Photo: David McNew/Getty Images
The episode will be remembered as uNot one of the most embarrassing “slips” from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in recent timeswhich was about to become a complete debacle for the franchise with the LGBTQ community and, in general, with all communities in southern California and also nationally.
The Dodgers, one of the most illustrious sports franchises and one that has had the greatest social impact, originally invited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence organization to be part of their annual celebration of LGBTQ+ communities, scheduled for June 16 at Dodger Stadium, the so-called “Pride” Night. The group was chosen to receive the “Community Hero” award from the Los Angeles team.
But following the Dodgers’ invitation to the self-described “queer” and “trans” organization, whose members satirically dress as nuns, there was backlash from conservative individuals and groups, accusing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence of be an anti-Catholic group.
The Dodgers, in a hasty reaction to the claim of some representatives of the Catholic Church, conservative commentators and even politicians like Senator Marco Rubio, abruptly decided to withdraw the invitation to the Sisters, surprising news that gave rise to the real controversy.
The Dodgers got into a fire on the brink of disaster
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group founded in 1979 in San Francisco, have dedicated themselves for decades to helping disadvantaged individuals or groups in different ways and promote respect for diversity. Their appearance as nuns, they say, is their way of operating with humor and irreverence against intolerance and complacency.
The barrage of criticism of the Dodgers was immediate and forceful from commentators, journalists, community leaders, local politicians, among others. Besides, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, said that if the Sisters were no longer to be invited, then the June 16 celebration would have to be cancelled.. That could have led to the definitive cancellation of the Dodgers’ Pride Night and with it a step backwards on a social level and a wound to Los Angeles.
In a brief but powerful statement, the Los Angeles LGBT Center said: “If one of our most beloved institutions – the Dodgers – refuses to be with us right now, then we are terrified of what will come next. Los Angeles is a leader, not a follower. We call on the Dodgers to set an example.”
The Dodgers, in a media fire and before the imminent disaster due to a possible irreversible break with sectors of the community -not only LGBTQ-, corrected.
The Dodgers’ correction and a strengthened relationship
“After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, and generous discussions with the Sisters of Pepetua Indulgence, we would like to offer our sincere apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to members of the LGBTQ+ community and to their friends and family,” the team statement read.
“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ partners to better educate ourselves, find ways to strengthen the ties that unite us, and use our platform to support all of our fans who are part of the diverse Dodgers family.” they added.
Accepting the Dodgers’ apology, the Sisters explained that their representatives met with the CEO of the team, Stan Kasten, and local and state authorities. “We believe that the apology is sincere because the Dodgers have worked for 10 years with our community,” said the organization, which explained that they agreed that if there is similar external pressure in the future, they will consult each other together with the LGBT Center of Los Angels and other organizations.
“This issue has been an opportunity to learn, with an extra ray of light: our group has been strengthened, protected and lifted to a position where we can now offer our message of hope and joy to more people than ever before,” the organization said. .
Of course, the Dodgers were not going to be able to please everyone, and for example the Archdiocese of Los Angeles criticized the team for backing down.
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