Filipino drag artist and former Drag Den Philippines contestant Pura Luka Vega has caught the attention of many Filipinos online after posting a video of their performance of the “Ama Namin” remix in a local bar.
On July 10, the former Drag Den Philippines contestant shared a video of themselves in a drag outfit that resembles the Black Nazarene while performing “Ama Namin” to a cheering crowd.
Thank you for coming to church! 🙏 https://t.co/aCw7fap3fH pic.twitter.com/nUKWV1M7PW
— Pura Luka Vega 🙃 (@puralukavega) July 9, 2023
Their video, which garnered more than 18 million views, has elicited mixed reactions. Some Filipinos online, particularly devout Catholics, called out Pura for their “offensive” and “blasphemous” act.
Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines even commented on the matter, saying Pura’s performance was “disrespectful not only of people and institutions practicing such faith but of God himself.”
Some senators also expressed their dismay at the drag artist, with Senator Miguel Zubiri saying that Pura could be charged under Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes those who “offend any race or religion in the performance of obscene or indecent plays, scenes, acts or shows in theaters, fairs, or any other place.”
Meanwhile, some Twitter users even went as far as opposing the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill.
On the other hand, some social media users rallied behind Pura. They defended the drag artist saying that it wasn’t mockery, but it’s an “expression of art” instead.
Other users who are active members of the church didn’t find the performance offensive and it was “affirming.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, found the act “regrettable.” Yet, she called on the public to not use the incident “to deny rights and protections to a community that has long been marginalized and excluded.”
Amidst the controversy, Pura addressed the issue and stood by their performance.
“I understand that people call my performance blasphemous, offensive or regrettable,” they wrote. “However, they shouldn’t tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag.”
I understand that people call my performance blasphemous, offensive or regrettable. However, they shouldn’t tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag. That performance was not for you to begin with. It is my experience and my expression, of having been denied my rights.
— Pura Luka Vega 🙃 (@puralukavega) July 13, 2023
“That performance was not for you to begin with. It is my experience and my expression, of having been denied my rights,” Pura continued.
In a separate interview, Pura shared that their performance of “Ama Namin” wasn’t meant to disrespect anyone.
“On the contrary, it is a drag art interpretation of worship,” Pura explained. “I was very intentional in using a specific song and the symbolism to relate the queer crowd with the intersection of queerness and religion.”
Now that we heard both sides to this issue, here are my two cents that other people might find controversial and (frankly) offensive.
First of all, drag is art, and as the old saying goes, art is meant to “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” What Pura did was that, because drag is meant to challenge social conventions that society wants people to conform with.
Second, why is it that when queer people do something similar to what Pura did, they instantly draw the ire of everyone? But when straight people dress up as Jesus Christ and dance to the “Ama Namin” remix, why does it not get that much hate and criticism?
A case in point: back in 2020, videos of church members dancing to the remix version of “Papuri sa Diyos” went viral. But instead of calling the act “blasphemous,” most people laughed it off and even called the dancing and the remix “cute.”
Aside from that, video edits with remixes of “Papuri sa Diyos” and “Ama Namin” have been trending online. But did it make as much noise as Pura’s performance? I don’t think so.
Remember the video of a man impersonating Jesus Christ and singing Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”? Yeah, where was all this backlash when that came out, eh?
Of course, let’s not forget that there are people who also post photos and videos of them impersonating Jesus Christ. Yet, no one called them out nor cried that they were offended for dressing up as Him.
It really feels like that the religious uproar from Pura’s performance stemmed from them being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. And we all know that some religious people find the existence of the queer community as a “sin.”
And why are we using this incident to oppose the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill?
As Senator Hontiveros pointed out, the LGBTQIA+ community has long been excluded and marginalized. Everywhere they go, they experience gender-based discrimination and violence just for simply existing and for not conforming to heteronormativity practices. It doesn’t make a lot of sense (and it doesn’t have any connection, to begin with) to use this issue to not pass the bill.
Make it make sense.
Lastly, let’s stop telling Pura or anyone how to practice their faith. Let’s stop telling drag artists how to practice their drag. In fact, let’s stop putting our noses into their business. Periodt.
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