A decision by the Los Angeles Dodgers to honor the long-running Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is outraging right-wingers.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence first formed in San Francisco in 1979. A group of gay men in nun-like drag, they preached about the benefits of living authentic lives and warned against the dangers of religious moralizing.
They evolved into a unique mixture of federally recognized non-profit, protest group, and street performance troupe. It has “missions” around the world. The different branches have helped to raise thousands of dollars for community causes.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will host its Pride night on June 16. The team go head-to-head against the San Francisco Giants.
As part of the celebrations, the Dodgers will be presenting its Community Hero Award to the LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
“Black face”
Among those to kick up a fuss is the Catholic League. Its President, Bill Donohue, wrote to the commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred. He accuses MLB of celebrating a group that he believes mocks Catholics.
“Don’t believe the lie that the ‘Sisters’ mean no harm,” fumed Donohue in a message to his supporters, adding, “These homosexual bigots are known for simulating sodomy while dressed as nuns.”
He accused the Dodgers and MLB of “rewarding hate speech.”
“If a group of white boys in black face—a modern-day Al Jolson ensemble—were to be honored by an MLB team, there is little doubt that the event would be canceled and sanctions would be forthcoming,” said Donohue.
“Loathsome”
Florida Senator Marco Rubio has also joined the criticism. He has also written an open letter to Rob Manfred, blasting the “loathsome” Sisters.
“The ‘sisters’ are men who dress in lewd imitation of Roman Catholic nuns. The group’s motto, ‘go and sin some more,’ is a perversion of Jesus’s command to ‘go, and sin no more’,” says Rubio.
“Do you believe it is morally right for the most important league of our national pastime to honor a group that mocks religion, and one religion in particular?” he asked.
On Twitter, Rubio added, “Drag queen performers should NOT be celebrated for their disgraceful imitation of Roman Catholic nuns.”
The MLB and Dodgers have not responded to the criticism. Announcing the Pride Night at the start of May, the Dodgers said they were honoring the Los Angeles chapter of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence “for their 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.”
Also appearing at the Dodgers Pride Night will be gay, former baseball player Billy Bean. David Archuleta will sing the national anthem.
RIGay
Karma, where art thou sting?
Bosch
Being a closet-case who bats for the enemy is loathsome, Marco.
A two-faced politician invoking Jesus. Please.
johncp56
Ditto what is wrong with people 2024 almost, and the white-hot heat is getting worse, LOL before i knew of his hateful stances, I thought the little man Marco Rubio was good-looking and F able lol i been wrong many times, And Florida F!! I hope Disney dumps a hot steamy load at Desanties feet make him pay for his moronic ideas, ban books and people how loving
SDR94103
he’s not a closet case. We don’t want him.
connor larkin
Marco needs to get down-low and play with Lindsey and Josh to help his attitude. Besides, Rubio Cubanos are criminal RW Fulgenico Batista’s that created Fidel.
abfab
Marco would benefit from a few tubes of Lancome Concealor. Those dark circles!
Mister P
Someone needs to make fun of the Catholic religion. It may as well be these sisters.
abfab
Yes! LOL
missvamp
catholicism makes fun of itself. have you not seen the robes, the pagentry? they are begging for it.
Glynn
Yes, that’s right – the robes, the ceremony, the blingy encrusted rings, the enormous candles and best of all, those highly scented smoking handbags they love swishing from side to side. Camp or what! They are a bit stingy with the crackers and the wine though.
dustin782
and you agree that someone needs to make fun of Islam for their anti gay views
dbmcvey
Once again, the right wing is triggered.
abfab
This story is making me feel so joyous and gay!
Fahd
Gee, I’m shocked Rubio is chasing the latest wedge issue, not. What article is next? “Sun has risen this morning”
abfab
That he doesn’t see the irony.
”Among those to kick up a fuss is the Catholic League. Its President, Bill Donohue, wrote to the commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred. He accuses MLB of celebrating a group that he believes mocks Catholics.”
Bill Donahue is and always has been a mess.
drmiller
I feel pretty comfortable going toe-to-toe with the catholic friggen church when it comes to debating ethics and morals. You have GOT to be kidding me. Also, Christians use their religion to oppress people (especially the queer community), while the sisters use their organization to spread awareness and help their communities. You can F right off, Marco. What a loser.
abfab
More publicity for us! The Indulgents!
still_onthemark
I hope David Archuleta doesn’t chicken out and cancel because of this.
ZzBomb
Religion, esp Catholic/Evangelical/Mormon, NEEDS to be ridiculed, laughed at, and disrespected at every turn. They are immoral corrupt institutions that groom and abuse children then project those moralistic failures on our community and threaten our collective safety. F*ck them!
Kangol2
Bill Donohue speaks for a constituency of basically no one, as he has proved repeatedly over the years (cf. “Million Moms” nonsense), but he misses the fact that unlike in blackface minstrelsy, the Sisters are actual gay/bi/queer people, in costumes that play off their sexuality. He probably secretly wishes one of those Sisters would anoint his wretched old @ss!
