Dodgers Stadium was not empty during Pride Night ceremony (usatoday.com) (latimes.com)
A Facebook post that went viral claimed that Dodgers Stadium was empty during the Pride Night ceremony. The post featured a photo of empty seats and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence receiving an award. The text above the photo read, “Dodgers Stadium was empty last night as Patriots boycott them for honoring Christian-hating ‘drag nun’ group.” However, the claim is false. The stadium was not empty, and more than 49,000 fans bought tickets for the game, which is more than average for the Dodgers this season. The ceremony was held about an hour before the game, so many fans had yet to arrive.
The controversy started when the Dodgers decided to give a community award to the Los Angeles chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a satirical drag group of activists who dress as nuns. (abc7.com) (aol.com) The organization is tax-exempt, and its mission statement says the group raises money and provides community support “for underserved and underprivileged people and organizations mostly within the LGBTQIA+ communities.” However, some religious groups say the appearance of the group’s members is mocking and demeaning. Thousands of people protested outside of the stadium before the game.
The Dodgers announced on May 5 that they withdrew the group’s invitation, then reinvited the group later that month after several LGBTQ+ groups in southern California responded by threatening to skip Pride Night. (politifact.com) The controversy over the group’s award comes at a time when corporate brands are already being targeted by some conservatives and subjected to boycotts for openly embracing the LGBTQ+ community, particularly around Pride Month.
The Dodgers did not announce why the ceremony was held so early and did not respond when USA TODAY reached out for a comment. The team’s official attendance for the game was 49,074, which is more than the team’s league-leading average home attendance, but slightly down from the 52,505 who attended the 2022 Pride Night game. (espn.com) (mlb.com) The ceremony was held before the game, and photos and videos from the game show a large crowd.
The controversy over the Dodgers’ decision to give an award to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence highlights the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. While some religious groups may find the appearance of the group’s members offensive, the organization’s mission is to support underserved and underprivileged people and organizations mostly within the LGBTQIA+ communities. (baseball-reference.com) The Dodgers’ decision to reinvite the group after withdrawing their invitation shows that they are committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, even in the face of opposition.
In conclusion, the claim that Dodgers Stadium was empty during the Pride Night ceremony is false. (facebook.com) The stadium was not empty, and more than 49,000 fans bought tickets for the game. The ceremony was held before the game, and photos and videos from the game show a large crowd. The controversy over the Dodgers’ decision to give an award to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence highlights the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. The Dodgers’ decision to reinvite the group after withdrawing their invitation shows that they are committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, even in the face of opposition. (youtube.com)
