John The Beloved - The Gay Disciple

The beloved disciple
Main article: disciple whom Jesus loved

Some have suspected Jesus had a sexual relationship from the Gospel of John's references to the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7, 20), a phrase which does not occur in the Synoptic Gospels. In the text, this beloved disciple is present at the crucifixion of Jesus, with Jesus' mother, Mary.

It has traditionally been assumed that the disciple whom Jesus loved is a self-reference by the author of the Gospel, traditionally regarded as John the Apostle; Rollan McCleary, thinks this identification would make the phrase highly significant[5]
Jesus and John at the Last Supper, by Valentin de Boulogne

Aelred of Rievaulx, in his work Spiritual Friendship, referred to the relationship of Jesus and John as a "marriage" and held it out as an example sanctioning friendships between clerics.[6] It has been claimed that it was held by Francesco Calcagno, who was investigated on that account by the Venetian Inquisition in 1550.

James I of England may have been relying on a pre-existing tradition when he defended his (supposedly homosexual) relationship with the young Duke of Buckingham: "I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had his son John, and I have my George."[7]

Others who have given voice to this interpretation of the relationship between Jesus and John have been the philosophers Denis Diderot and Jeremy Bentham.[8] However, many other researchers reject this theory: for example, Gagnon pointed out that the Greek word translated as "loved" is agape (used, for example, in John 3:16; "for God so loved the world"), rather than the Greek word referring to sexual love, eros[9]. Responding directly to Jennings' claims, Gagnon argued that Jennings misunderstood ancient culture, as people would recline while eating, so the man "leaning on Jesus' bosom" was simply "reclining next to" Jesus, with no homoerotic implication. Gagnon argued: "the idea that Jesus was a homosexual or engaged in homosexual acts is complete nonsense" that no "serious biblical scholar" had ever proposed (Ostling 2003).

Abraham Rihbany supposed that the depicted scene was a Syrian custom, similar to the present day handshaking[10].

The idea has recently been raised from within the Christian establishment by Gene Robinson a homosexual advocate for gay rights, who has discussed the possible homoerotic inclinations of Jesus in his relationship with John in a sermon in 2005. Robinson's claim has been widely criticised, most notably by David W. Virtue (calling it an "appalling deconstructionism from the liberal lobby which will spin even the remotest thing to turn it into a hint that Biblical figures are gay" and a way to justificate homosexual lifestyle) and Chris Sugden, spokesman for Anglican Mainstream[11].

Bob Goss the author of "Queering Christ, Beyond Jesus Acted Up." and "Jesus Acted Up, A Gay and Lesbian Manifesto,"[12] was assistant professor of comparative religion at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri but denied tenure,[13][14] says the interaction between Jesus and John, "... is a pederastic relationship between an older man and a younger man. A Greek reader would understand."[15]
[edit] Mary Magdalene
See also: Mary_Magdalene#Relationship_with_Jesus

The Gnostic Gospel of Philip (believed to have been written in the late 2nd century or 3rd century, and hence later than the canonical Gospels) states that Jesus kissed Mary Magdalene. Considering the gnostic nature of writing, most do not consider this a sexual remark, instead interpreting it as an instance of a common Middle-Eastern cultural practice, signifying the transfer of knowledge (in this case, gnosis) between a teacher and his pupils[16][17]. However, the notion of a marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene has been a frequent topic in literature, and the controversial book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.
[edit] The naked youth

The Secret Gospel of Mark, fragments of which were contained in the controversial, recently-discovered Mar Saba letter by Clement of Alexandria, has led to various interpretations concerning the views of an ancient group called the Carpocratians. The Secret Gospel of Mark states that Jesus taught the secrets of the Kingdom of God alone to a partially clothed youth during one night. Some modern commentators interpret it as a baptism,[18] or an allegory for a non-sexual initiation into a gnostic religion.

Some academic theologians see a connection between the youth of the "Secret Gospel of Mark" and the mysterious youth following Jesus during his arrest, who loses his cloak while trying to escape, mentioned in the Canonical Gospel of Mark; and the young man or angel clad only in white that Mark mentions was found in the Empty Tomb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_of_Jesus#The_beloved_disciple