The piece, a clip from a video "A Fire in My Belly," by artist David Wojnarowicz, was deemed offensive by the president of the Catholic League and conservative politicians because it depicts ants crawling on a cross.

The Warhol Foundation gave $100,000 to the Smithosonian to help finance the exhibit, which concerns as The Times put it, "homosexual desire in American portraiture."

In solidarity, the New Museum has started showing the film in its lobby.