Broom Closet

Come out, come out, if you can!

The statistics on the number of pagans choose to keep their religion a secret and are difficult to obtain figures that are calculated are certain to be somewhat flawed. We tend to be a secret group, and we have good reason to be. The pagans have lost their jobs, housing, even custody of all children because they practice a religion based on the land. People watch and shake their head sadly while telling us that we are going to hell. Even if the laws of our country will protect our freedom of religion and our government officially recognizes Paganism as a valid religion, we still have something that society would prefer not to see something sinister to be kept hidden behind closed doors . It's human nature to be Leary of what is unknown and mysterious.

So why do we hide? The easy answer is that many of us to keep our private religious choices out of fear of consequences. Would we be fired? Would we have to move? Would stop waving the neighbor to us in the driveway? It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of religion and the law is on our side, but only if we use it. Those who came before us did not have it so easy. Countless brave souls have fought and died for our right to practice our faith, heathen as to hide as if they had something to hide. Our Secretiveness gives the impression that we are hiding something dark and sinister that society does not, when in reality, if most people understand the pagan religion, they would realize that this is not a something to fear at all. We have nothing to feel guilty or ashamed, and yet we keep hidden. What honor do we give to those who sacrificed for religious freedoms, if we do not exercise our rights?

It is not easy to get out of the broom closet, and in many cases, be completely open to all facets of your life is simply impossible. But every time we hide, we suffer from the pagan community as a whole because we only reinforce the tendency of society to believe that we have something to hide, which causes more pagans to remain hidden. It is a vicious and wicked prejudices that will not end until more of us are open about our faith. When most of us stand tall and proud to cease acting as if we have some dirty secret, only then will society begin to accept us as a part of it.

This does not mean that all the Gentiles need to run into the street shouting the word of the Goddess. This does not mean that we should all start wearing pentacles huge and engage everyone we meet in a debate on theology. But whenever one of us makes an effort to adapt to society, without apology, without shame or doubt that we are just as spiritually valid as anyone else, the whole community benefits pagan. These efforts should not be huge. Each of us can take baby steps to get out of the closet to shine some light on paganism so that society can see us for who we really are.

10 baby steps of the broom closet

1. Wearing a pentacle in public. It should not be huge, barely visible. If you need to be careful, it show only when you do not see someone who knows you. Even if you only wear to the grocery store once a month, someone will see. If you wonder what that means, warm smile and explain simply. If someone glares at you, warm smile anyway.

2. The next time you're invited to a poll / survey / census of what religion you are, be honest. No you hang up.

3. If you are raising your children Pagan, talk with someone at school so they understand what it means. For a great article on the education of educators, visit the following site. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_essa.