Religious Discrimination and Violation of Freedom of Speech . . . !!!

[Wynter_Ravyn]

This happened 2 weeks ago, now . . . and I am taking it up with my Union!!! Plus, I'll seek out whatever I need to do with Project Witches' Protection, which is where this email went:

MM. My name is Angie ((Wynter Ravyn)), and I am in xxxxx's "xxxxxx xx xx" Coven. However, I am a Nurse and I work in xx . . . at the xxxx, so I am not sure whether my question falls under xx or Federal . . . BUT!!! Here's the situation:

This week, on Wednesday, my Nurse Manager pulled me into the breakroom, alone, and told me to take off certain items: My 2 Pentacle Bracelets, My Triquetra Bracelet, My Star's-and-Moon Bangle Bracelet, my Raven/Pentacle earring, my Goddess-straddling-the-Moon Earring, and My "Born Again Pagan" button/pin. Specifically, she said "I need you to take that button off. I don't know how I would explain it."

After being stripped of my jewelry, but allowed to maintain my watch, my NON-pagan bracelet, two rubber bracelets, and Steve Irwin Buttons/Pins, I was VERY upset. I politely stated, "You are asking me to remove all of my Religious Symbolism." I was so angry and upset all day, that I was so exhausted from the energy this demand drained out of me, that I literally found myself falling asleep at the wheel, repeatedly, on my way home from work ((I live in xx, 45 minutes away)).

I can not be certain that I was singled out or not; I never went from department to department to see if others had been stripped of their jewelry, but I am pretty sure that Religious Symbolism was in question in my case, simply by the statement my Nurse Manager made, when she directly pointed to my Pagan button, told me to remove it, and stated she wouldn't know how to explain it. My Cell-phone has a Faery on it. It clips onto my pocket, but the Faery is visible. My boss told me to turn my phone over and tuck it into my pocket.

I don't know if this particular detail is helpful or not, but we did have "inspectors" there Tuesday and Wednesday. And, she also stated "infection control" when she asked me to remove the Pagan -- but not the other -- jewelry and to tuck my phone inside my pocket.

I don't want to make things particularly rough on myself, especially given the fact that I truly need my job, but at the same time, if people are not made aware of religious discrimination, then I feel we are allowing "the burning times" to resurrect itself, even if only by a different means/name.

Am I making too much out of this? I don't know. But what I do know is that before this "incident," my Nurse Manager has been recently mentioning she is wanting to "have a meeting with a union representative and me." I don't know what I will be up against, but I do know that I don't have a very good grasp on Witchcraft, Witches, and the Law in the Work Environment.

xxxxx wanted me to shoot you an email to let you determine whether or not anything should be done or perhaps nothing at all. I certainly don't want to over-react. I also don't want to be too hasty. Actually, I am not too sure what I want to do at this point, since I was about ready to drop it and just be rail-roaded, but xxxxx took the time to follow up with me, so not wanting to sell-out witches everywhere, I decided to follow-through at least with this email . . .

((Note: I am NOT Ms. Cabot, I am Wynter Ravyn. I just like to include her quote in my Signature because I find her AMAZING!!!))

"Let the majick begin!" -- Laurie Cabot

An' ye harm none, do what ye will. So Mote it be.

)O( Blessed Be!!! )O( *Wynter Ravyn* )O( -:¦:-..· ..¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·.. .·..¨¨))
((¸¸.·..-:¦:..·..
-:¦:- *Angie* -:¦:-

[Wynter_Ravyn]

Thanks, I have sent you a message in response to your message . . .

((Note: I am NOT Ms. Cabot, I am Wynter Ravyn. I just like to include her quote in my Signature because I find her AMAZING!!!))

"Let the majick begin!" -- Laurie Cabot

An' ye harm none, do what ye will. So Mote it be.

)O( Blessed Be!!! )O( *Wynter Ravyn* )O(
-:¦:-..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´-:¦:..·´
-:¦:- *Angie* -:¦:-

[ShadowHawk]

Wynter Ravyn,
Here is what you have to consider from a personal and a legal point of view.

1. Is it possible that you were violating a known set of ordinances.. For example, While I was in the army, I could not wear a pentagram necklace at work (nor ring) because we dealt with Nuclear Missiles, and Sparks from Jewelry were dangerous (only jewelry allowed was a wedding band and it had to be sheathed)

2. Can you prove that she actually said and did those things to you? I know that sounds stupid, but in order to take action, you need "legal proof" of the situation. A witness, something in writing etc...

3. Are you willing to really put in the time and effort to defend your religious freedom? Again a seemingly Stupid Question, but very valid as once you start this, it could take a while and a lot of stress before it is resolved.

If answers are No, Yes, Yes then my suggestion is to file an EEOC complaint based on Religious Discrimination under Title VII:

Employers must permit employees to engage in religious expression, unless the religious expression would impose an undue hardship on the employer. Generally, an employer may not place more restrictions on religious expression than on other forms of expression that have a comparable effect on workplace efficiency.
Employers must take steps to prevent religious harassment of their employees. An employer can reduce the chance that employees will engage unlawful religious harassment by implementing an anti-harassment policy and having an effective procedure for reporting, investigating and correcting harassing conduct.


Now, If you can find a Christian that was wearing their regalia or even a chistian symbol in plain view within the work place (I know a lot of medical facilities tend to have a crucifix hanging somewhere) and you can prove she is signalling you out because you are wicca, then you have a valid case, AND, they can not terminate you because of you filing.

Just some facts:

In Fiscal Year 2006, EEOC received 2,541 charges of religious discrimination. EEOC resolved 2,387 religious discrimination charges and recovered $5.7 million in monetary benefits for charging parties and other aggrieved individuals (not including monetary benefits obtained through litigation).

check out this site:

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/howtofil.html

Hope that helps.