UPDATE: The Los Angeles Dodgers have apologized and reinvited LA’s drag nuns to be honored on Pride night.
The Los Angeles Dodgers planned to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at this year’s Pride Event, but decided to “remove” them because someone was offended. That someone was probably Senator Marco Rubio:
Via MLB:
In the spirit of unity, the Los Angeles Dodgers are proud to host our 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night on June 16th. This event has become a meaningful tradition, highlighting not only the diversity and resilience within our fanbase, but also the impactful work of extraordinary community groups.
This year, as part of a full night of programming, we invited a number of groups to join us. 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 have been a fixture in the LGBTQ+ community for their AIDS activism and good works toward marginalized people throughout the US.
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.
The LA chapter quickly released a statement noting that they do not do their work to receive accolades and will continue their efforts despite this decision.
If you’d like to honor them with support for their “promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt,” check out ladragnuns.org
Image: Paul Zinken / DPA Picture Alliance / Avalon
