Wiccan Starts Petition for Religious Freedom Bill

October 28, 2005

Source: The New Haven Register

http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15470715&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=6

On October 28, 2005 The New Haven Register reported, "[Alicia] Folberth, 40, a Wiccan who practices witchcraft, casts spells and reads tarot cards, opened [a shop, SubRosa Magick, in August]... She said she decided to open the shop after being fired in March from United States Surgical Corp. in Norwalk after working as a graphic designer there for seven years. While the company cited performance reasons, Folberth said she believes she was fired because of her Wiccan religion. She had asked to take Wiccan Sabbath days off without pay and was denied, she said. She filed a complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in May, Folberth said. Lena Ferguson, a commission spokeswoman, said there is no record of Folberth filing a complaint. State law prohibits employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of religious creed, said Ferguson, who added she doesn’t have enough information to comment on Folberth’s situation... Folberth and her boyfriend, Rapid Freeman — co-owner of SubRosa Magick — started a petition at the store that they plan to submit to legislators next year, urging them to enact a law of 'religious freedom' in Connecticut... So far, 326 people have signed the petition, [Folberth] said."