The LGBTQIA+ community and their allies celebrated a win Tuesday as the LA Dodgers reversed course and re-invited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to the team’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night.
Following criticism from various Catholic groups and even a U.S. senator, the Dodgers last week withdrew an invitation the team had extended to The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — described on its website as an “order of queer and trans nuns” — to participate in the team’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night.
But after some “thoughtful feedback” and a huge backlash from the public, the Dodgers again extended the invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to join the event, where the group will receive an award on June 16.
The Sisters accepted the invitation and the Dodgers’ apology.
“This affair has been an opportunity for learning with a silver lining,” the group said in a news release. :Our group has been strengthened, protected and uplifted to a position where we may now offer our message of hope and joy to far more people than before. With great love and respect, we thank each person and each organization that have spoken up for us. Thank you, and may your hearts be blessed with pure joy.”
The string of events began last Wednesday when the Dodgers issued this statement.
“This year, as part of a full night of programming, we invited a number of groups to join us,” according to a statement issued by the team Wednesday. “We are now aware that our inclusion of one group in particular — The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — in this year’s Pride Night has been the source of some controversy.
“Given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the sisters’ inclusion in our evening, and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits that we have seen over the years of Pride Night, we are deciding to remove them from this year’s group of honorees.”
The Sisters’ website describes the organization as “a leading-edge order of queer and trans nuns.”
“We believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty. Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. We use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit,” the group says.
This is so shameful @Dodgers -we DO NOT cave to homophobia and transphobia in LA. I will not be attending this event since we’re not all welcome. I stand with the Sisters, who have done incredible advocacy work for decades. https://t.co/2TDdsUmdOa
— Maebe for Congress (she/they) 🏳️⚧️ (@Maebe_A_Girl) May 17, 2023
Responding to the Dodgers’ announcement, one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s most veteran and visible members, known as Sister Roma, said the team was giving in to “right-wing pseudo-Christian media.”
“So disappointing to see the Dodgers cave to the conservative pseudo- Christian homophobes,” Sister Roma wrote on Twitter. “This weaponizing of religion is exactly what the (Sisters) have been protesting for decades.”
The Dodgers’ original decision to honor the group drew criticism from various Catholic organizations. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, accused the team of “rewarding anti-Catholicism” by honoring the group.
“The Catholic League has been the leading critic of this bigoted organization for many decades,” Donohue wrote on the organization’s website. “… These homosexual bigots are known for simulating sodomy while dressed as nuns.”
He added, “Just last month, they held an event mocking our Blessed Mother and Jesus on Easter Sunday.”
Donohue said he wrote to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to protest the Dodgers’ decision to honor the group.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, also sent a complaint to Manfred, saying the group “mocks Christians through diabolical parodies of our faith.”
“Do you believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers are being `inclusive and welcoming to everyone’ by giving an award to a group of gay and transgender drag performers that intentionally mocks and degrades Christians — and not only Christians, but nuns, who devote their lives to serving others?” Rubio wrote in his letter.
The organization Catholic Vote also condemned the move. Its president, Brian Burch, issued a statement Wednesday hailing the team’s decision to exclude the group, which he called “an anti-Catholic hate group known for their gross mockery of Catholic nuns.”
“While we continue to wonder how such a group was selected in the first place, this incident should serve as a wake-up call for all religious believers: unchecked woke corporations have no qualms about exploiting people of faith,” Burch said.
But the team’s decision to dis-invite the group also generated criticism.
“If they’re not invited, I’m not going,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath wrote on her Twitter page. “Celebrating Pride is about inclusion. Do better.”
Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Santa Monica and a longtime LGBTQ+ civil rights advocate, also condemned the exclusion of the Sisters.
“I’m deeply saddened by the hate & ignorance perpetuated by leaders of other states for cheap political points, & I am truly disappointed that our beloved LA Dodgers have given into their manufactured outrage,” Zbur wrote on Twitter. “LGBTQ+ lives, families, love & existence have long been characterized as offensive & controversial, but we do not give in to those calls. I urge the Dodgers to reverse this decision & ensure our home team reflects the true Los Angeles values of inclusion & acceptance.”
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PHOTOS: Sisters Indulge in ‘Queer Fabulousness’ with ‘Project Nunway’ Fashion Show
Oh Dear God…PLEASE help us‼️ Come quickly and save us from Satan who walks this earth.
