Charles Teves
Drag performer Pura Luka Vega has caused a divide between the LGBTQ+ community and other Filipinos after dressing up as Jesus while performing a remix version of the religious song ‘Ama Namin’ in a club.
In a tweet by Vega on July 10, she is seen in an uploaded video vibing with the crowd while wearing a long wig.
The background music appeared to be a remix version of ‘Ama Namin,’ a church Tagalog song.
“Thank you for coming to church!” Vega said in a tweet.
Religious and non-religious critics accused the Draq queen of being blasphemous.
Netizens pointed out that the gay community is hypocritical for demanding respect but cannot offer it in return.
This is too much. Demanding respect yet disrespecting what others hold sacred. Also, lest these people forget, there’s a crime called offending religious beliefs under article 133 of the Revised Penal Code. https://t.co/dxtQ631leD
— 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐲 (@krizzy_kalerqui) July 11, 2023
No. As a Catholic, this is not acceptable to me. And don’t BS me by saying this is not offensive. It is to me.
Respect ang hinihingi di ba? Then do not go over-bound disrespecting a solemn prayer/song by doing this. It’s not a party song! And Jesus shouldn’t be cosplayed! https://t.co/KhJj99EbJy
— Sumshine013 (@sumshine013) July 11, 2023
One atheist said that what Vega did was plain wrong.
As an atheist, there are a lot of things i strongly disagree with religion, especially the Catholic Church.
Pero kahit hindi tayo miyembro ng isang relihiyon o kulto, maging sensitibo sana tayo sa tradisyon at paniniwala ng iba. 1/n https://t.co/lbAcalFCGH— Paul (@jamesXpaul) July 11, 2023
If you find it offensive when a straight man dresses and acts like a queer, why do you condemn the faithful who felt offended by this video because it mocks their God? Even if I love drag, I myself cannot finish watching this video because I find it blasphemous. https://t.co/4Gxo6vYshr
— Diane💗🌸 (@MaeDianeAzores) July 11, 2023
Some said the intention to entertain crossed the line.
People have different views, sure. Pero we can be sensitive naman in selecting the form of entertainment we can create especially if we know naman na it can offend someone. Im sure marami pang ways to entertain, this is not the remaining option. https://t.co/mLIskDvLyC
— Shinichi Dempsey (@chinitomanager) July 11, 2023
Not a practicing Catholic din naman pero di ko babastusin ang religion ng iba mapa-Christian, Muslim, o ano pa yan.
Gagi. Di nyo ba gets yun?
— Katniss EverNadine (@everNadine) July 11, 2023
https://twitter.com/Juan_Kalbo/status/1678636557501079553?s=20
However, some Catholics did not see Vega’s performance as blasphemous.
I’m a Christian, was a worship leader and still attending prayer meetings every week.
But, the LGBT+ community is literally being KILLED out there. I’m sure things like these won’t do no harm to us. 😚🫶🏻 Besides, our relationship with God will not be affected by what others do. https://t.co/QUzX9q01d9
— Joshua Ronett 🎶 (@joshuaronett) July 11, 2023
There's a Jesus impersonator leading a happy crowd in singing The Lord's Prayer. The prayer's words seems not to be altered, the crowd in revelry, far from mockery. The thought seems to be present.
I wonder if Jesus would mind. https://t.co/bgI10z8OPr
— • Mugen 🐱 (@tr1pnaut1k) July 11, 2023
As a church-going catholic, hindi siya disrespectful for me. Lalo nang hindi blasphemous. Jusko.
Meron bang pag deny ng Diyos? o questions on Jesus Christ's saving grace? May profane scoffing sa bible?
Wala naman di ba?
— Nico Quejano (@nicoquejano) July 11, 2023
I honestly don't see the difference between this and the papuri sa diyos remix tiktok dance except this was performed and danced to by the gays. 🤔 https://t.co/me7k9rhazu
— junc/0 🤠 (@juncoc0) July 11, 2023
All I see are people singing along to a song while someone in Jesus cosplay collects money, sounds a lot like church 2 me https://t.co/2WGV32f6bm
— Bernard (@Bernard_616) July 11, 2023
Meanwhile, queers expectedly defended Vega.
