The Los Angeles Dodgers can’t seem to make up their minds whether or not to include an LGBTQ organization, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the same group that the president of the Catholic League called, “blasphemous.”
The group of men dress like nuns and satirize the Catholic faith, which made the move to add them to the team’s 10th Annual LGBTQ+ Night at Dodger Stadium so polarizing. The annual event has been regularly accepted by the club and the community, but this seemed to take things too far.
The Dodgers immediately became the target of Dr. Bill Donohue, among other religious leaders, who have a problem with the way the group displays their pride.
The men typically dress in outlandish nun outfits, right down to the traditional habit and wimple of the sisterhood. However, they also adorn themselves with garish makeup and display crude imagery in an attempt to lampoon Catholicism. It’s a social statement so offensive that even some gay rights groups have distanced themselves from the outlandish activities.
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Donuhue was a loud voice in opposition to the group being recognized, slamming the Dodgers. In a statement, he argued that the group’s methods are blasphemous. Therefore, he reasoned, the team’s promotion was essentially “rewarding hate speech.”
As far as the group is concerned, they are simply exercising their first amendment rights. A right that they say allows them to continue their mission of “using drag and religious imagery to call attention to sexual intolerance and satirize issues of gender and morality”
Sensing trouble in Chavez Ravine, the Los Angeles Dodgers changed course and decided against including the group. They had bowed to public opinion, much to the dismay of the Sister of Perpetual Indulgence and their supporters. Finally, after Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) decried the group’s inclusion, the franchise made the decision to dis-invite the group from the June 16th event.
However, after the wind blew in the other direction, and now, it seems the Dodgers are back in the habit again.
The team announced on Monday that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have agreed to appear at the event once again during the game against San Francisco.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and their friends and families,” the team said.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, established in San Francisco in 1979, are expected to accept the night’s Community Hero Award. That was the original plan for their participation, which has now been reinstated and endorsed by the franchise.
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Needless to say, the Dogers’ flip-flop did NOT sit too well with religious factions who felt like they had gained a moral victory just a week ago.
However, the switch was (obviously) applauded by those in the gay community who see no problem with the group’s
Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollander said in a statement the Dodgers’ attempt at a make-good was “a step in the right direction.”
“Last week’s debacle underscores the dangerous impact of political tactics by those who seek to stoke the flames of anti-LGBTQ bias at a time when our rights are under attack,” he said. “We must continue to stand together.”
Meanwhile, the religious fans who disagree will be left standing outside Dodger Stadium… looking in.