Wiccan education and
anti-defamation groups

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The graphic was lifted from Mjolnir's Pagan and Wicca Page, with permission.

When this essay was first written in 1997, Wiccans suffered from one of the highest levels of unwarranted discrimination per person of any religious group in North America. Much of this was caused by:

• Popular confusion between two essentially unrelated religions: Satanism and Wicca
• 500 years of negative and false beliefs about Wiccans which originated during the Witch burning times of the 15th to 18th Centuries.
• Present day religious hatred and misinformation against Wiccans and other NeoPagans, spread primarily by conservative Christians. (There may be religious hatred disseminated by other individuals or groups, but we have never been able to locate any).

Most North Americans believe that witchcraft trials were last held in Salem and vicinity about 3 centuries ago. This is false. Wiccans' had their religion attacked in some family courts; many Wiccans lost custody of their children because of their religion. ₁

Over the past decade, oppression has been significantly reduced. The public has become more aware of the benign nature of Wicca. Many more Wiccans have come out of the "broom closet" and gone public with their faith. Some covens are holding public rituals. The total number of Wiccans has increased rapidly, apparently making Wicca the fastest growing religion in North America, on a percentage basis.

The Sacred Earth Alliance:

An umbrella group, the Sacred Earth Alliance has been formed with memberships including the major Earth Religion rights and information leagues in North America: CLA, CRF, DL, ERLAN, ERAA, LLL, NRADG, PACT, PEN, PILG, RLLN, TCP, TWV, UFP, WARD, WPN, etc.). ₂

Larry Cornett has posted a combined directory of public earth religion rights contacts, sorted by State and Zip Code at: http://members.aol.com/. He has also posted an extensive list of "Topic-specific links for help and guidance concerning religious discrimination and associated legal problems," at: http://members.aol.com/

Wiccan public education groups

• The Witches' Voice is a "proactive educational network dedicated to correcting misinformation about Witches and Witchcraft." They say that "Witchcraft IS a legally recognized religion in the United States (since 1985) and it is our mission to protect that right through education and awareness." They are "dedicated to fostering deeper understanding and cooperation amongst both the members of the Pagan community and society as a whole. They provide educational materials to the public. They support Neopagans which are having their rights suppressed or restricted. See: http://www.witchvox.com/
• The TheBurningTimes.com web site "offers a provocative exploration into the historical and modern day Burning Times through artwork, articles, resources, and more..." See: http://www.TheBurningTimes.com
• The International Pagan Pride Project, Inc., encourages local "Pagan Pride Day" celebrations, to be held within two weeks of the Autumn Equinox throughout North America. Local coordinators plan these events, which typically include at least:
  • A public ritual.
  • A food drive or other charitable activity. 
  • Issuance of press releases.
  See http://www.paganpride.org/ 
• Lady Liberty League is a "National and Global referral and information exchange network of Pagan religious freedom activists." It operates within the Circle Network. The group works within Circle Sanctuary at PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572. Phone (608) 924-2216. See: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty
• Witches' League for Public Awareness (WLPA) promotes public understanding of Wicca. It was founded in 1986 by Laurie Cabot, H.Ps. "The WLPA is a proactive educational network dedicated to correcting misinformation about Witches and Witchcraft. The work of the League springs from a shared vision of a world free from all religious persecution. Our volunteers and legal advisors respond to misinformation about Witchcraft from all over the world and we offer materials that explain the legal protection that the Religion of Witchcraft is afforded under the laws of the United States." They also maintain a Legal Defense Fund for victims of discrimination that need financial assistance. See: http://www.CelticCrow.com
• Pagan Educational Network (PEN) "is a non-profit, proactive organization dedicated to educating the public about Paganism as well as building stronger, healthier communities through service." See:   http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/welcome.html  

Some groups that appear to be inactive as of 2008-SEP, but may resurface:

