Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14) — Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman on Friday appealed to drag queen Pura Luka Vega over the controversial “Ama Namin” (Our Father) viral video which has sparked adverse comments.
“Pura, please, do not use the gender card again because you are giving the community a bad name,” Roman, who is the country’s first transgender politician, said during an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“This is simply a case of disrespect for religious feelings of other people. And now, because binabatikos ka ng marami sa lipunan (because you are being criticized by many members of the society), you’re waving the queer card. Don’t be unfair kasi nga, you know what, ang masama dito magkamali ang isang member ng community, lalahatin na (what’s bad here is if one member of the community commits a mistake, it will be generalized)” the lawmaker said.
A video of Vega went viral this week as it showed the drag queen dressed up as Jesus Christ while performing a rock version of “Ama Namin.”
Asked about the performance, Vega told CNN Philippines that this was a way of healing from the apparent exclusion of queer members of the Catholic church, adding that the issue does not need to be brought to a national level.
Roman said she was surprised that Vega did not expect the negative reaction from a predominantly Catholic population.
Official data in February 2023 stated that over 85 million or 78.8% of over 108 million Filipinos in 2020 are Roman Catholic.
Roman said as an artist, one cannot have a free license to freely impersonate anyone to address one’s personal issues, and a person should not also deal with one’s problems at the expense of others.
“Hindi mo pwedeng tawaging art ‘yung pananakit ng damdamin ng ibang tao. (You cannot call art something that will hurt the feelings of other people) I find that attitude very selfish, irresponsible, at tsaka (and) inconsiderate,” the lawmaker said.
Vega’s issue is best addressed by approaching a priest and talking it out, Roman said.
She also reminded Vega that such actions may be considered a criminal offense, citing Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code that states the penalty against offending religious feelings.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the act may be liable under Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes those who “ offend any race or religion in the performance of obscene or indecent plays, scenes, acts or shows in theaters, fairs, or any other place.”
Despite the controversy involving a member of the community, Roman said “lawmakers are aware that Pura’s actions have nothing to do with the SOGIE Equality bill,” adding that the “SOGIE Equality bill will not justify or decriminalize similar acts.”
Since the first bill was filed at the 11th Congress by the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales, measures that will penalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics have yet to be passed in Congress.
The latest version, the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill, has been pending in the Senate committee on rules. Its chairman, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, said it is not a priority measure.
