At a recent Pagan Pride Day event in Portland, Maine, an interesting thing took place. A reporter was allegedly ejected from activities following a complaint by a male participant who happens to be a member of OTO (Ordo Templii Orientis). This caused all kinds of a kerfluffle because the reporter in question stated that he was from the Christian Civic League of Maine Record, and apparently he was being singled out for ejection because he was a Christian. Or at least, that's what the CCL would have folks believe. In case you're unfamiliar with the CCL, they're the group that outed Kennebec County Democratic Party chairperson Rita Moran as a Pagan. Anyway, they claim one of their reporters was ejected from PPD Maine for trying to take pictures, thus restricting freedom of the press.
CCL Director Michael Heath said, in response to the reporter being asked to leave the Maine Pagan Pride Day festivities, "These same pagans who cling to the First Amendment for their freedom of religion, trample upon it by rejecting freedom of the press." What Heath fails to mention is that the "reporter" in question was asked to leave because he was being disruptive. Heath also seems to have forgotten that his uncredentialed reporter was on private property, where "freedom of the press" does not apply. Any property owner can ask a reporter to leave at any time, and they're within their rights. "Freedom of the Press" doesn't mean you can do anything you want as a reporter -- it just means that the government isn't allowed to restrict what you publish.
In fact, according to Michael Vinton, one of the event's coordinators, the individual "entered a workshop that was already in session and began taking photos of the class members and interrupting the instructor. He misrepresented himself as a member of the press but holds no press credentials and it became very clear the he intended to continue being a disturbance."
It's no wonder so many Pagans and Wiccans don't want to be photographed, if groups like the CCL are going to target them for public censure and harassment. For those of you who organize or attend public Pagan or Wiccan events -- what sorts of policies (if any) do you have on allowing reporters to come in and take photos? Have you ever been featured publicly in a newspaper or magazine article about Paganism or Wicca, and what sort of response did you get?
For additional reading:
Should You Come Out of the Broom Closet?
Your Rights as a Pagan or Wiccan
CCL Director Michael Heath said, in response to the reporter being asked to leave the Maine Pagan Pride Day festivities, "These same pagans who cling to the First Amendment for their freedom of religion, trample upon it by rejecting freedom of the press." What Heath fails to mention is that the "reporter" in question was asked to leave because he was being disruptive. Heath also seems to have forgotten that his uncredentialed reporter was on private property, where "freedom of the press" does not apply. Any property owner can ask a reporter to leave at any time, and they're within their rights. "Freedom of the Press" doesn't mean you can do anything you want as a reporter -- it just means that the government isn't allowed to restrict what you publish.
In fact, according to Michael Vinton, one of the event's coordinators, the individual "entered a workshop that was already in session and began taking photos of the class members and interrupting the instructor. He misrepresented himself as a member of the press but holds no press credentials and it became very clear the he intended to continue being a disturbance."
It's no wonder so many Pagans and Wiccans don't want to be photographed, if groups like the CCL are going to target them for public censure and harassment. For those of you who organize or attend public Pagan or Wiccan events -- what sorts of policies (if any) do you have on allowing reporters to come in and take photos? Have you ever been featured publicly in a newspaper or magazine article about Paganism or Wicca, and what sort of response did you get?
For additional reading:
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