Christian LA Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen released a statement Wednesday criticizing his team’s decision to invite an anti-Christian drag queen group to a Pride night celebration.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag queen group that dresses up in sexualized depictions of Jesus Christ and Catholic nuns, is set to be honored by the LA Dodgers during a Pride Night game. Although they were originally disinvited following backlash from faith groups, the Dodgers issued “[their] sincerest apologies” to the group for the rescinding the invitation, and announced they would work to “better educate [themselves].”
Treinen, who is a Christian, released a statement criticizing the team for honoring the group, as other Christian players did the same. (RELATED: Resurfaced Video Shows Target Diversity Chief Suggesting Employees May ‘Leave’ If They Think Differently)
“I am disappointed to see the Sisters’s of Perpetual Indulgence being honored as heroes at Dodgers stadium,” he said. “Many of their performances are blasphemous, and their work only displays hate and mockery of Catholics and the Christian faith.”
“I understand that playing baseball is a privilege, and not a right. My conviction in Jesus Christ will always come first. Since I have been with the Dodger’s they have been at the forefront of supporting a wide variety of groups. However, inviting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to perform disenfranchises a large community and promotes hate of Christians and people of faith.”
Christian #Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen speaks out against his team reinviting & honoring the God-mocking group of drag “nuns” to their Pride Night 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/yueVToLFYS
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) May 31, 2023
One participant in the drag group has been pictured dressing up as “pink Jesus,” mimicking a crucifixion during a parade. In another mockery of the crucifixion, a scantily clad man dances sexually on a cross, while another pretends to be nailed to the cross.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said Monday that the drag group made, “fun of other people’s religion” and announced that the team would now host a Christian Faith Day.
Trevor Williams, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, criticized the Dodgers for their decision to re-invite the group in a statement Tuesday.
“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. It is a clear violation of the Dodgers’ Discrimination Policy, which explicitly states that any conduct or attire at the ballpark that is deemed to be indecent or prejudice against any particular group (or religion) is not tolerated.”
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass shared a video supporting a boycott of Target over its LGBT merchandise targeting kids, but has since apologized for the statement.