Anheuser Busch and the Dodgers Succumb: Marco Rubio Launches War Against Pride Knights and Sisters of Perpetual Indemnity

By Umesh Dhiman On May 19, 2023

The Los Angeles chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, invited to this year’s Pride Night game at Dodger Stadium as recipients of the team’s Community Hero Award, was notified late Wednesday that they were not invited.

So while Senator Marco Rubio is proud of himself, he’s gotten an overwhelming response, especially from San Francisco’s gay population. Rubio recently wrote a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, claiming that the Dodgers’ decision shows that “a group of gay and transgender drag performers knowingly mocks and demeans Christians.” They are not “inclusive and welcoming to all.”

Since the Dodgers’ public divestment, which they justified by saying they wanted to prevent “diversion” and “controversy,” the Los Angeles LGBT Center has announced it will no longer participate in Pride Night at Dodger Stadium.

It is an event that many people have experienced. To paraphrase the center’s chief executive, “Any organization that turns its back on LGBTQ+ people at this harmful and dangerous inflection point in our nation’s history should not fly a rainbow flag or celebrate ‘Pride Night. Must not host. Said Joe Hollander, CEO of the center.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence issued a statement claiming they “condemn the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have chosen to rescind their award, outside the state of California.” And because of pressure from people outside our community.”

In a statement, the group says, “Our mission is to uplift our community and all marginalized groups, especially those who have been overlooked by larger organizations, spiritual or otherwise.” You can’t take either of us seriously because we’re both ridiculous.

To spread our message that “there is room for every individual to be who they are, free from shame or guilt, live in joy, and live for their own sake,” we at Theatrical Nature In our charitable endeavors.

It’s all part of a larger feud the Sisters have with the Catholic Church, conservative politicians, and the church at large, and it’s shameful when neophytes like Rubio, who don’t understand the big picture or backstory, decide to use it.

To score them cheap points with their Christian base. Because the Sisters’ work is much more Christian in spirit than the divisive and satanic antics of many so-called Christian politicians, do you remember the 2007 controversy that erupted over a Last Supper-themed billboard for Folsom Street Fair?

According to a tweet by author Mark Harris, “The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were founded in 1979.” One appeared on the first Newsweek cover dedicated to the AIDS epidemic. They played a vital role in the early years of the crisis as preachers. They are added to the AIDS patchwork. It is a sad concession to intolerance and an insult to their tireless resistance.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was founded in 1979. One was on Newsweek's first AIDS cover. They were major activists in the 1st years of the crisis. They are sewn into the AIDS quilt. This is a pathetic capitulation to bigotry and an insult to their long fight against it. https://t.co/3mjQmZXRwl

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) May 18, 2023

Harris makes this point to emphasize the pioneering work of the Sisters’ San Francisco chapter (there are now chapters worldwide) in publishing the first safe-s*x pamphlet in 1982 when neither HIV nor its transmission was well known.

Offensively, the Dodgers would bow to conservative pressure at a time when much of the country has decided that all drag is evil or promoting some vigilante agenda.

It seems that someone at the Dodgers got duped into believing that the "Catholic League" is a real organization. https://t.co/0W1ATW6yDp

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) May 18, 2023

This could be due to the high profile of shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Drag Queen Story Hours or the fact that Republicans have made transgender children the latest LGBTQ wage issue in the country’s ongoing culture war.

“What the Dodgers and the hateful ‘Christians’ protesting the Sisters may not know (or are choosing to ignore) is that the Sisters are not mocking Nuns. We Are Nuns,” says San Francisco’s Sister Roma, the most visible Sisters in that 2007 Last Supper photo.

“We feed the hungry, we minister to the sick, we support queer and trans youth, we fund queer arts, and we have always defended the most underserved and marginalized communities. AND We have raised millions of dollars for charity and looked fabulous.”

Roma adds, “I’m angry. I’m disappointed. I’m worried. The red wave of queer and trans hate that has drenched the South has come to our shores. Now is not the time to be complacent.”

