Kentucky Democrat Andy Beshear pictured with controversial anti-Catholic group.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an anti-Catholic organization, is facing renewed backlash over its participation in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ “Pride Night.” This has sparked controversy on a national scale, with the Dodgers rescinding their offer to honor the drag group, only to reissue the invitation after criticism from LGBTQ and liberal groups.

The group’s inclusion had prompted criticism from Catholics, given that Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a self-described “order of queer and trans nuns” that has held Easter events featuring pole dancing on a cross. This has led to concerns that the renewed focus on the group’s “queer and trans nuns” could come back to bite Kentucky Democratic governor Andy Beshear as he faces a difficult reelection bid against Republican challenger Daniel Cameron.

Beshear had previously defended his decision to pose alongside members of the group’s Kentucky chapter, which stirred controversy as two of the drag queens sported what one Republican state lawmaker called “devil horns.” Despite this, Beshear defended the decision to associate himself with the anti-Catholic group, saying he would “absolutely take that picture again.”

“This isn’t a right or left issue. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a blatantly hateful group mocking religion,” Republican Governors Association spokeswoman Courtney Alexander said in a statement. “As Christians across the country are offended and appalled by the obscenity and offensive behavior of this group, this is just another reminder of how out of touch Andy Beshear is with Kentuckians.”

Prominent MLB players have also criticized the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and its inclusion in the Dodgers’ Pride Night. Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams said in a statement, “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.”

Beshear’s Record of Embracing Liberal Activists

Beshear has a track record of embracing liberal activists who criticize Christianity. His pick to be Kentucky’s “ambassador to the rest of the world,” poet Silas House, has blasted evangelical Christianity, a faith nearly half of Kentuckians hold. House has lamented being “raised in a church of terrorists” and warned that the “Christian nationalist forces that terrorized me as a child have only grown more powerful.”

In a November 2022 essay, House also blasted a majority of Kentucky’s voters as homophobic bigots. The Beshear appointee has since deleted those posts.

• HTML formatting used:
• bold

• blockquote

• h2

• h3

• a