BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The local chapter of BANAAG LGBT Inc., a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group, slammed Filipino drag queen Pura Luka Vega over her controversial “Ama Namin” performance.
In a radio interview, Jonathan Diaz Jr., vice president of BANAAG LGBT Inc., condemned Vega for disrespecting the Black Nazarene, a revered figure of Jesus Christ for the Catholic faithful, as well as for using the Lord’s Prayer and turning it into a rock remix.
According to Diaz, the LGBT community has rules or policies that they should follow, especially regarding the prohibition of using costumes of saints and adhering to the actions of the church, as well as the use of biblical songs.
Diaz is concerned that because of Vega’s disrespectful actions, the discrimination against the LGBT community will worsen, and some politicians in the House of Representatives may be irked by the controversy, further making the passage of the SOGIE bill more difficult.
Diaz also reminded the LGBT community in Negros Occidental to always show respect.
Earlier, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano cautioned the public against using elements associated with religion and to make sure they are not offensive to other people’s faith.
Secillano said dancing to the tune of a sacred and biblical prayer, with a matching sacred costume to boot, is entirely disrespectful to people and institutions practicing such faith and to God Himself.
Vega’s performance also garnered condemnation even from her fellow LGBT members, such as Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, the country’s first transgender woman lawmaker.
“Kailangan pa ba ng ganitong klaseng provocation? Anong ambag nito sa LGBT rights?” Roman said. “Your rights end where the rights of others begin. Umayos kayo!”
Vega, meanwhile, was unapologetic and claimed that his performance was a “tribute to God,” a comment that will likely further infuriate the Catholic faithful./PN
