Nashville Pagan Pride Day

Last updated on: October 12, 2016 at 5:00 am by Meghann Robern

Nashville Pagan Pride Day 2016-10-12T05:00:49+00:00 Meghann Robern

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sage. wilB (cc) 2011.

Almost two weeks ago I attended Nashville Pagan Pride Day. It’s an annual event attended by Pagans from all over Tennessee (and quite possibly the surrounding states as well), and is planned and supported by members of the CUUPS chapter at my congregation. My family and I decided to make an afternoon of it, and got there around lunchtime.

While we were standing in the line for a food truck at the front of the event, a trio of “Christian” protesters walked up. They had a big sign, and hateful t-shirts, a video camera. The police officer who had been assigned to the Pride Day walked out to meet them, and had a long conversation with them. I can only assume it was a detailed list of what they could and could not do as legal protesters, and I was grateful to know that we had such support there with us, while also understanding the need to protect all right of protest, not just my own.

This trio proceeded to march forward through the event, shouting hateful things at the vendors and attendees alike. Most ignored them, or looked at them with pity. But once they returned to the entrance, and set up in the middle of the walkway for what would be hours, things got more intense.

Some people met them one-on-one, attempting to engage them in a shouted dialogue about freedom of religious practice in the United States of America. There were many who didn’t want to engage that closely, but stood back and supported those who were lifting up diversity and cooperation..

One vendor came up from her booth and silently circled the trio while burning sage and other cleansing herbs, fanning the cloud towards them. Round and round she went, eventually trading off with someone else, to keep the protective circle going. It was an extraordinary act of non-violence in the face of hatred and verbal brutality, and beautiful to witness.

This easily could have become a day about violence. All of us are quite familiar with how Pagan people and communities have been treated for hundreds of years, and that level of chronic anxiety can lead to extreme reactivity and an inability to think clearly. What I witnessed that day was a Pagan community, influenced heavily by CUUPS and our promise to participate in the UUA covenant of principles, respond to attacks and hate with love and patience.

According to the Nashville Pagan Pride Day President, Mary Hawk, over 700 people attended. They raised money and collected supplies for Second Harvest Food Bank, Middle TN Pet Food Bank, and the school at the NoDAPL camp in North Dakota. This event became a symbol not just of Pagan Pride as an identity of religious worship and practice, but also for Pagan Pride in being generous and having strength of conviction.

Uncategorized

interfaith

Pagan Pride Day

Previous Post

October 11, 2016

Marcus Aurelius: Natural Beauty

Next Post

October 14, 2016 Everything You Need To Know About The Creepy Clown Epidemic (But Were Afraid To Ask) - Part 1

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz