LA Dodgers apologise and reinvite drag act to Pride event after backlash

After disinviting a non-profit drag group to its upcoming Pride Night celebrations, the LA Dodgers has backtracked with a public apology.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a well-known order of queer and trans “nuns” who do charitable and protest work, as well as drag performances, were told they could no longer attend the event due to backlash from conservative Catholics.

“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 Dodgers announced on 17 May.

The decision was met with widespread outrage from the LGBTQ+ community, many of which slammed the team for caving into such opposition at a time when anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric is rife in the US and beyond.

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Following what the team described as “thoughtful feedback” and some “honest conversations”, an apology was issued to both the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the wider LGBTQ+ community.

“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,” said a statement issued on 23 May.

“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ 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.”

pic.twitter.com/626cPP4Ith

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2023

In a statement posted to their own social channels, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence said they “are proud to accept the Community Hero Award from the Los Angeles Dodgers for our twenty-seven years of service to the LGBTQIA2S Community.”

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The performers continued: “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.”

Pride Night will take place on 16 June.

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