A recent Pride event hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team at Dodger Stadium ignited controversy and sparked protests from various religious groups.
Pride Event Celebrating LGBTQ+
On June 16, the Los Angeles Dodgers held their 10th annual Pride Night, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
The event featured the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag act known for using camp and religious symbolism to raise awareness of social issues.
The team also invited former Dodgers outfielder Billy Bean, one of the few Major League Baseball players who publicly came out as gay, and David Archuleta, who sang the national anthem.
Faced Backlash
The Sisters were honored with a Community Hero Award during a pre-game ceremony for their support of the local LGBTQ+ community.
However, Dodgers faced significant backlash, primarily from groups of various religions, for including the drag act in their Pride event.
Prominent figures like Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, criticized the team for what they perceived as an offense to Christianity.
Protests by Religious Groups
The Dodgers initially planned to not invite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from the event, causing backlash from the LGBTQ+ community, which accused the team of capitulating to conservative pressure and sacrificing their allyship. However, finally, the Dodgers decided to invite and faced serious demonstrations from religious groups.
Ahead of the Dodgers’ game against the San Francisco Giants, thousands of protesters gathered outside the stadium, expressing their discontent with the inclusion of the drag act.
Empty Stadium was Faked
Demonstrators held signs which read “Stop anti-Catholic hate”, “Dodgers sold their soul” and “God will not be mocked” criticizing the Dodgers for allegedly disrespecting religious values.
Despite a significant police presence, the protests remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or disturbances.
Videos and images circulated on social media, suggesting that the stadium was nearly empty during the Pride Night event. However, fact-checkers quickly clarified that the images were taken before the game and that the stadium was, in fact, well-attended, with 49,074 fans present.
Gratitude for Support
The Dodgers explained that the pre-game ceremony, during which the Sisters received their award, took place earlier than usual due to safety concerns.
Drag Act member Sister Unity emphasized the positive atmosphere and expressed gratitude for the support from those in attendance.
Political figures, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ron DeSantis, seized the opportunity to voice their opinions on the Dodgers’ decision. Greene celebrated the protesters for opposing the drag act, while DeSantis commended those who showed up and shared information about the game’s attendance.
Commitment to Inclusivity
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reiterated the team’s commitment to inclusivity and love for all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs.
The Pride Night game featured players and staff wearing rainbow-colored Dodgers logo hats, symbolizing solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
The post first appeared on Wealthy Living
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Benjamin F. Haith . The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit