William: The latest company to
get caught up in the battle over
lgbtq issues is the Los Angeles
dodgers.
One of baseball's most storied
franchises, the dodgers
originally planned to include
one particular queer and trans
group as part of its pride
event, which is coming up in a
few weeks.
But then, under pressure from
critics, the dodgers retracted
their invitation.
Now, as Stephanie sy reports,
the team has reversed course
again, apologized, and welcomed
the group back.
Stephanie: The sisters of
perpetual indulgence are a
charity and drag group calling
attention to lgbtq+ issues.
Not only were they invited to
the dodgers pride night, the
franchise originally planned to
honor the group with its
community heroes award next
month.
But conservative catholics have
called the sisters of perpetual
indulgence a hate group.
And a local diocese called the
group's behavior demeaning and
disrespectful to the sisters of
the catholic church.
The dodgers reacted by
rescinding the groups invite.
A member defended the charity.
>> I have always said that we
are anti-catholic and we are
making fun of catholicism.
Which is not true.
We are here to be silly and to
look flamboyant, in service to
people in our community who have
no resources, no money, no
voice.
Stephanie: With the organizers
of the Los Angeles pride parade
threatening to pull out of pride
night, the dodgers have now done
another 180.
Yesterday, the team apologized
and re-invited the sisters of
perpetual indulgence.
It's the latest example of a
corporation facing fallout for
trying to be lgbtq+ inclusive.
Last month right-wing boycotts
of bud light like these flooded
social media after trans actress
and influencer Dylan Mulvaney
posted this on her Instagram.
>> This month, I celebrated my
day 365 of womanhood bud light
sent me possibly the best gift
ever, it can with my face on it.
Stephanie: In the fallout, the
brand took a hit in sales and
two top marketing executives
took a leave of absence.
Anheuser-busch said it would
re-focus marketing on sports and
music.
For another perspective, I'm
joined by lz Granderson,
columnist for the la times.
It is good to see you.
It should say, you are also a
veteran sports journalist and
you have reported for years on
professional sports' move toward
more inclusivity of gay
athletes.
Did the dodgers strike out on
this one?
At least initially?
Lz: Using their own words, yes.
I had an interview with the
president of the dodgers and he
said they made a mistake, and he
explained why.
They are an organization that
have done the celebrations for
10 years without any hitch.
This year, they had a pitch and
they didn't know what to do and
they panicked.
They had meetings with the
community, the lgbtq+ community,
and they decided to re-invite
them.
Returning back to their overall
theme which is the organization
supports the community.
Stephanie: What was the original
sin, so to speak, by the
daughters, in your view?
Was it rescinding the
invitation?
?
At what point did they go wrong?
Lz: I think they went wrong
assuming they could out write
the -- they could operate the
same they have for the last 10
years.
That is not just a commentary
for the dodgers, but it is
corporate America.
As I said earlier, the dodgers
have been doing this for 10
years.
10 years ago, we had a different
president, a different supreme
court, a different sense in the
culture.
Things have changed over the
past decade.
It is difficult to wade into
waters dealing with groups,
whether it is with conversations
of diversity and equity and
inclusion, whether it is about
trans rights, anything that is
seen as Progressive can be used
against your corporations.
It is behooved upon a lot of
corporations to look and see
what happened to Disney, with
bud light, with the dodgers.
And be prepared of statements
and philosophy.
When criticism comes, you are
not scrambling like those
organizations I mentioned.
Stephanie: In the context of
legislation being passed by
conservative states to target
trans people, do you think the
dodgers decision to now include
the sisters of indulgence
charity is more poignant?
Lz: I think it is just more
consistent to what they have
always tried to be, particularly
during pride celebrations.
Which is to celebrate all
aspects of the community.
I think it is a little -- I
think it puts too much credit,
to be honest with you, to the
conservative movement.
Because it is not really a well
thought out plan.
It is really just another
example of throwing anything
against the wall and seeing what
sticks.
For this particular news cycle,
this political cycle, it is
attacking the queer community.
We have seen other examples of
them trying to find a cultural
touchstone that can drive
voters.
This is not unique.
It is not about the doctors
trying to make a statement with
the sisters.
They have always been supportive
of the drag community.
This is just about a lightning
in the bottle moment in terms of
where we are politically, and
that the dodgers are doing what
they have always done, which is
try to be an organization for
everyone, including the queer
community.
Stephanie: Political lightning
rod that are trans issues, like
this, there are people who are
offended by this group and what
they view as mocking of
catholicism.
And it's figures, including
Christ and virgin Mary.
You heard that criticism coming
from outside politicians and
groups, but did you also hear
that from dodgers fans?
Lz: We have heard a lot from
dodgers fans.
If you go online, anyone can
simply take a look through the
commentary that is happening on
social media.
There are a lot of people who
are upset about the sisters
inclusion, who were happy that
the dodgers decided to do is
invite them.
That is going to be a reality
for anyone who decides to do
anything that is remotely tied
to the culture.
Because we are in a very
divisive moment right now in
this country.
Anything, whether you talk about
black history month, where you
celebrate aapi month, you will
find a group that will find some
level of offense.
I am just going to say that when
it comes specifically to
religious ideology and imagery,
you can go back to rosemary's
baby in the 1970's.
I believe the catholic church
was upset about that.
You can go back to Madonna and
papa don't preach, they were
upset about that.
There are examples in which
people have used religion
imagery to try to have a
cultural moment, a satirical
moment, and people of that faith
have been offended by it.
This is not unique to the
sisters or the dodgers.
This is something we have
witnessed in this culture for
many decades.
Stephanie: Certainly a
conversation that continues in
many quarters.
Colonists for the Los Angeles
times, thank you for joining us.
Lz: Thank you very much for
having me.
♪♪