A practising witch has been left horrified after she claims she was thrown off a druid training course after being accused of transphobia when she spoke up about single-sex spaces.
Angela Howard, a second-generation witch whose mother was a high-priestess who ran a coven in the 1980s, turned to the religion hoping to find ‘spiritual healing’ in 2020 from the faith – even training to become a bard, a division focusing on storytelling, poetry and performance.
So she was horrified when she was banned from areas of the faith after speaking up about her experiences when a pagan group said trans women being women ‘is not up for debate’.
The furious post, made after the Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women, cited their ‘unequivocal’ support for trans people and belief that ‘trans women are women, trans men are men and all non-binary genders are valid’.
In a post titled ‘Statement of Support for Trans People from the Pagan Federation’ they said that their values were ‘rooted in respect for the divine’, adding that ‘the gods and spirits we work with’ tell them that identity is part of their spiritual path.
And devoted druids were left horrified as the hard-line group banned or blocked anyone who raised an objection. In a comment, they said: ‘We are banning people who are being hateful and/or bigoted (4 so far).’
She told The Times she raised the issue – citing her own experiences – that there were times when women needed separate facilities, such as changing rooms, women’s refuges and prisons.
Anglela Howard, a second-generation witch whose mother was a high-priestess who ran a coven in the 1980s, turned to the religion after being sexually assaulted by a trans woman
She hoped to find ‘spiritual healing’ from the faith – even training to become a bard, a division focusing on storytelling, poetry and performance
The furious post, made after the Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women, cited their ‘unequivocal’ support for trans people and belief that ‘trans women are women, trans men are men and all non-binary genders are valid’
In a comment still visible beneath the group’s post, a member said Ms Howard and another woman were ‘bigoted TERFs that need banning’. Responding, The Pagan Federation said: ‘They have been banned.’
Shortly after sharing the statement, the group confirmed that they had banned four members ‘so far’ for making comments they deemed to be ‘intolerance, bigotry or hatred’ and that they were ‘acting as fast as we can’.
Ms Howard was also banned from the British Druid Order’s private Facebook group after criticising an article where the Supreme Court decision was proclaimed to be a ‘victory for bigotry’.
She claimed that following the incident she had been banned from her online account with the British Druid Order, where she was accessing course materials so she could carry out her bardic training.
In a written complaint to the BDO, she said, as reported by The Times: ‘It is profoundly ironic that within modern paganism and druidry (movements that should be committed to liberation, healing and truth) we are witnessing a kind of spiritual witch-hunt against those who speak up for the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls.’
The unanimous Supreme Court ruling last month found that ‘woman’ and ‘man’ refer to biological women and men and that ‘the concept of sex is binary’.
Following the ruling the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued new guidance stating unequivocally that in workplaces and places open to the public ‘trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities’.
Under the Pagan Federation’s post, commenters vented their fury at the drastic policies.
Shortly after sharing the statement, the group confirmed that they had banned four members ‘so far’ for making comments they deemed to be ‘intolerance, bigotry or hatred’ and that they were ‘acting as fast as we can’
In a comment still visible beneath the group’s post, a member said Ms Howard and another woman were ‘bigoted TERFs that need banning’. Responding, The Pagan Federation said: ‘They have been banned’
Ms Howard was also banned from the British Druid Order’s private Facebook group after criticising an article where the Supreme Court decision was proclaimed to be a ‘victory for bigotry’
She claimed that following the incident she had been banned from her online account with the British Druid Order, where she was accessing course materials so she could carry out her bardic training
One said: ‘I am sorry to hear this attitude of “this is not up for debate” regarding one of the most delicate and contentious issues our society faces right now.’
They added: ‘PF has made it clear in the comments that it expects members who don’t toe its line to leave. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have decided I will not renew my membership this year.
‘I cannot in good conscience remain a member of an organisation that will not tolerate different views on political issues which have little to do with Paganism.’
Responding, another called the statement ‘threatening’, saying ‘I don’t think paganism has anything to do with sex or self identifying’.
They said: ‘For shame PF you are hurting a section of your members. Of course trans people have rights, of course gays have rights, of course individuals have rights to live as they wish as long as it harms none but that includes women too, the abused, the fearful, the lost and scared.
‘You are now causing division in the PF where there was none by your threatening statement.’
But others were delighted with the group’s stance, praising them as they continued to ban members.
One said: ‘You’re doing a solid job. Every time I finish writing a reply to some of these anti-trans types and click post, you’ve already removed the post I’m replying to. It’s a very pleasant kind of frustration. Keep on beating me to it.’
The Pagan Federation, responding to The Times, said that they have a robust complaints procedure to ensure fairness and accountability across the Pagan Federation’s activities.
They have a policy of not commenting on complaints ‘to ensure the fairness of the process and to protect all parties involved’.
A spokesperson for the British Druid Order said it was reviewing a complaint.
