The Los Angeles Dodgers have been embroiled in controversy since announcing plans to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during the team’s 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium on July 16.
The group, which states they are a charity, protest and satirical performance organization that uses humor, drag and religious imagery to call attention to sexual intolerance, was set to receive this year’s Community Hero Award.
That Dodgers said that recognition was of the Sisters’ countless hours of community service, ministry, and outreach to those on the edges, in addition to promoting human rights and respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment.
However, the Dodgers wound up rescinding their invite to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on May 17 amid public backlash, only to reverse course five days later.
Late last week, Clayton Kershaw announced the Dodgers would be hosting Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium on July 30. In an interview with Jack Harris of the L.A. Times, Kershaw said the religious day had already been in the works but acknowledged announcing it last week was in response to the Dodgers’ involvement with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence:
“I think we were always going to do Christian Faith Day this year, but I think the timing of our announcement was sped up,” Kershaw said. “Picking a date and doing those different things was part of it as well. Yes, it was in response to the highlighting of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence [by the Dodgers].”
Kershaw went on to state his disagreement with the Sisters stems from how they portray Christianity and he does not have issue with LGBTQ+ Pride Night as a whole:
“I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions,” he said. “It has nothing to do with anything other than that. I just don’t think that, no matter what religion you are, you should make fun of somebody else’s religion. So that’s something that I definitely don’t agree with.”
“This has nothing to do with the LGBTQ community or pride or anything like that,” Kershaw said. “This is simply a group that was making fun of a religion, that I don’t agree with.”
The Dodgers annually held a Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium as part of their promotional calendar, but it has not been organized since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
Kershaw, A.J. Ellis and Matt Kemp are among the players who have previously participated in Christian Faith Day at Dodger Stadium. The event historically entailed players being seated above the Dodgers’ dugout for a discussion with fans about faith and the importance it’s held not only in their personal lives but professional careers as well.
Clayton Kershaw led Dodgers clubhouse meeting
As Kershaw spearheads the Dodgers’ faith day, he led a players-only meeting in the clubhouse prior to Monday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals.
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