Alabama theater cancels 'Beauty and the Beast' screenings due to gay character

Moviegoers at a drive-in theater in Alabama won't be able to see a retelling of the "tale as old as time."

The Henagar Drive-In Theatre in DeKalb County has canceled its screenings of "Beauty and the Beast" because the film will feature a homosexual character — Disney's first openly gay character.

Director Bill Condon recently told Attitude magazine that Josh Gad's LeFou — Gaston's (Luke Evans) sidekick — will be Disney's first-ever LGBTQ character — a way of honoring the original 1991 animated film's late lyricist Howard Ashman.

The annocment follows the Alabama theater's change in ownership. "When companies continually force their views on us we need to take a stand. We all make choices and I am making mine," the theater said in a statement on Facebook. "If we can not take our 11-year-old grand daughter and 8-year-old grandson to see a movie we have no business watching it. If I can't sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me then we have no business showing it."

The company acknowledged that their actions may be controversial, but concluded "that's fine." "We are first and foremost Christians," the statement continues. "We will not compromise on what the Bible teaches. We will continue to show family oriented films so you can feel free to come watch wholesome movies without worrying about sex, nudity, homosexuality and foul language."

Disney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The film, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, hits theaters on March 17.

Here's the Henagar Drive-In's full statement below.

As of December 16th the Henagar Drive-In is under new ownership. Movies scheduled prior to that date and four weeks after this date were not scheduled by the new owners. That being said...It is with great sorrow that I have to tell our customers that we will not be showing Beauty and the Beast at the Henagar Drive-In when it comes out. When companies continually force their views on us we need to take a stand. We all make choices and I am making mine. For those that do not know Beauty and the Beast is "premiering" their first homosexual character. The producer also says at the end of the movie "there will be a surprise for same-sex couples". If we can not take our 11 year old grand daughter and 8 year old grandson to see a movie we have no business watching it. If I can't sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me then we have no business showing it. I know there will be some that do not agree with this decision. That's fine. We are first and foremost Christians. We will not compromise on what the Bible teaches. We will continue to show family oriented films so you can feel free to come watch wholesome movies without worrying about sex, nudity, homosexuality and foul language. Thank you for your support!