Wicca As A Recognized Religion

I was thinking about a lot of things while I was trying to fall asleep recently. When I was in High School, a friend and I went to our principal and told him that we had planned on missing a day of school in honor of the Winter Solstice, or Yule. We told him that we were doing this because Wicca is our Religion, and just as other Religions have fully excused absences for their Holidays if need be, that we should as well. He did NOT agree. He specifically told us that our absences would not be excused and that we needed to provide him with "proof" that Wicca is a Religion to begin with. The idea of witches flying on brooms, having green skin and warts all over their noses is an idea from Hollywood. Back in the earlier days of our country a "Witch" was a woman or a man (but mostly women) that had in some way wronged her community during a time of distress. Some chickens could have died from eating spoiled food, and if that woman had spoken out of place during the same week, burn her at the stake. Ridiculous.
Another instance of this injustice occured between the 12th and 17th of April this year. I personally got into TWO arguments with my inlaws over my Religion. They stated that it is not a religion. That "I don't know what I'm talking about". They said that "I was a devil worshipper". And then, the icing on the cake, they then informed me that "if my DAUGHTER had anything whatsoever to do with Wicca, she would not receive her inheritance". Honestly? Aside from work, I have never done anything for money...Especially abandon my beliefs. What would you do?
Listen. I'm polytheistic. I have been Pagan since I was 8, and converted to Wicca when I was 13. I told my whole family. They don't agree with it, but they accept it because they knew that I was mature enough to decide what I BELIEVE. Nobody told me to do this. I decided for myself. I have decided to raise my daughter Wiccan, but if she comes to me one day and says "Mommy can I go to Church with Grandma?"...Am I going to deny her? NO. Believe what you want to believe and what is in your Heart. This is my Heart, for it does not matter WHAT your faith is, but instead that you HAVE faith.
It is mine and your Constitutionally protected RIGHT to practice whatever religion we choose. All that I ask, is that my Religion be recognized. I don't want Holidays written on the calendars. I don't want banks to be closed. I honestly don't even want your approval. Just recognition.
Just because my prayers rhyme...
And just because I have more than one God to believe and follow...
And just because I want nothing more than to save this planet from itself...
That doesn't make me a bad person. I'm just different than you.
Sign this petition. If you believe that I am your equal, sign this petition. If you believe that we all have the right to choose, sign this petition. And finally, if you believe that nobody is wrong in matters of Faith, please sign this petition.
My name is Ashley Crockett. I am a Minister for the Universal Life Church, where we believe that EVERYBODY is created equally, no matter what you believe. I love all of you.