Amadeus Fernando Pagente, a 33-year-old Filipino drag queen, faced severe backlash and legal consequences after performing as Jesus Christ and singing the Lord’s Prayer in a Manila show. Pagente, who identifies as pansexual, gender-fluid, and a devout Catholic, intended the act as an expression of faith, aiming to reignite a sense of spirituality among LGBTQ individuals who may feel excluded by the Church.
However, the performance went viral, triggering outrage from conservative quarters in the predominantly Catholic country. Pagente now faces charges related to “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows.” While the Philippines is known for its LGBTQ-friendly reputation, it remains a conservative society, and Pagente’s case highlights the complex intersection of faith, queerness, and freedom of expression.