Philippines drag queen arrested after performing as Jesus reveals he's been released on bail - as performer faces 12 years in jail under Catholic-majority country's obscenity laws

A Filipino drag queen who was twice arrested for performing a rock version of the Lord's Prayer dressed as Jesus Christ has revealed they posted bail, but face 12 years behind bars under the Philippines'' strict obscenity laws. 

Amadeus Fernando Pagente, better known by their drag name Pura Luka Vega, was arrested in early March under a law that bans 'indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows' that 'offend any race or religion'. 

The offence can carry up to 12 years in prison in a nation that is staunchly Catholic, with more than 86% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic, according to not-for-profit group the Asia Society.

33-year-old Pagente's supporters managed to raise 360,000 pesos (£5,076) to allow the drag artist to post bail. 

Pagente, who had previously said they are Roman Catholic, took to X to say: 'I got to learn more about my cellmates and their stories and much more. 

'Because of what is happening and through the support and explanations of my lawyers, I now feel comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life.'

They were previously arrested for the same offence in October, after video showed a bearded Pagente dressed as Jesus Christ, performing a rock version of the Lord's Prayer in Tagalog, which has since been deleted. 

Pagente was declared 'persona non grata' by many in the Philippines, and was bombarded by hate messages and death threats for the performance. 

They told the AFP that the arrest shows 'the degree of homophobia' in the Philippines. 

'I understand that people call my performance blasphemous, offensive, or regrettable. However, they shouldn't tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag.'

Drag culture has become more and more mainstream in the Philippines, moving further into the popular imagination. 

Jonalou Labor, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) and a researcher on LGBTQ communication, told the South China Morning Post that the Philippines has largely moved past portraying drag queens, and LGBTQ people at large, as the butt of jokes. 

He said: 'We have had a lot of push towards nuanced and positive storytelling about who we are as a community, the diversity of the LGBTQ experience that highlights the triumphs that we have had, as well as our struggles.'

The Phillipines has a reputation of being one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in Asia, with a Pew poll in 2019 revealing that 73% of Filipinos agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society.