Marco Rubio is a joke with his fake religiosity.
He’s lucky the Sisters don’t switch to Priests of Perpetual Pedophilic Rape, since that church cannot seem to rein in pedophilic priests and keeps having to pay out millions for their ongoing crimes of sexual abuse, rape, child porn possession, and so on. Just once I wish some reporter would ask Bill Donohue about that!
abfab
I think they did ask him once and he said it was all poppy c o c k.
Kangol2
Yes, poppy or PAPI c o c k, the very thing he probably loves in his mouth and tuches when no one is looking!
sfv1971
Those of us old enough (ahem) to remember the height of the AIDS crisis will remember how the Sisters took care of our community during that time. God bless them!
Bitterella
What a campaign of BS that Bill Donohue is trying to lead. Comparing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to “white boys in black face” is not only inaccurate, it shows incredible hypocrisy. If a single Sister of Perpetual Indulgence sexually abused children in the way that Catholic priests have FOR CENTURIES the group would be erased immediately and have their non-profit status revoked. Unlike the Catholic Church, who has not only knowingly allowed this to continue happening by transferring abusive priests to remote parishes (often with indigenous populations), they have also continually tried to cover up the fact that they foster known pedophiles among their ranks. Even worse, when victims have the bravery to speak out against their abuse and take legal actions, the church hides behind bankruptcy to protect its considerable assets. All of Donohue’s words mean nothing until he makes the same case against his own abusers.
I have no issue with Catholics as individuals practicing their faith, but when Catholic groups lash out at others who don’t follow their moral code and make unfair and untrue comparisons, they must be held accountable.
dbmcvey
Donohue has never depended on truth or logic.
Mack
Perhaps at the next speech that Donahue is making we should ask him to name the names of the pedophile priests that he supports.
abfab
And when Donahue is interviewed on tv he always seems so flabbergassed. He dribbles and his eyes bulge out. I remember how dislodged he baca after seeing the Maplethorpe exhibit.
And recall this, another event that had Donahue in a tizzy….
New York Art Show in a Heap of Controversy
Washington Post 1999/09/24
Sep 24, 1999 — He’s particularly outraged, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has said, by a collage of the Virgin Mary dotted with elephant dung.
Kangol2
OMG, the Sensation show at the Brooklyn Museum was truly an event. Donohue, Ghoulziani and countless other right-wing phonies who had no idea who the Young British Artists were (or are) and had not seen the exhibit threw a hissy-fit over Chris Ofili’s painting along with a few others. One deranged protesting patron, whipped up by these right-wingers even splashed paint on Ofili’s painting. They made the show a true sensation, with massive turnout, and boosted the artists involved tremendously.
Sr.Rico
The Senator has too much free time on his hands. With all the important issues and problems in the Sunshine State being fully addressed and solved by the Florida Administration (Not), how thoughtful to have this enlightened commentary on California.
KyleMichelSullivan
To have Marco Rubio and Bill Donohue lecture anyone on what is moral or correct is the height of absurdity. Pathetic little hypocrites, both.
JClark
It’s refreshing to see not one negative comment about the Sisters here. They are a fantastic group. We just went to their bingo last Saturday. So much fun!
dbmcvey
A great group! They did the first AIDS benefit!
abfab
Abbess, President, Board Member Sister Guard N. O’Pansies
Mistress of Novices, Vice President Sister Bella Donna Summer
Treasurer, Board Vice-Chair Sister Gaia Love
Sexytary, Board Sexytary Sister Desi Juana Dewitt
I just love the names!
MacAdvisor
OK, this calls for a rendition of the Vatican Rag:
ht tps: //w ww.you tube. com/ watch?v= 3f72CTDe4-0
Invader7
Is Rubio on bad drugs? He’s deranged and way out of touch. And Donohue is a shill for one the world’s top child grooming organizations aka the RCC..How corrupt and vile are these 2 traitors??? VERY !!
abfab
Yes, he is…….Matt Gaetz is his dealer and in the same hood. It’s all vitamin c and baking soda.
abfab
Grooming.
Phase one: Have part of your penis cut off without your permission.
Phase two: Have distilled water dripped on your head without your permission.
Phase tree: Be force-fed the body (empty carbs) and the blood (manchevetiz) of some dude named Jesus, no questions asked.
Phase four: Forget about being buried in a Catholic cemetary next to your mother and father if you are in a homosexual marriage.
Now that’s what I would call good grooming, folks.
witwoud
of course the catholic church doesn’t need anyone mocking its purported values — they do that themselves. the sisters of perpetual indulgence is simply icing on the communion wafers.
GayEGO
Why don’t the Right Wingers wake up and believe in Science, after all, the world is not flat!
Beanie16
The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were disinvited yesterday. They are now the LA COWARDS. #boycottthedidgers