Magiging blasphemous lang ‘yun if it involved an attack, mockery, and/or denial of dogma—the fundamental truths of your faith—but it’s just a drag queen dressing up as a religious figure and lip syncing to a remixed religious song. If you feel offended, maybe it’s a you problem.
— pilep (@pmjamilla) July 11, 2023
Some LGBTQ+ members also decided to bring up the Catholic Church’s past.
https://twitter.com/maasgad/status/1678608441642987522?s=20
https://twitter.com/kulasjalea/status/1678613631670587393?s=20
people cursing pura to hell, the catholic tradition in the PH is not liberating and is used as a weapon for bigotry and even treated as legal justification to block queer rights, so SORRY if the gays mock your religious icons, icons that for us only represent a lifetime of hiding https://t.co/UYFtaf6934
— tristan (@tristantonum) July 11, 2023
Some admitted to liking the fact that many were triggered by the video.
Lels sa mga baklang Catholics triggered dito. Ika nga ni Beatrice Saw, ang respect hindi yan iniimpose, ineearn yan.
Di ka pa pinapanganak, di mo pa narerealize na bakla ka, binabastos ka na simbahan. Tutol pa silang bigyan ka ng pantay na karapatan.
Also, drag is a protest. https://t.co/HnrEhkmnvj
— rye baa deng (@bibongtsubibo) July 11, 2023
a lot of ppl in the QTs & comments calling this blasphemous.
Mhie, the church in itself is blasphemous. & how can we respect the church when for so many years it has disrespected & discriminated us? I’ve been discriminated by this religion so many times.
Carry on, @ama_survivah https://t.co/oD7bLt4lIT
— Syd 💗🫶😽 (@shidoni) July 11, 2023
One said that people are not required to respect Catholicism.
https://twitter.com/mobiustite/status/1678626418173829122?s=20
https://twitter.com/DeeDeeMarieH/status/1678657831137079301?s=20
pasabog pinag-simba ni pura ang mga bakla complete with tips na offertory
alalahanin ninyo! singing is twice praying! magpasalamat pa dapat si pope kay pura! at alalahanin ninyo ang kinikilala nyong depiction ni papa susej ay hindi naman talaga nya tunay na itsura! https://t.co/YHUqlTRV9k
— AC Soriano (@ItsACsLife) July 11, 2023
To the gay community’s defense, it can be recalled that few years ago, a nun was not criticized for doing a TikTok dance to another remix of ‘Ama Namin.’
This is not blasphemy you know why? Babae kasi ang gumawa.
Again, nagagalit kayo kasi bakla ang nag-Ama Namin. https://t.co/n621ddamqc
— Noel Escondo (@noelescondo) July 11, 2023
Vega then responded to the attention he received.
In an hour-long voice tweet, Vega decided to “break my silence” following his performance.
“I see the good in all these religions and how it serves in whatever purpose. You do you.
“It’s weird that the reception is very polarizing.
Vega said that he has been using Jesus as a drag persona for quite some time already.
— Pura Luka Vega 🙃 (@puralukavega) July 11, 2023
“People knew that I’ve already been doing Jesus as a drag persona for a really long time. So, I don’t understand why ganito siya na blown out of proportion. But I do understand,” he added.
One netizen also raised a question, asking if freedom of expression should not offend religions.
Art vs. Religion + Gender.
DISCLAIMER
Views are coming from my studies in art history, anthropology & gender studies and almost decade of experience of teaching art at the university level.Some questions: should freedom of expression not offend religion? https://t.co/ihJtrvOq0f
— Michael Pastor (@profmykie) July 11, 2023
Meanwhile, the LGBTQ+ community continues to push for the SOGIE Bill which is also known as the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Bill.
It is a proposed legislation that aims to protect the rights of individuals regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
The bill seeks to prevent discrimination, harassment, and violence against the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) community.
