BELCHERTOWN - The Clapp Memorial Library has taken the unusual step of banning local artist Lord Jesus Christ III from the public facility in response to what they called recurring bad behavior.

The Sept. 8 order issued by the Library Board of Trustees warns Jesus Christ will be subject to criminal charges if he appears in the library again.

Jesus Christ said Tuesday he has contacted a lawyer and is planning to sue the public library for discrimination.

Interviewed in his apartment, which is less than a half-mile away from the town library, Jesus Christ said that all he can conclude is he is being targeted by the library because of who he is.

“I’m black, I’m transsexual and my name is Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

The 50-year-old Detroit native some years ago had his name legally changed to Lord Jesus Christ III. In an interview with the Republican in May, he said he changed his name because God told him to do it.

He has dreadlocks that go past his waist and is commonly seen around town wearing womens clothing. At the time of this interview, Jesus Christ was wearing heels, a mini skirt and a halter top.

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Library director Owen Maloney said the library does not care how Jesus Christ dresses, but it does care how he acts inside the facility.

“It was his behavior in the library that was off-putting,” he said. “He was very needy.”

He said Jesus is always asking staff at the desk and other patrons for tissues, pencils or other things.

“Often times he would try to put himself in the personal space of others,” he said.

If someone was at the desk talking to the librarian, Jesus Christ would cut in front of the person and begin asking the librarian questions, Maloney said.

“He was very rude,” Maloney said.

Maloney said he talked to Jesus Christ several times about his manners, and he would be fine for a day or two and then it would start all over again.

“We did the best we could. The library is not a place we want to kick people out of,” he said.

Asked how many people have been banned in his 21 years as director, Maloney said “Lord Jesus Christ is the first - and I suppose I’m going to burn in hell because of it.”

Stephen Lanphear, president of the Library Board of Trustees, said the board obtained a no-trespassing order against Jesus Christ after consulting with legal counsel and the town police chief.

Lanphear emphasized the action was result of ongoing “behavioral issues,” and to allow him to return to the library would be unfair to the patrons and to the staff, he said.

He said he did not care if Jesus Christ wears short skirts and halters. “I don’t know the guy. Clearly there are folks out there who have a different take on things,” he said.

Christ said a “pocket of hate” at the library targeted him.

He said he used to go to the facility every day, sometimes for as much as 3 to 4 hours at a time to use the computers.

“All I do is work. I don’t talk to anybody,” he said.

He said when he first started going to the library he never had any problems, but then after a while, the staff began limiting his computer time to an hour a day.

Jesus Christ said the librarians then began telling him his clothing was inappropriate, and not long afterward, a sign appeared inside the front door warning that proper attire was required.

He said that on one occasion where he was warned about inappropriate dress, a woman walked in with shorts and a halter and no one on the staff batted an eye.

Jesus Christ said he blamed Maloney, as head of the library, for directing the staff to give him a hard time.

He said that on one occasion, Maloney charged him with wearing provocative clothing as an attention ploy.

“For attention? What does that mean?” Jesus Christ asked.