The LA Dodgers need to hang their heads in total shame!
I’m so ashamed of the human race! Jesus gave his LIFE to absolve all of our sins.. and THIS is how we treat him???? Breaks my heart💔
They’re literally and admittedly satanic.
The Dodgers were forced to do this. Neither they or the fans wanted this shameless group.
Good ol’ fashioned ESG. Companies and consumers suffer now, so companies have access to cash later, and consumers don’t matter because get in the pod, connect neuralink, and eat your bugs.
Very sad that the owners of the team were forced by politicians and media to invite the toxic and anti-family drag queen group.
Hopefully, the owner will start looking for a new host city that values families and respects people’s faith.
Absolutely.
I’m pretty sure drag queens do have families, they don’t just fall out of the sky.
“This is an anti-Catholic hate group of homosexual men that dress up as Catholic nuns and engage in blasphemous and sacrilegious activities such as blessing themselves with sex toys, pole dancing on a cross, and inverting the words of Christ saying ‘go and sin some more,’” Bloomberg News
What’s that, their playlist for every appearance? Maybe you ought to take in an appearance in person like I have, this is West Hollywood. Are you even in West Hollywood? Maybe if you did you wouldn’t need Bloomberg News to tell you what to expect or to think. And again, I’m pretty sure these people are part of familes like everyone else is.
That this worked out is a win for all. This demonstrates strength, integrity and caring of our community and allies. Thank you, Los Angeles and the support the sisters received. We’re showing the nation that can be accomplished with togetherness.
Here’s to acceptance, good fun and celebrating everyone in a positive manner. The Sisters are on a mission of good works and their history shows it. Relax and enjoy life, folks.
Ok, groomer.
I don’t think Joan is a Catholic priest (a groomer)
Great. I hope they go broke. I hate baseball. One of the most boring games ever created. I’d rather see hot sexy MALE wrestlers or a drag show starring Dr Pearl Erickson!
Looks like MLB will go woke go broke please see Budlight!
Nothing like making enemies with the largest ethnic group in CA. Good luck with that.
The truly evil Catholic church/business wouldn’t touch the early AIDS victims. It was the Sisters of P.I. who stepped up and provided some comfort. They raise money for good causes, and make people smile. It’s good the Dodgers had the courage to admit they were wrong. If only Mayor Sepi had that quality. In the meantime, I’ll continue never watching any silly sports event, that caters to the nearly brain dead.
It’s a little more complicated than what you’re remembering:
https://www.npr.org/2019/12/01/783932572/how-the-catholic-church-aided-both-the-sick-and-the-sickness-as-hiv-spread
No group did more to encourage the spread of AIDS than the Catholic Church, mostly with their anti condom policy. And almost 25 years later, nothing has changed. I hope I’ve helped you with your remembering.
An old teacher of mine became a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence in the 90s because of their community work, thanks for reminding us
That might be true in some straight communities, but I highly doubt that any gay man thought, “you know what? The Catholic Church says I shouldn’t use a condom, so I’m going to have bareback sex instead.” My point is that SOME Catholics are good people, and we need to grow up and stop fantasizing about the past and stop blaming Catholics for everything. You are in control.
Agree there are lots of good Catholics. But if even one person died unnecessairly cause they didn’t wear a condom listening to their orders, the entire religious organization is guilty and evil.
I remember my catholic church distributing meals to those that had AIDS. Parishioners volunteered to give off their time to visit patients in the hospital. Your “truly evil Catholic church” statement is painting the entire catholic church with a very broad brush…as some do with minorities. It’s never right and rarely accurate.
You don’t get to cause the unnecessary deaths of millions and have a clear conscious cause you handed out a few meals.
“Agree there are lots of good Catholics.” Stop there while you sound rational and not like a hate raging bigot.
Catholicism is a consciously chosen ideology. You aren’t comparing a consciously chosen ideology to individuals’ sexual orientation, now are you?
Nothing goes along with good ole American baseball like Fat guys dressed like clownish nuns. I kinda miss apple pie.
And nobody is trying to stop you from going to the store to buy apple pie. Isn’t that nice? Everybody wins.
bingo. it is ridiculous.
yup.
Thank you Dodgers for doing the right thing! LOVE WINS 🌈