Drag Queen Pura Luka Vega said she is not sorry for impersonating the Black Nazarene and performing a remix version of "Ama Namin" or The Lord's Prayer in a club.
In a Twitter live on Wednesday, Pura said she intended to express queerness and not to mock any religion.
"I was very careful when I did that [because] I don't want it to come across as something as very offensive. But then again, it has been taken as very offensive," she said.
Pura said she is a Roman Catholic, and the performance was kind of her "way of praising god."
The queer artist said she does not understand why her video drew public clamor.
"People have already knew that I've been doing Jesus as a drag persona for a really long time, kaya I don't understand why ganito siya na blown out of proportion and people saying that this is too much," she added.
— Pura Luka Vega 🙃 (@ama_survivah) July 11, 2023
Meanwhile, in a Twitter post, Pura said she understood the people who are calling her performance "blasphemous, offensive, or regrettable."
"However, they shouldn’t tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag," she stressed.
Pura, a former contestant in the reality competition series DragDen, also said that her performance is about her experience and expression of having been denied of rights as a queer.
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 🙃 (@ama_survivah) July 13, 2023
In her now-viral video, Pura was seen performing the "Ama Namin" remix version with the audience singing along with her.
Many religious people, including Senators, condemned the viral video. They underscored that this action is a blatant disrespect to religion.
Senate President Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri urged authorities to probe the matter as he cited that criminal charges may be filed against Pura under the Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
But according to human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, an individual could face charges only if it is proven that he or she did the act in a sacred place or religious celebration.
"Kung hindi sa place of worship o sa gitna ng religious ceremony ang ginawa, hindi maituturing na krimen ang nangyari," he said.
"Pangalawa, ang ginawa ay "notoriously offensive" sa mga mananampalataya (ibig sabihin, kinutya ang isang religious dogma; nilibak ang seremonyang panrelihiyon; o nilalaro o sinira ang isang object of veneration.),.
Diokno also pointed out that the Constitution protects every person's freedom of expression and freedom of speech.
Kung batas ang pag-uusapan, totoong krimen ang “offending religious feelings" sa Article 133 ng Revised Penal Code. Pero may dalawang elementong dapat patunayan: Una, ang inirereklamong akto ay ginawa sa lugar ng pagsamba o sa pagdiriwang ng seremonyang panrelihiyon; 1/5 https://t.co/zxwv9jI3J2
— Chel Diokno (@ChelDiokno) July 13, 2023
