Trevor Williams, a pitcher with the Washington Nationals, slammed the Los Angeles Dodgers for honoring drag queens dressed up as nuns for its LGBTQ+-themed event.
On May 30, Williams, who referred to himself as a “devout Catholic,” posted on Twitter he was troubled by the Dodgers’ decision “to reinvite and honor the group ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence‘” for the team’s Pride Night.
“To invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion, and the religion of over 4 million people in Los Angeles County alone, undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization,” Williams wrote in a statement.
Williams noted this was a “clear violation” of the Dodgers’ Discrimination Policy, which states any prejudice or indecent behavior or wardrobe “against any particular group or religion” by fans at the ballpark would not be tolerated.
“It seems that the Dodgers have made an exception in this case, doubling down that this group — which grossly disrespects and openly mocks many of the traditions and beliefs that Catholics hold most dear — should be celebrated,” he continued.
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) May 30, 2023
Williams called for “the Dodgers to reconsider their association with this group and strive to create an inclusive environment that does not demean or disrespect the religious beliefs of any fan or employee.”
He also petitioned for “fellow Catholics to reconsider their support of an organization that allows this type of mockery of its fans to occur.”
“I know I am not alone in my frustration, hurt, and disappointment about this situation. As Catholics, we look to Jesus Christ and the way He was treated and we realize that any suffering in this world unites us to Him in the next,” Williams concluded.
Closer to home, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw also opposed the team’s decision to honor the group.
“I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions. It has nothing to do with anything other than that,” Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times.
He added, “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.”
After initially disinviting Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from its June 16 Pride Night event, the team issued an apology on Twitter to the non-profit organization’s members along with several other LGBTQ+ groups. The Dodgers also re-extended an invitation to the group, which the group accepted.
“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ partners to better educate ourselves, find ways to strengthen the ties that bind and use our platform to support all of our fans who make up the diversity of the Dodgers family,” the team wrote in a statement.
