A crowdfunding initiative has been launched to support drag artist Amadeus Fernando Pagente, or Pura Luka Vega, in her legal battle stemming from her controversial ”Ama Namin” performance.
Dulcinea Zulueta appealed for donations through crowdfunding platform Airfunding as Pura Luka Vega faces complaints for Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.
The complaints were filed separately by the Philippines for Jesus Movement and a group of Black Nazarene devotees.
”With Luka now being subpoenaed this September, it will largely affect their day job and drag shows, leading them to earn less than [she] usually does,” Zulueta said.
”Any donation will be greatly appreciated, and funds will go straight to Luka and their family.”
Zulueta’s initiative has already collected $283, or nearly P16,000, of its target of $500 in donations.
A separate call for donations was posted on the Facebook page of Philippine Drag Updates.
Pura Luka Vega has drawn criticism due to a viral video that showed her singing and dancing to the remix version of Ama Namin while dressed as Jesus Christ.
Aside from the criminal complaints, several local government units have also declared Pura Luka Vega persona non grata.
Pura Luka Vega had said that the performance was not meant to mock the Christian faith and that her intention was “to challenge our notions of how we worship or how we sing our prayers.”
