Controversial Philippine Drag Queen Arrested After Provocative Jesus Performance Triggers Massive Catholic Outrage!

A drag queen in the Philippines, who portrayed Jesus Christ and gave a rock performance of The Lord's Prayer, was recently apprehended for violating the country's obscenity regulations. This incident has triggered an intense discussion regarding the rights of free speech and the protection of LGBTQ individuals, considering the Philippines' strong Christian influence, with the Catholic Church playing a prominent role in both societal matters and the political landscape.

Amadeus Fernando Pagente, a 33-year-old drag performer known as Pura Luka Vega and identifying as they/them, faced widespread accusations of blasphemy from officials in the Catholic church and others. Their viral performance video of singing "Ama Namin," the Tagalog version of the prayer, led to their arrest on Wednesday. The legal team stated on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that Pagente was taken into custody under a law that prohibits "immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows" that offend any religion. Additionally, the allegations claim a violation of cybercrime laws due to the video's online sharing in an alleged attempt to perpetrate the mentioned offense.

The legal team promised to challenge the charges and prioritize securing Pagentes' release on bail. Online videos showing the drag artist passionately singing the Tagalog version of The Lord's Prayer with the crowd in a bar caused a strong negative reaction from religious groups.

Social media videos of drag queen Pura Luka Vega singing to a rock version of The Lord's Prayer while dressed as Jesus became a topic of debate in the Philippines.

The show, featuring Pagente dressed in robes resembling Catholic vestments and a golden halo, caused a major controversy and dominated headlines in the Philippines. As a result, numerous cities, including Manila where Pagente lives, declared them "persona non grata," symbolically expressing that they were no longer welcome.

Pagentes' arrest followed the filing of a criminal complaint in August by Hijos Del Nazareno Central, an organization that represents devotees of the Black Nazarene. The Black Nazarene is a revered dark wood sculpture of Jesus that was brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606 and is considered miraculous by its followers.

Notably, the group is responsible for organizing a massive annual religious procession in Quezon City, which attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees.

After Pagentes' arrest, Hijos Del Nazareno Central expressed in a Facebook post that their followers are determined to prevent any defamation of the name of the Lord Jesus of the Nazarene. CNN has made attempts to contact the group for additional remarks.

Various politicians, including senators, appeared on Philippine television shows to condemn the performance by the drag artists, branding it as blasphemous, disrespectful, and offensive.

Denied my rights

The drag artist has issued an apology to individuals who may have experienced discomfort from their performance. However, they have also asserted that their act is a form of artistic expression, explaining in an interview with CNN affiliate CNN Philippines that it signifies the sense of exclusion felt by queer individuals in a deeply Catholic nation.

"I acknowledge that some people may consider my performance to be blasphemous, offensive, or regrettable. However, it is not their place to dictate how I practice my faith or how I express myself through drag. The intention of that performance was not to cater to their preferences, but rather to convey my personal experience and the frustration of having my rights denied," the performer stated in a July 13 post on X.

Father Jerome Secillano, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, informed CNN on Thursday that the church found the performance offensive due to its perceived lack of reverence.

"The performance was a disrespectful portrayal of our religious beliefs, and it is inappropriate to utilize elements of our faith for secular purposes, particularly for the sake of entertainment," he expressed.

However, Secillano refrained from stating whether the church considered Pagentes' arrest as a justified action in defense of the faith.

Approximately 80% of the Filipino population identifies as Roman Catholic, and as such, the church continues to retain significant power and influence.

In the Philippines, divorce remains prohibited, making it the sole country, apart from Vatican City, where this is the case. Additionally, same-sex marriage and abortion are both outlawed. In recent years, an anti-discrimination bill aimed at safeguarding the rights of minorities has faced staunch opposition from conservatives and achieved limited progress in congress.

Carlos Conde, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, condemned Pagentes arrest as an extreme and disproportionate response to those who claimed to be offended. He stated that the case was driven by a limited number of individuals who allegedly felt insulted by Pura Luka Vega, rather than reflecting the views of the Filipino population as a whole. Conde further asserted that these individuals exploited existing laws to target the LGBT community. In an emailed statement to CNN, Conde expressed his dismay, labeling the situation as outrageous.

The drag artist has previously apologized to those who "felt uncomfortable" about their performance.

Christian Manalon/Youtube

Pagente was a contestant on the reality pageantry show "Drag Den," which launched in December 2022 on Amazon Prime.

Directed by Rod Singh, a transgender Filipino, the series takes place in an underground den, skillfully contrasting the flamboyant personalities of drag queens with the challenge of maintaining subversiveness in the face of socially conservative norms in the Philippines.

Post the arrest, Singh passionately supported Pagente, whom she considers a close friend and colleague. On X, Singh boldly expressed, "This issue transcends a mere drag performance, your supposed god, or your wavering faith. Whether you acknowledge it or not, your bias against our community and our pursuit of rights lies at the core of this matter."

Singh added, "While you worship a God you cannot physically see, you turn a blind eye to important matters concerning life and human rights. You may have learned how to pray, but you have not taken the time to truly comprehend. So, do not request from us something that you are unable to provide."