Is this blasphemy?
Lawmakers quickly called out Filipino drag queen Pura Luka Vega following her controversial performance of a remixed version of the Lord’s prayer before a cheering crowd who also sang along with her at an art space in Quezon City.
In the video that quickly went viral online, Vega was seen donning a religious garb singing the “remixed” version of Catholic mass worship song Ama Namin. The video immediately sparked a firestorm of criticism from the public, politicians and even religious groups.
Rep. Geraldine Roman via Instagram
Among the first to react was Bataan 1st District Geraldine Roman, the first transgender person to be elected in the House of Representatives.
She made a stirring call to fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“As a Catholic, I feel offended,” she said in a statement sent to the media.
“Kailangan pa ba ng ganitong klaseng provocation? Anong ambag nito sa LGBT rights?” Roman she stressed.
She also reminded everyone who would cite the constitutional right to freedom of expression as an excuse that freedom is never absolute.
“Your rights end where the rights of other[s] begin. Umayos kayo.”
As a member of the community herself, she upheld that such acts “do not not help the cause for acceptance and equality.”
She also reached out to the rest of the Catholic community saying she is one with them in condemning the incident. However she made a plea to the public not to think that everyone in their community shares the same value.
Senator JV Ejercito in a tweet sternly said “This is blasphemy. This disrespects my faith. This went overboard.”
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri issued a statement condemning “strongest possible terms the extremely blasphemous and offensive video that has gone viral showing people in a club making a mockery of the Christian faith and disrespecting The Lord’s prayer.”
He said that a criminal complaint may be filed against anyone who mocks any religious faith.
“This is the height of the misuse and abuse of our freedom of expression that borders on criminal activity. It offends the sensibilities of our Christian brothers and sisters, deeply demeans the faith of millions of Filipinos, and dangerously scales the boundaries of protected speech and expression,” he added.
Under the Article 201 (b) of the Revised Penal Code, anyone who offends any race or religion on theaters, fairs, cinematographs or any other place, exhibit indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows, whether live or filmed may face jail time or fine anywhere from P6,000 to P12,000 or both.
