Witch Sues Mayor for Discrimination

May 11, 2004

Source: The Courier-Mail

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,9524827%255E953,00.html

On May 11, 2004 The Courier-Mail reported, "A transgender witch is suing a mayor, claiming she became 'an emotional wreck' after he outed her as a witch in a press release and on community radio. Olivia Watts, a male police officer turned black magic woman in Casey, in Melbourne's southeast, will test Victoria's unique religious tolerance legislation. She is taking Casey Mayor Rob Wilson, a Christian, to the anti-discrimination list of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in August. In her statement Ms. Watts, who says she has been practising her craft since she was six, said: 'I have followed my faith since childhood and this is the first time that I have been attacked because of my faith'...The witches appear to have found an unlikely ally in Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls. In a letter to Mr Garland, he assured the pagan president: 'We govern for all Victorians – and that includes witches, magicians and sorcerers.' He also encouraged the Pagan Awareness Network to file their complaint under Victoria's religious vilification laws."