Drag artists to hold fundraising bazaar for Pura Luka Vega

Pura Luka Vega’s fellow drag queens and artists are set to hold a fundraising event for their bail and upcoming legal battles on Sunday.

According to a post from their “Drag Den Philippines” batchmate NAIA, the event titled “NKKLK” (Nakakaloka) is happening on October 8 at 2 p.m. at the Brooklyn Warehouse Manila, located on the 2nd floor of YOU.Suites, 2113 Recto Avenue in Sampaloc. There is an entrance fee of P500.

“[This Sunday] we will stand by our sister @puralukavega and fight fire with art! [We] will have artists selling merch and drag performances throughout the noon until the evening,” NAIA said on X (formerly Twitter).

“[Drag] is not a crime; art cannot be censored. [Spread] the word #freepuralukavega,” the Drag Supreme added.

Pura Luka Vega was arrested on Wednesday and is currently held under the custody of the Manila Police District Station 3 in Quiapo, Manila. They were arrested following a performance of the “Ama Namin” remix dressed in a costume inspired by the Black Nazarene.

Devotees of the Black Nazarene, Hijos del Nazareno, filed the case against Pura, saying that they violated Revised Penal Code Article 201 and that they attacked the religious beliefs of the devotees. The Penal Code imposes a penalty for "immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows."

P72,000 was the bail set for the case.

The drag artist’s motion to reduce the bail was granted on Friday, but they will remain under police custody until the court opens again for the submission of requirements.
 
Drag queens and fans across the Philippines have donated for Pura’s bail and legal battles. Manila Luzon, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum and “Drag Den Philippines” host, also called for donations.

In an interview with Raffy Tima on "24 Oras," Pura said they were surprised to be served the warrant of arrest as they did not receive the subpoena summoning them to court. They said the document was delivered to another address.

They added that the performance was not meant to be disrespectful to people of faith.

“My intention was never to mock. I also would not like to invalidate their feelings. If they feel hurt or they feel offended, it's their right to feel such," they said.

In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, the drag artist said that their "Ama Namin" performance was a way to reconcile their Catholic faith with their queerness. Performing it in public is an "embodiment of God's love for all."

"I just want to create a narrative that despite all of these, Jesus, as the embodiment of God's love for all, does not forget about the oppressed, including the LGBTQIA+ community," they said.

this sunday we will stand by our sister @puralukavega and fight fire with art! ??‍???? we will have artists selling merch and drag performances throughout the noon until the evening ? drag is not a crime; art cannot be censored. spread the word #freepuralukavega

poster by @hubineer pic.twitter.com/ndEqTI3aEk

— naia free pura luka vega era (@brianblack_) October 6, 2023

—Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News