Guest Post: Pagans at Capital (LGBT) Pride

The following is a guest post from the Open Hearth Foundation on their involvement at Capital Pride over the weekend. Many thanks to the OHF for supporting this work and sending us their story.

Pagans were well represented at the Capital Pride Festival on June 12th.  The festival was most certainly an event that celebrated the beauty and diversity in the LGBT community.  Included in that diversity are Pagans, Witches, Wiccans, Druids, Asatru, those who follow Eastern traditions, and other paths. We’d like to think that of all of the groups represented, that Paganism is one of the most welcoming path for the LGBT community. And, so many Pagans, Pagan-curious, and Pagan-friendly folks stopped to talk to us.  This was my first year attending this event, and though I am often oblivious as a straight ally and how I can be more supportive, I was so happy to be there talking about the resources we have that also serve the LGBT community.


Participation of Pagan groups in Capital Pride became obviously important.  I was thankful that between the DC Radical Faeries in previous years, and the Open Hearth Foundation this year, there was some level of Pagan involvement. The festival was in large part lined with booths from various faith paths.  Represented were Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, Pilgrims, Episcopal, Mormon, Presbyterian, Church of Christ organizations.  The conversations we had that day indirectly told us that it was important that Pagans were represented.

One conversation that moved myself and Maria Aquila was a woman who hesitantly asked us if Pagan groups are open and accepting to the LGBT community.   While we had answered questions on what Paganism is all day, we didn't think that it was even a question in anyone's mind that Pagans are welcoming.  She also heistantly asked us if Pagan clergy would marry a gay couple.  We assured her that most Pagan clergy would be happy to accomodate legal marriage requests from gay couples.  Our answer surprised her.  I wonder what experiences she had in religious settings that made her ask those questions, and idea that we had just possibly connected her with a path that she could feel welcome and free to be who she was made me joyful. 

While preparing for the festival, we were sent information about whether or not we qualified as a green vendor, a program that helped the festival reduce waste. What qualified us as a green vendor was our cotton, reusable table cover (as opposed to a plastic or paper one that would get tossed), an email list as a primary means of communication, organizing or sponsoring park clean ups, and the fact that we don’t give away any plastic bags.  Diacorda Amosapa, the Green Vendor Coordinator, came to visit us with to hang our green vendor sign.  We began chatting, and she mentioned that the Green Committee was short of volunteers this year.  The Open Hearth Foundation offered to coordinate a Pagan volunteer group to help the Green Committee at the Capital Pride Festival next year.  And, to put our energy with our intention, I volunteered for a shift that afternoon. 

Beyond our outreach efforts, we were entertained by a lot of great street performances, got to talk to a lot of wonderful organizations doing important work in the community, and ate some good food.   The resources for the LGBT community were immense. Organizations present addressed needs of the community, including social clubs, domestic abuse, STD prevention and awareness, financial resources, art/music clubs, LGBT rights, and more.

The Open Hearth Foundation is proud to have participated in this event, provided a resource, and showed our support for the LGBT community.  We hope to coordinate with other Pagan groups next year to provide more information from the Pagan community.

-OHF Governor, Iris Firemoon