“Drag is not a crime” is the call of drag queens and members of the LGBTQIA+ community who have expressed their support for Pura Luka Vega, who was also a ‘Drag Den’ season 1 participant, after their arrest on Wednesday, October 4.
Pura Luka Vega, also known as Amadeus Fernando Pagente, was arrested after failing to attend the preliminary investigations of the criminal case filed against them.
The drag queen was charged with “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.” The arrest order arose from the complaint filed by devotees of the Black Nazarene led by the Hijos del Nazareno-Central Pura Luka’s “Ama Namin” drag performance drew the public’s ire.
The 33-year-old performer was accused of blasphemy and declared “persona non grata” by several local governments after a video of their July show was shared online.
Shortly after their arrest, the hashtag #FreePuraLukaVega quickly became the top Philippine trending topic on X (formerly Twitter).
Manila Luzon, Eva Le Queen, Naia, Tiny Deluxe, Dee Dee Marie Holliday, Hana Beshie, Corazon Filipinas, and several other drag queens as well as other social media personalities such as Sassa Gurl and AC Soriano have expressed their support for Pura Luka Vega as well as lambasting the arrest.
As much as we are happy to celebrate victory of our new Drag Race PH Winner tonight, we stand with and for Luka Pura Vega!! We cannot celebrate one type of drag, and criminalize another!! DRAG IS NOT A CRIME!!
— TINY but extra large DELUXE (@TinyDeluxee) October 4, 2023
Free Pura Luka Vega!! https://t.co/iSSl7UVxx2
— Manila Luzon (@manilaluzon) October 4, 2023
How absurd and blatant oppressive it is na months after that video they are still coming for Luka?!? ITO ANG HINDI TAMA SA MATA NG DIYOS!! Pero first things first, let’s all help bail our sister out. Here’s the channels how we can help. Onti nalang! #FreePuraLukaVega… https://t.co/lRZNYQwc3r pic.twitter.com/rU3ytTadRd
— Ms. Eva (@eva_lequeen) October 4, 2023
