The Los Angeles Dodgers have issued an apology and reinvited The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to the team’s upcoming Pride Night, following a public outcry over the initial rescission of the activist organization’s invitation.
In a statement released by the Dodgers, they expressed regret and acknowledged the diverse feedback received from communities, conversations with their organization, and discussions with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The team extended their sincerest apologies to the Sisters, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and their friends and families.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2023
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the [Sisters], members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families,” the team said in a statement, adding that the group has “agreed to receive the gratitude of our collective of our collective communities for the lifesaving work that they have done tirelessly for decades.”
The initial decision to exclude The Sisters from Pride Night came after facing conservative backlash, which was further amplified by Senator Marco Rubio’s comments condemning drag queen performers that mock Christianity.
Sent a letter to @MLB Commissioner Manfred regarding the @Dodgers’ decision to promote a woke far-left anti-Catholic agenda.
Drag queen performers should NOT be celebrated for their disgraceful imitation of Roman Catholic nuns.https://t.co/GV6NHlW6yw pic.twitter.com/8rHot8n7pD
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) May 15, 2023
“Sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Manfred regarding the Dodgers’ decision to promote a woke far-left anti-Catholic agenda,” Rubio wrote. “Drag queen performers should NOT be celebrated for their disgraceful imitation of Roman Catholic nuns.”
On May 17, the Dodgers issued a statement acknowledging the controversy surrounding the inclusion of The Sisters and decided to remove them from the list of honorees for this year’s event. The team aimed to prevent distractions from the positive impact of Pride Night, considering the strong emotions expressed by those offended by the Sisters’ involvement.
However, LA Pride decided to withdraw from the event in solidarity with The Sisters after their removal. In a statement, LA Pride affirmed their commitment to fighting for equality and inclusion for the entire LGBTQ+ community, expressing determination to continue their efforts. The Sisters also expressed their disappointment and outrage, criticizing the Dodgers for caving to pressure and misinformation.
The Sisters, a long-standing San Francisco drag performance group known for their satirical take on Catholicism through queer and trans “nuns,” responded to the Dodgers’ new statement by accepting the Community Hero Award. Their Facebook post acknowledged the Dodgers’ apology and explanation, stating that the incident had only strengthened and uplifted their group, allowing them to spread their message of hope and joy to a larger audience.
The Dodgers’ reinvitation of The Sisters comes at a time when 18 states across the country have passed laws against drag performers doing sexualized performances in front of children, with additional bills pending in over a dozen states. The team’s latest statement expressed a commitment to working with LGBTQ+ partners to educate themselves further, strengthen bonds, and utilize their platform to support the diverse Dodgers family of fans.
Sean Davis of The Federalist had criticism of the LA Dodgers’ statement retreating from the so-called “Rainbow Mafia.”
“The demons who run the Rainbow Mafia are not hiding their hatred of Christianity,” Davis remarked. “This kind of evil — the kind that targets your child for sexual mutilation and exploitation — cannot be negotiated with. It must be destroyed and eradicated.”
Sara Higdon, who describes herself as a Transexual, Catholic, and Veteran, also opined on the Dodgers’ decision.
“So you are now going to host an anti-Christian hate group?” Higdon remarked.
Liz Wheeler called the Dodgers “cowards” for their retreat.
“You are cowards to cave to anti-Catholic neo-Marxist drag queens,” Wheeler said. “You are thumbing your nose at all your Christian fans. Did you learn nothing from the Bud Light boycott?”
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