The White Sox partner faces scrutiny for sexual grooming, drag racing and DEI
When Chicago White Sox fans look beyond the outfield wall of Guaranteed Rate Field, they see the logo of Rush University Medical Center, the team’s official health care partner.
What wasn’t told at the concession stand was where the health plan’s money actually went: operating a pediatric sex clinic, hosting a “PRIDE Charity Drag Brunch,” forcing the repeal of mandatory diversity, and paying its CEO nearly $3.7 million in total compensation.
Now, White Sox fans are taking a closer look at the team’s health partner.
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As fans head to Guaranteed Rate Field for the White Sox-Astros series, Consumer Research is rolling out a billboard campaign, street posters, and TV ads targeting the team’s health partner.
Consumer watchdog Consumers’ Research launched the “Rush Exposed” campaign, which it shared exclusively with OutKick and Fox News Digital.
The Rush-White Sox partnership is on fire
Rush signed a multi-year sponsorship as the official health care partner of the White Sox, paying tens of thousands of dollars for stadium marketing, game sponsorships and other marketing.
An American flag is displayed during the national anthem before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 4, 2019, in Chicago, Ill. (Getty Images)
The Consumer Research Campaign directs fans to RushExposed.com, where Consumer Research details its allegations against the Rush, including its sponsorship of the Chicago White Sox, millions spent on advertising, the DEI initiative, child reassignment services, and “Pride Drag Brunches.”
“Rush is misrepresenting what should be the core mission of all hospitals by using their time, energy, and taxpayer support to fuel radical activism,” said Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, in a statement.
“Not only does Rush have a history of prioritizing DEI, pediatric reassignment procedures, and climate alerts, the hospital has a troubling history of questionable spending on non-medical programs completely unrelated to patient care, such as its partnership with the Chicago White Sox.”
Clinic sponsored ‘drag brunches’
The campaign focuses on Rush’s Affirm Center for Health, a clinic that provides so-called gender affirmation services, including mental health support, for children.
Dr. Loren S. Schechter leads Rush’s transgender surgery program and is also the president-elect of WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health), an organization that publishes standards of health care for transgender women, including prenatal care.
Rush previously provided gender-affirming care to children, but in 2025 announced that it would no longer provide such services to patients under 18 as of 2023.
DEI’s internal Rush committee also organized a “PRIDE Charity Drag Brunch,” with proceeds benefiting the Affirm Center.
Pope Leo XIV addresses the Catholic faithful at the scoreboard at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, during a ceremony and Mass honoring his election as pope June 14, 2025, in Chicago, Ill. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago and raised in the southern suburbs of Dolton, he is the first American leader of the Catholic Church and a fan of the Chicago White Sox. (Getty Images)
The administration also required hospital administrators to complete “transparent” training while pediatric staff at Rush University Children’s Hospital attended a DEI retreat covering “microaggressions” and systemic discrimination.
The layoffs follow a $3.7M CEO payout
The campaign also points to what Consumers’ Research calls a major financial crisis.
Although Rush recently laid off employees due to financial pressure, public tax filings show that CEO Dr. Omar Lateef drew nearly $3.7 million in compensation in FY2024, up from $2.9 million last year.
Guaranteed Rate Field, formerly US Cellular Field and home of the Chicago White Sox, is shown in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 5, 2016. (Getty Images)
Beyond his salary, the nonprofit also covered Lateef’s housing allowance and membership fees to private organizations such as the Economic Club of Chicago.
Even when Rush retired, he continued to fund the White Sox’s sponsorship and climate initiatives, including a 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2030 and retailer policies that measure race and social impact.
Rush received more than $194 million in federal funding in FY2025 while maintaining its tax-exempt status.
Consumer research says Rush has been the latest target of its national “Bad Medicine” campaign because the group believes nonprofit hospital systems are using taxpayer support and tax-exempt status to advance political ideas instead of prioritizing patient care.
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Rush paid to put his name in front of white Sox fans. Now, Consumer Research wants those same fans to ask what that name stands for.
OutKick has contacted the White Sox and the Rush University System for Health for comment.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow on X: @alejandroaveela
