Family Research Council President Calls FUN HOME 'New York's Latest Sexual Propaganda'

As reported by Broadwayworld, United Nations Ambassadors from three countries with laws restricting homosexuality - Russia, Gabon and Namibia - were part of diplomatic mission led by United States U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power to see FUN HOME, the Tony-winning Broadway musical based on Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir about her childhood discovery of her sexual orientation.

Ambassadors from the European Union, Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Uruguay and Vietnam also attended.

FUN HOME "brings home the challenges that LGBTI are facing every day around the world," Power said during a post-performance question-and-answer session.

"Thank you for bringing this all home in a way that resolutions and statements never can," she told the cast.

In response to this news, Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, an organization whose stated mission is "to advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview," has posted a scathing opinion piece opposed to Power's actions, referring to FUN HOME as "New York's latest sexual propaganda."

A former member of the Louisiana legislature where he served for eight years, Perkins states that "Power is adding to the president's embarrassing diplomatic legacy by trying to export Obama's sexual extremism to a world preoccupied by far more important issues."

"It was a stunning display of political tone-deafness," he continues, "considering the real crises happening right now on the real world stage. Unfortunately, as far as this president is concerned, the most urgent message America can send to the international community right now is 'that protecting the rights of LGBT people will remain a key foreign policy priority of the United States."

Perkin's full statement can be read at frc.org.

Attempts to confirm whether or not the quote "New York's Latest Sexual Propaganda" will be posted in front of the theatre have gone unanswered.

Fun Home features music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and direction by Sam Gold, whose work on this production earned them Tony Awards for Best Score, Best Book and Best Direction. Fun Home is currently playing to sold-out crowds at the Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street).

The current cast of Fun Home includes two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris, four-time Tony Award nomineeJudy Kuhn, 2015 Tony Award nominee Beth Malone, Lauren Patten, Gabriella Pizzolo, Roberta Colindrez,Zell Steele Morrow, Joel Perez and Oscar Williams, along with Alessandra Baldacchino, Kally Duling,Presley Ryan,Perry Sherman, Jim Stanek, and Nicole Van Giesen.

FUN HOME introduces us to Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of her uniquely dysfunctional family - her mother, brothers and volatile, brilliant, enigmatic father - that connect with her in surprising new ways. This intimate and emotional theatrical experience is performed entirely in the round, bringing audiences closer to Alison's story than ever before. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.

FUN HOME was also nominated for 2015 Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design of Musical (David Zinn), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Ben Stanton) and Best Orchestrations (John Clancy). The creative team also includes Danny Mefford (Choreography), Kai Harada (Sound Design), and Chris Fenwick (Music Direction).

The coast-to-coast North American Tour of Fun Home will begin in the 2016 - 2017 Season, and the Grammy nominated Original Broadway Cast Recording of Fun Home Original Cast Recording is now available on PS Classics,www.psclassics.com.