So drag performer Pura Luka Vega (assigned name at birth: Amadeus Fernando Pagente) was arrested again, this time by the order of a different court (in Quezon City; prior arrests happened in the City of Manila, with bail also paid in Pasay City). This still stemmed from their viral “Ama Namin” (The Lord’s Prayer) remix performance.
FYI: In July 2023, donned in a Black Nazarene-inspired costume, Pura danced to a remix of The Lord’s Prayer, with a video taken during the event “leaked”, which made some “Christians” (including Philippines for Jesus Movement, and Hijos del Nazareno) so angry that they filed criminal cases because their religious feelings were “offended”.
To be blunt here: That there are laws that allowed them to file such a case is, itself, a HUGE problem. But yeah… pathetically, in the Philippines, Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code penalizes “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows”; and Section 133 of the Revised Penal Code prohibits performing acts “notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful”. If someone sues using any of these, they can; the court has to “accommodate” because its role is to implement laws.
BTW: As if for good measure, Pura was also charged under the Cyber Crime Prevention Act.
Obviously, #FreePuraLukaVega is the “immediate” push, no argument there.
In the past, a fundraising show by drag artists raised P892,975.60. But the Pasay City bail alone already totaled P720,000… so the amount raised is peanuts. Meaning, yes, more money is needed.
But – I have touched on this in the past, but see the need to reiterate this – even while Pura’s supporters rush to raise money to help out, the entire LGBTQIA community in the Philippines, including other drag artists/performers/queens, should really start thinking long-term. We need to have the very laws that caused this (and will cause this again for sure, perhaps involving other members of our rainbow family) eliminated.
Know that even if it is passed into law, the much-touted SOGIESC Equality Bill (the 24-year-old ever-evolving anti-discrimination bill supposed to protect the human rights of LGBTQIA Filipinos) won’t be able to protect us from Article 201 and Section 133 of the Revised Penal Code. Only the elimination of these antiquated laws that prioritize “religious feelings” over “freedom of expression” (as succinctly stated in Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution) will suffice.
I have yet to come across LGBTQIA “leaders” who touch on this.
And I have yet to see/hear any drag queen tackle this even if the same laws could be applied to them, and could similarly put them in jeopardy.
In case anyone forgets, our very existence as LGBTQIA people – including drag performers – is offensive to religious zealots. That we breathe at all could be “offensive to the feelings of the faithful”. So yeah, these archaic laws can be used against any of us.
Need natin to look at the big picture.
We need to approach this with long-term solution/s.
Immediate: Raise funds to #FreePuraLukaVega because #dragisnotacrime. But LGBTQIA Filipinos, including drag queens, should already start confronting the very laws that prioritize religious feelings over other human rights.
