Summer is winding down here at "The Gods Are Bored," and that means there are two events upcoming ... and we always go to both.
The first is Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day. It's held on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. The second is Labor Day itself, which includes a parade of unions along Philadelphia's waterfront.
Only one of these events draws protesters. I'll bet you can guess which one.
I can't remember if there was a Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day last September. I wouldn't have gone, because Covid was still an issue in our household. However, I did go in 2019, and readers, it wasn't all tree-huggy.
PPPD attracts the attention of the Christian fringe, and they come bearing bullhorns and banners proclaiming that all Pagans are going to Hell. Since they don't have a permit to protest at our event, they are supposed to stay on the fringe. But lately the Philly cops have been -- hmm, how should I put it? -- a tad lax. It's possible that these disruptors may lurch right into the event area with their noxious nastiness.
Honestly these protesters haven't bothered me personally in the past. But I know that their presence is very very triggering to some people in the Pagan community. Paganism has attracted many practitioners who have escaped the abuses of the radical evangelical Christian churches. Being accosted and harassed at a Pride event causes a lot of angst. For that reason, I deeply resent the intrusion of these moron zealots.
The event organizers at PPPD have been very adept at minimizing the Christian presence. Volunteers form a kind of human wall around the noise so that it doesn't drown out the programs and the rituals. And eventually the bullhorns must get heavy, because the protesters usually leave after about an hour.
Who is to say, though, in these emboldened times?
Now I know that West Philly is chock-a-block with anti-fascists who are able to rout any incursion by Proud Boys or other such rabble. But that's politics. This is religion, that other thorny subject. Doubtful that antifa will lend us a hand on this one.
According to trustworthy sources, Christian protesters have become more aggressive at Pagan events this year. I sure hope this isn't the case in Philly. All we want to do is see each other, donate a few cans of food and some pet supplies, buy trinkets from the vendors, and have a workshop or a ritual, or both. Why is that anyone else's business? We don't go to their stupid storefront churches and shout that they're headed to Hades! (Ahem, though it could be true.)
What should I, Anne Johnson, do if these nitwits crash our Pride Day? Don't suggest glitter bombs, because it's a city park with big old trees. Otherwise I am open to suggestions.
5 comments:
It would be fun to have access to a fire hose and a hydrant, but that seems unlikely. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if an antifa group helped with crowd control.
Good luck with those idiotic X-ians. I wish them all blisters, sore throats and diarrhea.
E
Sigh.
Some of us are tired of turning the other cheek.
However. Possibly contact anti-fa groups in advance and ask them to come and help?
The times we all live in...but not, sadly, with each other.
I wonder when close quarters infantry combat became an everyday living skill set. But I would likely review that topic a little. Maintain situational awareness. And stuff like that.
Just like it's a good idea not to feed trolls on a blog, I think it's best just to ignore trolls at an event as well. Sounds like your PPPD organizers have handled things well in the past. Leave it in their capable hands.
did I tell you I got thrown out of VFW Auxiliary for being a pagan? I'm fighting it..told them I'd go to aclu..they said they're a private organization and can do what they want...ok..but we'll still make it an issue and it won't look good when you open up the Kansas city paper, ny times etc and there is a little old lady in West, Texas who got thrown out of vfw for being a pagan. while trying to honor her father who fought in France Germany and Korea...them fuckers are in for a fight.
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