Paganism is a legally recognized religion in the United States with our Churches and Temples qualifying for 501C3 tax exemption. Yet the laws governing non-discrimination based on religion do not apply to us.
Our military personel who have died in service to this country are being denied the right to have a sign of their faith put on their headstones.
Laws are being passed in individual states giving organizations accepting government funding the right to refuse to hire teachers on religious grounds.
Our children are being denied the right to wear symbols of our faith in school yet other religions are being allowed to wear symbols of their faith with no punishment involved.
Employees are being terminated because they have asked to be off on religious Holy days Pagans celebrate, and forced to be off work while non-Pagan employees celebrate their Holy days.
Hate crimes are being committed against us, yet it is unheard of for anyone to be arrested and charged with a hate crime.
We are the fastest growing Religion within the United States. We do not want special treatment, simply equal treatment.
The petition seeks 2 goals.
1) Our Congressional leaders pass laws giving us equal rights with other Federally recognized religions.
2) As a call to action to the Pagan community as a whole that we take advantage of and use the systems of government available to us to become Politically active to protect our rights and freedoms from those that would prefer we did not exist.