highlighted the disparity in acceptance, saying that the community is not visible in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard.”

“If you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally, but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is,” he said.

The opening ceremony came as drag and the voguing nightclub scene in France has experienced a revival. The cabaret club Madame Arthur, founded in 1946 in the ashes of World War II, is one of the world’s oldest continually running LGBTQ+ theaters. It opened as Europe was only just beginning to understand the extent of the widespread murder of members of the queer community in WWII and is currently experiencing a massive renaissance.

Drag is not just a pastime; for many minority French communities who feel alienated over tensions arising from divisive politics and scars from the anti-gay marriage protests a decade ago, it’s a statement of defiance. Many gay Black and Arab youths — especially those from Paris’ less affluent and religiously conservative suburbs — and others who feel a sense of disconnect with French society find voguing and drag events safe places where their identities can be expressed without fear of reprisal.

Despite the backlash, Le Filip believes the opening ceremony will ultimately transcend controversy.

“The message of the show is freedom, and it’s a good postcard for France,” they concluded.

Connecting the Dots:

O'Melveny & Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International Olympic Committee.

Thomas E. Donilon was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is married to Catherine Russell (Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff).

Alejandro N. Mayorkas was an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Joe Biden Administration.

U.S. Secret Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Kimberly Cheatle was the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service and served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo.

Michael H. Jordan was the division chairman & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc., and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Larry D. Thompson is the EVP of governmental affairs, general counsel & secretary for PepsiCo, Inc. and at trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Thomas E. Donilon was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the White House deputy national security adviser for the Barack Obama administration, a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is married to Catherine Russell (Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff).

Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and Christine Lagarde attended his 2013 wedding reception.

Christine Lagarde attended George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception and was the finance minister of France.

William T. Coleman Jr. was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Zoe Baird is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Danielle C. Gray was a lawyer at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is an associate counsel for the Barack Obama administration.

Derek Douglas was an associate at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and a special assistant for urban affairs for the Barack Obama administration.

Ronald A. Klain was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and the chief of staff to the vice president for the Barack Obama administration.

Warren Christopher was a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Reuben Jeffery III is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and the founder of the Soros Fund Management.

Anne Dias Griffin was an analyst for the Soros Fund Management and is a director at the French-American Foundation.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and Christine Lagarde attended his 2013 wedding reception.
Christine Lagarde attended George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, and was the finance minister for France.

Howard H. Leach was a U.S. ambassador for France, a director at the French-American Foundation, a regent at the University of California and a board member for the Haas School of Business.

Richard C. Blum was a regent at the University of California, a board member for the Haas School of Business, married to California Senator Dianne Feinstein and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

C. Douglas Dillon was a chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a U.S. ambassador for France.

Richard L. Kauffman was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.
John A. Thain is a director at the French-American Foundation and was Timothy F. Geithner’s unofficial adviser.

Timothy F. Geithner’s unofficial adviser was John A. Thain and is an overseer, director for the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Dina Dublon is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a director at PepsiCo, Inc.

Indra K. Nooyi is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the chair & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc.

PepsiCo, Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Kimberly Cheatle served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo. and was the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service.

U.S. Secret Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Joe Biden Administration and was an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Michael H. Jordan was the division chairman & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc., and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Roosevelt Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt is the chair for the Roosevelt Institute and an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.

Mikhail Gorbachev is an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation and was general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Carl A. Anderson was an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, is the supreme knight for the Knights of Columbus, a trustee at the Catholic University of America and a board member for the Vatican Bank.

Vatican Bank is the bank for the Vatican.

Jeh Charles Johnson was a governor for the Roosevelt Institute and is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Secret Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Kimberly Cheatle is the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service and served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo.

Dina Dublon is a director at PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Indra K. Nooyi is the chair & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee and Demos.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a contributor for the American Bridge 21st Century.

Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Demos was a funder for the National Education Association.

American Bridge 21st Century was a contributor for the National Education Association.

John I. Wilson was an executive director for the National Education Association and is a director at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Kevin Jennings was the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and is an executive director for the Arcus Foundation.

Arcus Foundation was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

PepsiCo, Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Kimberly Cheatle served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo. and was the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service.

U.S. Secret Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Joe Biden Administration and was an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International Olympic Committee.

Jeh Charles Johnson is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was a governor for the Roosevelt Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Roosevelt Institute and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Ted Turner is the co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and was the owner of the Atlanta Braves.