• Pagans Unite for Everyone's Rights (PUER) "is about Pagans standing up for EVERYONE'S right to choose their own religion without having to fear persecution." Their motto is: "Ni neart go cur le cheile" ("There is no strength without unity.") See: http://puer.bstws.com/
• Telepathic Media Inc. provides a wire service with Pagan news and information. See: http://www.telepathicnews.com/applet.asp
• Texas Pagan Awareness League (TXPAL) was formed as a "Pro-active Pagan Religious rights organization, whose goals are to promote Education and Awareness within the Pagan Community." Their mandate covers the entire range of Pagan/Neopagan traditions, including Wicca. See: http://www.txpal.org/
• Witches Involved in National Education (WINE) assisted news, radio, students, law enforcement, and the general public with accurate information about Wicca and other Neopagan religions. See: http://www.fortunecity.com/

Wiccan anti-discrimination groups

• Circle Angkar has a list of useful links to many anti-discrimination groups. See: http://www.angkur.org/
• Officers of Avalon is a new international organization for Pagan emergency personnel: police, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. It will have two primary roles: to educate the public about Paganism and to give support to Pagan emergency personnel. Its spokesperson is Kerr Cuhulain, who came out of the (broom) closet about twenty five years ago -- the first Wiccan police officer to do so. Officers of Avalon will have a web site at http://www.officersofavalon.com/
• Rainbow Wind is an Internet resource for GLBT Pagans and their friends. See: http://users.aol.com/
• The Earth Religions Legal Assistance Network (ERAL) is at http://www.conjure.com/ERAL/eral.html Their web site has many lists, including:
  • Religious Freedom Resources: Religious rights and Social Justice pointers
  • Legal Information Resources: Pointers to legal resources, particularly regarding religion and family law.
  • Topic Specific Webpages for Finding Help: More resources for fighting religious discrimination and associated legal problems.
  • Religious Rights List: A list of Wiccan/Pagan/Earth Religion contacts around the country who are willing to help fight religious discrimination.
• FIRE is an anti-defamation group. On their main home page, they state that one of their roles is "burning away the lies told about alternative religions and making the truth visible." They "also fight against concrete experiences of discrimination, and perhaps most importantly, provide viable options for those who want to be pagan-friendly." See: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5883/
• The Pagans in Action, Council for Truth P.A.C.T. (formerly Pagan Awareness League, P.A.L.) is a division of the Church of the Dancing Flame. It was established on New Year's Day 1997 to give Pagans a source of information dealing with their rights in society. They expect to provide a comprehensive database of laws protecting Neo-pagans in the practice of their faith without fear of retribution or discrimination. See: http://www.geocities.com/
• Witches Against Religious Discrimination (W.A.R.D.) "is an organization with the sole purpose of maintaining the religious rights of Pagans and Witches as members of a religious minority." Their website at http://www.ward-hq.org is no longer active. However, Google lists web sites by WARD's state affiliates in Louisiana, Nebraska, and Michigan at: http://www.google.com/  The website for the Arizona WARD is at: http://www.angelfire.com/
• The Alternative Religions Educational Network (AREN) [originally called Witches Anti-Discrimination League (WADL)] is an information organization located in Philadelphia. It has monitored discrimination against Wiccans throughout North America for three decades. Their web page is at: http://aren.org 

One group appears to be inactive as of 2008-SEP, but may resurface:

• The Coalition for Pagan Religious Rights (CoPRR) aids Pagans and Mystics in the defense of their religious rights and educates the public on Pagan and Mystic beliefs and practices. Their membership spans the East coast of the US from NJ to NC. "CoPRR is currently working to raise funds for Pagan legal defense, setting up a system to help Pagans who are experiencing harassment, and developing a program of public education and media response." They can be contacted at The Turning Wheel Book Store, 8039-A Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122. Phone (410) 761-3130

Wiccan group promoting social change:

• Witches Against Drunk Driving (WADD) is a non profit organization "dedicated to keeping people informed of the troubles of drunk driving and the problems that it causes in our homes, in our children's playgrounds, at our friends houses, and in every part of our social surroundings..." See: http://members.xoom.com/ This web site appears to be inactive as of mid-2008

References:

1. Jennifer Ann Drobac, "Demonized Women: Accused Witches in Recent Child Custody Cases", at: http://www.stanford.edu/class/law495/drobac.htm
2. "A call to action," Sacred Earth Alliance at: http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/SEAHomepage.htm 
3. Witches' Voice has an enormous amount of information: links to Neopagan websites, lists of pagans and covens by location; teen pagans, etc.:

Copyright © 1997 to 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2008-SEP-01
Author: B.A. Robinson

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