San Diego Padres under fire as gay chorus controversy grows

The baseball team invited the men’s singing group to perform the National Anthem prior to its game on Saturday night, but a production error caused the Padres to strike out.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

On Saturday night, 100 volunteer singers of the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus stood on the field to sing the National Anthem before a game between the Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, instead of the pre-recorded song from the men’s chorus that was supposed to be broadcast over the public address system, a recorded track of a woman singing the anthem was played instead.

Attendees taunted members of the chorus during and after the error. The chorus’ director told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the situation was humiliating:

“We were just excited to be at a game and let the audience see us and hear us and let us know that we’re sports fans too, and we’re normal guys,” said RC Haus, artistic director for the chorus. “And then a woman sings over us, and it was mortifying.”

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.