Pura Luka Vega. Image: Instagram/@dulcineapx via @officiallylukaluka
Pura Luka Vega is appealing for donations as they are raising funds for their family, and for the drag artist’s food and transportation expenses on their September court dates.
Pura Luka, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente and who goes by the pronoun they and its derivative forms, made their plea through their podcast’s Instagram page, @officiallylukaluka, on Thursday, Aug. 24.
“We’re going to court [and] we need your help more than ever,” the drag artist said. “Your donations will go to Luka’s family and transpo/food for their court dates this September.”
Pura Luka did not immediately state the purpose of their court appearance in September, although it can be noted that the drag artist faces criminal suits filed by the Christian churches under the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM).
The case was filed after Pura Luka portrayed Jesus Christ in a drag performance and danced to a remix version of “Ama Namin” (The Lord’s Prayer) in a bar. The religious group charged them with violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code and in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Pura Luka was also declared persona non grata by several local government units including Cebu City; Floridablanca, Pampanga; General Santos City; Toboso, Negros Occidental; Bukidnon; Dinagat Islands; the City of Manila; Nueva Ecija; Laguna; Occidental Mindoro; Lucena City; and Bohol.
Despite this, the drag artist earlier held a “persona non grata tour” wherein they lip-synced to Taylor Swift’s hit song “Look What You Made Me Do” while holding a photo of themselves in Black Nazarene costume. /ra