The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing criticism after pulling a group of self-described queer and trans nuns from their list of honorees during the team’s upcoming Pride Night.
The “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” were on the Dodgers’ list of honorees until Wednesday morning. According to the group, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is to blame for the Dodgers’ change of stance.
Albert Ontiveros said he is still shocked by the Dodgers’ sudden notice to exclude the group that he has belonged to for the past 10 years.
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“The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do the same work that religious nuns do for their parish or community, except we do the work in the community and with the community. We care for the sick and the poor, and we fundraise for the community,” Ontiveros said.
The group was one of several others being honored at this year’s Pride Night at Dodger Stadium on June 16th. The sisters said they were to be honored for their 27 years of service in the LGBTQIA community.
The annual Dodger Stadium Pride Night includes events before and after the game against the San Francisco Giants. Fans who buy a special ticket package receive Dodger LGBTQ+ jerseys featuring numbers and logos with rainbow colors.
The event also raises money through a raffle for the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
The decision comes after Sen. Rubio took to social media this week to say he sent a letter to the Major League Baseball commissioner, saying, “Drag queen performers should NOT be celebrated for their disgraceful imitation of Roman Catholic nuns.”
Rubio's letter to MLB continued: "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? Do you believe such an award is 'apolitical?'"
Brian Burch, president of Catholic Vote, said the group is pleased with the Dodgers decision.
"We are pleased that the Dodgers reconsidered their decision to honor an anti-Catholic hate group known for their gross mockery of Catholic nuns," Burch said. "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."
In a statement, the Dodgers said they became aware that the inclusion of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence “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 team said.
Baseball fan Sheila Armenta called the Dodgers’ decision an example of “going backward and not forward.” Dodgers fan Jane Williams, meanwhile, said Rubio had no business dictating what happens outside his own state.
As for Ontiveros, a lifetime Dodgers fan, he said the recent events will not prevent him from giving back to his community and only push him to do more.
“I’m surprised the Dodgers caved so quickly and are acting so cowardly on the bullying from the right wing. And for us queer folks, we are used to constant attacks on our community,” Ontiveros said.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center issued a statement Thursday, calling the decision disappointing.
"We are deeply disappointed that the Dodgers, an organizational partner that has made significant strides towards dismantling anti-LGBTQ+ bias in sports and long-standing supporter of our mission, has decided to revoke their invitation to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at their upcoming Pride Night," the center said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said the franchise is taking a "giant step backward."
"The Dodgers, which broke the color line in baseball in 1947 by signing Jackie Robinson, were champions of inclusion," ACLU SoCal tweeted. "Seventy-six years later, they take a giant step backward banning a long-standing drag charity. In unity with @SFSisters, we will not participate in Pride Night."
NBCLA's Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.
