Controversial drag artist Pura Luka Vega recently participated in a worship service at the Open Table Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in San Juan City, where the performer helped serve Holy Communion during a Pride Month gathering attended by members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The event was highlighted by Open Table MCC through a Facebook post on June 14, which featured photos from the church service and congregation.
In its caption, the church welcomed Pura Luka Vega’s participation in the celebration.
“Today is a very special day because we are joined by @puralukavega to celebrate and to serve communion with us,” the church wrote.
The congregation also emphasized its mission of inclusivity and affirmation for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
“This is reclaiming our space as queer people and as a marginalized community, because the Eucharist is a sacrament that is an Open Table for all. Happy Pride mga Mahal!” the statement added.
Open Table MCC is an ecumenical Christian congregation that focuses on ministry and support for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.
The church operates under the umbrella of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), an international Christian movement with member congregations in more than 20 countries worldwide.
The denomination is known for its advocacy of inclusion and its efforts to provide spiritual spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals who may have experienced exclusion in traditional religious settings.
Pura Luka Vega remains a polarizing figure in Philippine public discourse following a drag performance in 2023 that drew widespread criticism from religious groups and Catholic faithful.
The performer faced backlash after appearing in a costume inspired by the Black Nazarene while performing to a remix of the prayer ‘Ama Namin.’
The performance led to multiple complaints and legal cases filed by various groups who alleged that the act offended religious beliefs.
In October 2023, Pura Luka Vega was arrested at a residence in Sta. Cruz, Manila in connection with several complaints stemming from the performance.
The drag artist was later released on bail in March 2024 after posting ₱360,000 bail.
In June 2025, Pura Luka Vega was acquitted in a cybercrime case related to the controversy.
The recent appearance at Open Table MCC marks another public engagement for the drag performer, this time within a faith community that openly embraces LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
For supporters of the church, the participation of Pura Luka Vega in the communion service symbolized the congregation’s message of acceptance and equal access to spiritual life.