Michael P. Plant is the EVP & business operations for the Atlanta Braves and was a director at the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Jamie S. Gorelick was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and Merrick Garland’s boss.

Merrick Garland’s boss was Jamie Gorelick and is the Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Biden Administration.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

James A. Baker III was the general counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

William H. Webster was a director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Reuben Jeffery III is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.

Warren Christopher was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International Olympic Committee.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas was an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Joe Biden Administration.

U.S. Secret Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Kimberly Cheatle was the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service and served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo.

Dina Dublon is a director at PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Indra K. Nooyi is the chair & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Morton H. Halperin is a director at the ONE Campaign, a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, Mark Halperin’s father and was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

PepsiCo, Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Catholic Relief Services, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and the Human Rights Watch.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was a supporter for the Center for American Progress and a benefactor at the Human Rights Watch.

John J. Studzinski is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Human Rights Watch, and a papal knighthood knight.

papal knighthood is an honor conferred by pope from the Roman Catholic Church.

Reuben Jeffery III is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.

Warren Christopher was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International Olympic Committee.

Resources: Past Research

Coca-Cola Bows to Conservative Critics, Adds 'E Pluribus Unum' to Ad for Olympics (Past Research on the Olympics)

Saturday, February 8, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/02/coca-cola-bows-to-conservative-critics.html

Backers Push Jerry Brown to Run for President in 2016 (Past Research on O'Melveny & Myers LLP)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/backers-push-jerry-brown-to-run-for.html

Presbyterian Church Votes To Allow Gay Marriages (Past Research on Gay Marriage)

Saturday, June 21, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/06/presbyterian-church-votes-to-allow-gay.html

Vatican: Assassination Attempt 'Wounds People and Democracy' (Connecting the Dots: Vatican, Holy See, Mikhail Gorbachev, Wheelchair Foundation, Secret Service, Morton Halperin, Alejandro Mayorkas, O'Melveny & Myers LLP & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Vatican)

Monday, July 15, 2024

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/vatican-assassination-attempt-wounds.html

Vatican Hires Large American Consultancy Firm to Advise on Media Operations (Past Research on the Vatican)

Monday, December 23, 2013

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/vatican-hires-large-american.html

Pope Asks for Special Prayers for 'very Sick' Benedict XVI (Connecting the Dots: Catholic Church, Papal Knighthood, McKinsey & Company (Vatican Hires McKinsey & Company) & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Vatican)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2022/12/pope-asks-for-special-prayers-for-very.html

The Latest: 7 Arrested In Belgium Over Paris Attacks (Past Research on France)

Sunday, November 15, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-latest-7-arrested-in-belgium-over.html

France’s Macron Positions Himself as Globalist ‘Anti-Trump’ at UN Meeting (Past Research on France)

Thursday, September 21, 2017

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/09/frances-macron-positions-himself-as.html

Aspen Security Forum gathers experts in global, domestic affairs for wide-ranging conversation (Connecting the Dots: Kimberly Cheatle, U.S. Secret Service, Alejandro Mayorkas, Aspen Security Forum, Aspen Strategy Group, Aspen Institute (think tank), Condoleezza Rice, Kamala Harris, Hunter Biden & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Alejandro Mayorkas & Kimberly Cheatle)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/aspen-security-forum-gathers-experts-in.html

Monday, July 15, 2024

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/vatican-assassination-attempt-wounds.html

McCaul, Chertoff: Olympics Facing Unprecedented Security Threat (Past Research on the Atlanta Braves)

Sunday, January 26, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/01/mccaul-chertoff-olympics-facing.html

International Rescue Committee (Past Research on the International Rescue Committee & the ONE Campaign)

Thursday, December 21, 2017

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/12/international-rescue-committee.html

Newsmax Commentator Halperin: Biden Exit From WH Race Likely This Weekend (Connecting the Dots: Mark Halperin, His Father Morton Halperin, Open Society Foundations, Kimberly Cheatle, PepsiCo & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Mark Halperin)

Thursday, July 18, 2024

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/newsmax-commentator-halperin-biden-exit.html

As U.S. Visit Nears, Pope Francis Points to Climate Change (Past Research on the papal knighthood)

Sunday, September 13, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/09/as-us-visit-nears-pope-francis-points.html