Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration awarded $200,000 in grants this past spring through the city’s “Beyond Pride” program, aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ organizations in the city. The funding, which comes from the city's operating funds, went to 45 groups, with awards ranging from $500 to $15,000.

The city says the goal is to expand access to housing, health care, legal aid, and other services. But a closer look at the list shows that many of these grants have little to do with essential services and a lot to do with funding non-essential activities to bolster her political support.

Here are some of the craziest Boston residents’ tax dollars were spent:

1. Men's Rugby

The Wu administration gave $1,000 to the Boston Ironsides Rugby Football Club – a well-known homosexual men's rugby team based in Boston.

When you think of the functions of government, how high on the list is subsidizing men's rugby, given all of the other needs in the country?

It's a team that travels to various New England cities to play rugby – a sport known for its partying and drinking culture. And, according to the Wu administration, this team must receive your tax dollars.

Notice that Wu isn't giving similar funding to other men's amateur sports leagues and teams. That's because this isn't about promoting athletic participation; it's about giving government handouts to progressive organizations.

2. Tiny Needles

The Boston Acupuncture Project received a $1,500 grant from the Wu administration that it says it will use to offer "10 members of the City's LGBTQIA+ community with a course of 4 acupuncture treatments at no cost!" according to its web site.

There are a few problems with that.

One is that they're excluding straight people and people who don't identify as members of the opposite sex.

The other is that acupuncture is questionable.

"Multiple studies have failed to demonstrate any scientific evidence supporting such principles," Harvard Medical School says of acupuncture.

Yet, the Boston Acupuncture's web site claims it's a good treatment for depression, Parkinson's disease, and vertigo.

Who is right?

I'll go with Harvard Medical School on this one.

And let’s not spend Boston taxpayers’ money on unproven medical treatment offered only to a small subset of the city.

3. Taxpayer-Funded Video Games

An organization called Boston Gaymers also received a $2,000 grant.

It's an organization where members of the LGBT community play board games and video games – including Super Smash Bros. (a platform fighting series) and League of Legends (an online team battling series) – with and against each other, according to its web site.

Let’s be clear: nobody’s stopping anyone from getting together to play video games. Many older systems cost less than $100 — even with controllers and games, you’re often under $200.

But why are taxpayers footing the bill for it? Playing Super Smash Bros. on a Wednesday night isn’t exactly a public service.

This isn’t a program to improve literacy, combat addiction, or reduce homelessness. It’s a social club. A hobby group. If the city is going to hand out money so people can play Super Smash Bros., where’s the check for your neighborhood poker night or bowling league?

Again, this isn’t about need. It’s about rewarding politically favored identity groups with public money under the banner of community building.

It’s like letting an eight-year-old vote — they’d back whoever bought them the coolest video game. That’s essentially what Mayor Wu is doing here.

4. Big Queer Food Festival — $2,000

Yes, this is real. Boston taxpayers shelled out $2,000 to help fund something called the Big Queer Food Festival.

"Big Queer Food Fest unites chefs, winemakers, distillers, purveyors, non-profit organizations, and the broader community to celebrate, elevate, and amplify the remarkable contributions of the queer culinary community," the event's web site says. "Food transcends boundaries and connects us all. By bringing together diverse culinary talents, we create beautiful, inclusive spaces where culinary artistry thrives."

When I browsed the photo gallery for the event, there were scantily clad drag queens and someone wearing a shirt that said "celebrate anal sex & mental illness."

I don't know about you, but I've lost my appetite.

5. Boston Sisters Convent of the Commonwealth — $500

The Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — who received $500 in taxpayer funding — are a drag group known for dressing in mock religious habits and making a mockery of Catholic imagery.

This isn't just some edgy performance art. It's blatant anti-Catholicism funded by your tax dollars.

Imagine if the city gave public money to a group parodying another religion with the same level of vulgarity, like Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism. It would be a national scandal. But when it’s Catholicism, it's just diversity.

Mayor Wu is funding an anti-Catholic organization in the name of inclusivity.

And she presents as Catholic.

Pathetic.