A drag queen in the Philippines, Pura Luka Vega, was arrested on Wednesday for her performance as Jesus Christ reciting the Lord’s Prayer.
This performance had sparked criminal complaints from Christian groups back in July.
33-year-old Pura Luka Vega, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente, now faces the possibility of up to 12 years in jail under the country’s obscenity laws, given that nearly 80% of the Philippines population identifies as Roman Catholic.
According to Manila police, Pagente has been charged with offenses related to “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows,” as stated in the arrest warrant.
In the now-deleted video, Pagente appeared as a bearded Jesus Christ, delivering a rock version of the Lord’s Prayer in Tagalog.
The Philippines for Jesus Movement, composed of Protestant church leaders, initiated the first criminal complaint against Pagente with the Manila Prosecutor’s Office in July, followed by a second complaint by the Nazarene Brotherhood, a Catholic group, in August.
Furthermore, several cities in the Philippines, including the capital Manila, have declared Pagente “persona non grata.”
Drag queens have been popular entertainers in the Philippines for decades, typically impersonating singers and actresses in stand-up shows.
However, Pagente represents a new generation of drag queens who use their performances to advocate for causes and push the boundaries of free speech.
In response to the arrest, Pagente highlighted the “degree of homophobia” in the Philippines and emphasized that people should not dictate how he practices his faith or does his drag.
Supporters have rallied for Pagente’s release with the #FreePuraLukaVega hashtag, arguing that “drag is not a crime.”
Some have drawn comparisons between Pagente’s situation and that of alleged murderers and sex crime offenders who they claim remain free without facing justice.
Ryan Thoreson, a specialist at the Human Rights Watch’s LGBT+ rights program, has also called for the charges against Pagente to be dropped, asserting that freedom of expression encompasses artistic expression that may offend, satirize, or challenge religious beliefs.
Source-BBC