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence claimed “outrage and deep offense” a day after the Los Angeles Dodgers disinvited them from Pride Night after a leading anti-gay bigot and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio protested. State legislators and LGBTQ activists also criticized the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have had a PR nightmare in the last 24 hours, with fans on social media expressing displeasure and a Congressman calling for a boycott of the June 16 Pride game, historically the largest in sports (Disclosure: Outsports is a partner).

As the Dodgers advertise an inclusive event, the media has focused on their capitulation to anti-LGBTQ organizations. The San Francisco Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence released their first statement on Twitter about being disinvited from receiving the team’s Community Hero Award.

State lawmakers and Organizations Opposed It

The Los Angeles LGBT Center, the area’s largest, withdrew its involvement with the event and asked the team to reverse its decision.

“We call on the Dodgers to reconsider their decision, honor the Sisters, and bring the true spirit of Pride back to Dodgers Stadium,” the Los Angeles LGBT Center said. If the verdict stands, the Dodgers should cancel Pride Night.

Any group that turns its back on LGBTQ+ people at this critical and challenging time in our nation’s history should not fly a rainbow flag or conduct a “Pride Night.” We want the Dodgers alliance to match our longstanding partnership. Los Angeles County residents have overwhelmingly supported LGBTQ+ equality. We fear what will happen if the Dodgers, one of our most revered institutions, abandons us.

California State Sen. President pro tempore Toni Atkins tweeted:

Capitulating to demands from anti-LGBTQ officials in other states to remove the @LADragNuns from Pride Night is a shameful decision by the @Dodgers. I stand with the @LADragNuns—we will not give in to politicians who seek to silence our #LGBTQ+ community.https://t.co/RcuVSmBmTu

— Toni G. Atkins (@toniatkins) May 18, 2023

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, the openly gay former mayor of Long Beach, called for a boycott, saying,

Hey @Dodgers, this is shameful and you will not divide and separate our community. I hope we all boycott your “pride night” and protest this cowardly decision. https://t.co/xREr9oS6m3

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) May 18, 2023

California State Sen. Scott Wiener from San Francisco, who is gay, got in a sports dig in his statement condemning the Dodgers:

“In the past month, right wing mobs demanded that Anheuser Busch stop featuring a trans woman in an ad & that the Dodgers kick drag queens out of its Pride celebration. Both Anheuser Busch & the Dodgers caved. The danger to our community grows by the day. We expect more from our sports teams — even the Dodgers.”

The Dodgers, which broke the color line in baseball in 1947 by signing Jackie Robinson, were champions of inclusion.

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. https://t.co/BXQEtHC4zR

— ACLU SoCal (@ACLU_SoCal) May 18, 2023

California State Sen. Scott Wiener from San Francisco, who is gay, got in a sports dig in his statement condemning the Dodgers: “In the past month, right wing mobs demanded that Anheuser Busch stop featuring a trans woman in an ad & that the Dodgers kick drag queens out of its Pride celebration. Both Anheuser Busch & the Dodgers caved. The danger to our community grows by the day. We expect more from our sports teams — even the Dodgers.”

In the past month, right wing mobs demanded that Anheuser Busch stop featuring a trans woman in an ad & that the Dodgers kick drag queens out of its Pride celebration.

Both Anheuser Busch & the Dodgers caved.

The danger to our community grows by the day.

— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) May 17, 2023

And then what?

As word spreads, other groups may withdraw. The Dodgers have the top attendance in baseball, and June 16’s game against the hated San Francisco Giants will fill Dodger Stadium, but whether they can match last year’s 18,000 Pride Night tickets is unknown.

This is sad and upsetting because the Dodgers have led sports teams in LGBTQ inclusivity, which should be commended. However, they lost goodwill by catering to the most extreme sections of society, those trying to reverse decades of progress at a time when LGBTQ people need allies.

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