I was really disheartened to read this article and see that Pagan discrimination is clearly alive and well, at least in this part of PA where a number of shop owners have chosen to close their stores for the day because they are not in favor of the Pagan Pride Day event taking place in their town.
Is it me, or does it seem even less civil to close up your store for a whole day because you don’t agree with the views of a group holding an event on public property that they rightly paid to rent within your town? Does it really look better for you, as the shop owner, to close up, even put somewhat nasty signs on your doors explaining why you’re closed, in a sense throwing a passive aggressive temper tantrum, than to just stay open and possibly make some money from those in town visiting for the PPD festival? I would think in this economy small independent shop owners, like the owner of The Soxy Lady (one who decided to close for the day) would welcome the chance to do business with the visitors in town. I couldn’t help but look to see if The Soxy Lady had a website and I wasn’t able to find much, but did find a Blogspot account that hasn’t had a post since 2006 where the owner, Jane, describes herself as a Christian who is married with three children. The woman sells yarn and related knitting supplies. She has NO IDEA the business she may have lost because so many of us Pagan types love our crafts and knitting! If you happen to live in the Reinholds, PA area or want to contact the shop owner to let her know what her ignorance is making her miss out on, you can find the shop info here on The Merchant Circle.
Today is the PPD here in San Diego but I’m not going to be able to make it because of other plans I have with my husband. But I’m curious to know, how is the PPD in your neck of the woods received by local business owners and residents? Do you attend PPD at all during the month of September?
Mood: annoyed 
I find it hard to comprehend how closing the store does anything but hurt her finances. She can not know the story of each of her customers on a daily basis. As far as she knows she could have felons, child abusers, and many other extremists as part of her customer base. What would she do if that all came to light? Would she only offer business to clean laced god fearing folk? Sounds like the makings of a good going out of business program.
I am interested to see how the Inland Empire Pagan Pride Day will be perceived this year seeing as it is in Redlands and the predominant Seventh Day Adventist community resides next door in Loma Linda and the surrounding area. Guess i will just have to wait and see.
-Gaidren
It does seem just silly, if nothing else, for someone to take that sort of "action" when it comes to something like this. It not only does harm to their own business but it also makes them look intolerant to the rest of the world that doesn't agree with them. At least that's what I would perceive as the way it would be viewed. But that could also just be me.
This past Saturday was the San Diego PPD but I wasn't able to go. I had other plans for the day and it just wasn't something I could make happen. From all I've known in the last few years as I've come and gone form the area PPD here has never really had much of a problem. Back in CT, if I remember correctly, it wasn't a problem in its early years but it eventually became a problem with the town it was first being held in. Then it was taken over by different people, moved to another part of the state, and also didn't seem to be a problem. Then it lost it's organizers, apparently has new ones now, isn't having and event this year but is apparently working to come back next year. At least that's what I gathered before I moved back to Cali. The last PPD I went to in CT was actually really nice. I had a chance to visit with some friends I hadn't seen in ages and got a really nice new djembe! Next year I'll get to the SD event. 🙂