4th Annual Louisville Pagan Pride Day 2009 September 26, 2009

Out of the Broom Closet again on Pagan Pride Day 2009

4th Annual Louisville Pagan Pride Day
September 26th, 2009 11:00AM to 6:00PM
Waterfront Park Brown-Forman Amphitheater
1205 River Road, Louisville, KY 40206

People of all ages and spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The event will include information booths, vendors, a ritual, and other activities celebrating the Autumn Equinox, a time of thanksgiving in many Pagan traditions. Items of non-perishable foods will be accepted as admission and donated to the “Dare to Care” food bank.

Can you imagine a world…
Where everyone could wear the symbol of his or her spiritual path if they so choose?
Where you could practice your faith openly without fear of retribution?
To gather and to celebrate with others without creating suspicion?
For those who seek knowledge finding facts rather than fallacies?

The Pagan Pride Project began 12 years ago with a handful of people with these images in mind, and the desire to make them come true. Annual Pagan Pride celebrations are held during the harvest season with 117 cities participating in 2007 and over 40,000 attendees in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Over 23,000 lbs. of food was collected in a single season. The food drive gives participants a way to share with those who are less fortunate while making a positive statement.

Job discrimination. Difficulties with landlords and neighbors. Harassment, up to and including assault and battery. Parents disowning their children; family members turning away. These issues are too often faced daily by people of “different” religious beliefs. Differences in religious beliefs have dominated the news this year and even presidential candidates are not immune of being judged, embraced or rejected simply because of their choice of faith tradition.

The Pagan Pride Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of prejudice and religious discrimination through education, activism, charity, and community. For centuries Pagans have been wrongly accused of practicing devil-worship and performing "black magic." In reality most Pagans enjoy a religion emphasizing respect for nature, humanity, and oneself. Modern Paganism, or Neo-Paganism, is a growing religious movement based on combinations of ancient polytheism, modern eco-spirituality, and reverence for the Divine as both masculine and feminine. We wish not only to reduce discrimination against us, but to present the value that our paths can bring to society, while emphasizing that we do not seek converts but ask that each person honor the Divine in the manner that seems best for them.

Additional information regarding Pagan Pride Day is located at www.paganpride.org Information regarding the Louisville event is found at www.louisvillepaganpride.org