The Los Angeles Dodgers previously announced the LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence would be among the award winners at its upcoming Pride Night in June. However, the Major League Baseball team quickly rescinded the invitation after receiving backlash from Catholic League and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
They slammed the Sisters as a “diabolical” group of drag nuns designed to mock the Catholic Church. This prompted a swift backlash from the like of LA LGBT Centre, LA Pride, and thousands of others.
Even Anaheim mayor Ashleigh Aitken tweeted that the Sisters were invited to join her for the Los Angeles Angels' Pride Night on June 7 instead.
Last night, it seems like the Dodgers had a change of heart and issued an apology, re-inviting the LGBTQ+ non-profit in the process.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2023
‘After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within 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 of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends and families,” read the team statement.
“We have asked the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to take their place on the field at our 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night on June 16th. We are pleased to share that they have agreed to receive the gratitude of our collective communities for the lifesaving work that they have done tirelessly for decades.
“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our LGBTO+ partners to better educate ourselves, find ways to strengthen the ties that bind and use our platform to support all of our fans who make up the diversity of the Dodgers family.”
In response to being asked to attend the event once again, the drag group issued a statement of their own.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are offering their apologies and re-inviting the LA Sisters to be honored at their Pride Night. Please see the official comms from the Dodgers, and the LA Sisters.
— The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (@SFSisters) May 23, 2023
Love always win! pic.twitter.com/9llgSSTnRE
“This morning our Abbess, Sister Dominia, and another Board member, Sister Bearonce Knows, met with the Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten, heads of leading Los Angeles LGBT community organizations, and members of government from West Hollywood, Los Angeles County and the State of California Legislature.
“A full apology and explanation was given to us by the Dodgers staff which we accept. We believe the apology is sincere because the Dodgers have worked for 10 years with our community and as well they have asked us to continue an ongoing relationship with them. In the future, if similar pressures from outside our community arise, our two organizations will consult and assist each other in responding, alongside our colleagues at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and others from the LGBTQIA2S community, now more closely tied with the LA Dodgers than ever before.
“This affair has been an opportunity for learning with a silver lining. 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.
“May the games be blessed!”
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence acts a charity, protest and performance group which was founded in 1979 in San Francisco.
At the Dodgers Pride Night, the organization will receive the Community Hero Award in a ceremony before the LA team’s home game against the San Francisco Giants.
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