Pagan Pride Day returns to dispel myths, promote understanding

[rug]

Lauren E. Toney
Posted: 10/15/2011 09:47:05 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES In an effort to dispel myths, eliminate prejudice and promote understanding in the community, hundreds gathered for Pagan Pride Day on Saturday at Young Park.

The annual event, designed to celebrate freedom of religion and religious diversity, featured a variety of educational and fun activities, merchants, live entertainment, food and children's games.

"It's an opportunity for pagans to come out of the broom closet and promote acceptance of paganism and, really, all religions," said Sarah Heartsong, Las Cruces Pagan Pride Day councilwoman, of the event. "We want the community to understand that being pagan is not scary or crazy or something to fear."

About 750 attended last year's Pagan Pride Day, with about 450 visiting the year before that. Hosting the 4th annual event Saturday, organizers hoped for an even larger turnout this year, noting that those in attendance come from Las Cruces, Deming, Alamogordo, Silver City, El Paso and even Albuquerque.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_19123846?source=most_viewed

[ZombieHorde]

1. That is too bad.

Gibbs said he hopes Pagan Pride Day in Las Cruces and in other areas of the nation will help eradicate stereotypes about paganism and show communities that pagans are " ... everyday, ordinary people."

I have always liked pagans because their cults are extraordinary, not ordinary. If they adopt the values of main stream society, then they will just become another boring church. I have always wished the values of cults would infect society, not the other way around.

[rug]

2. Interesting take.

I tend to agree,

[tama]

4. Mothers, fathers, children

sharing the same problems and possibilities of life, moments of sorrow and joy, as other people. Common folks.

How should pagans - btw. the word means originally non-urban people - be different from others? Eccentric how?

PS: I have some background in "pagan" neotribes.

[rug]

5. Well, it might be nice to see those families celebrating a forest instead of reciting a rosary.

[tama]

7. Yes

and that is what it's all about, in my experience. Where I live many people still feel more at home in forest than in city. And they can be pagan, Christian or both (I know many pagans who are also Christians, but there are also Christians who say that's impossible :))

[roguevalley]

8. I'm both. :) I like eclectic paths to the heavens. Huggles all you

muggles. ;)

[bengalherder]

3. Proud to have worked on Sacramento Pagan Pride

numbers 2 and 3. I bet someone out there still wears our t-shirts :D!

Come out of the broom closet boys and girls!

[rug]

6. Sounds like a good time.

:hi: