FilmOut, San Diego’s gay and lesbian film festival, opened amid customary controversy, as opponents called for the Museum of Photographic Arts to be de-funded for hosting the event.

A flurry of condemning e-mails, at least one linked to an extreme branch of Morris Cerullo World Evangelism, were sent to organizers and city officials on April 28, calling for the “immoral, perverted porn festival” to be canceled.

Several of the e-mails expressed concern that tax money was helping to fund an event on municipal property, which the letter writers did not support.

FilmOut Executive Director Krista Page discounted the accusations and said the festival is privately financed; it is under rental contract with the museum.

“This group of uninformed individuals seems to believe that MOPA and the city and county of San Diego have in some way funded our event, which is completely untrue,” she said. “We respect that there is a difference of opinion on LGBT issues. However, we believe in our constitutional right to freedom of speech.”

Some of the e-mails called the four-day film festival “the most immoral, filthy use of municipal property,” and said the festival is responsible for the “moral decay of our city.”

Another added, “As a mother of children, I am applauded [sic] that this kind of perversion will be allowed while families are touring Balboa Park.”

FilmOut’s mission is to enlighten, educate and entertain, and to promote and celebrate the diverse artistic contributions of gay and lesbian filmmakers.

Gaidi Finnie, MOPA’s assistant director, said the museum is not a censor and that the e-mails attempted to interfere with freedom of speech.

“Our neighborhood is surrounded by people of alternate lifestyles, so of course we try to support them,” he said. “We hold a variety of festivals. This is a private festival put on by a private organization.”

Finnie said MOPA has a good working relationship with FilmOut, and invited the festival to be held at MOPA in future years.

“We respect the views of the religious right and invite them not to attend our event,” Page said.