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"I Have My Coven Now": Transgender Experience in the Central Florida Pagan Community

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University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- 2021 "I Have My Coven Now": Transgender Experience in the Central Florida Pagan Community Alison Whitmore University of Central Florida Part of the Anthropology Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020 University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Whitmore, Alison, ""I Have My Coven Now": Transgender Experience in the Central Florida Pagan Community" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-. 581. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/581 “I HAVE MY COVEN NOW”: TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA PAGAN COMMUNITY By ALISON WHITMORE B.A. Anthropology East Carolina University 2018 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2021 ABSTRACT This thesis analyzes Transgender experience and dynamics in the Pagan community of Central Florida. Religion plays an important role as part of social structure for many people in the United States. It can also be a source of strife and conflict between culture groups and within cultures. In the US, predominant religious traditions stem from monotheistic Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam); however, Wicca, a Neo-Pagan polytheistic religion, is practiced by a small but growing number of people. Based on nearly one year of ethnographic engagement with the Central Florida Wiccan community, this study presents an analysis of participants experiences in Wicca, especially as it refers to the experiences of Trans Wiccan practitioners and their religious communities. I argue that the theology underlying Pagan religious beliefs and practices, alongside shared experiences of othering and liminality, encourages the maintenance of an open, accepting and encouraging atmosphere towards LGBTQ+, and particularly Trans, Wicca practitioners. ii To all my guides and the people who have given me suggestions and advise throughout my life and especially for this project, Thank you. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to acknowledge and thank my advisor, Dr. Beatriz Reyes-Foster for her support, guidance, writing expertise, and how often she directed me towards helpful resources for my research. My committee members who all had helpful commentary and were patient with my research and writing process: Dr. Joanna Mishtal, Dr. Jeanine Viau, and Dr. Nesette Falu. I also want to thank the groups and individuals who were kind enough to participate in this study. Their experiences and insights were integral to my research and sparked ideas for future investigation. Finally, my family and friends who all supported me and helped keep me from falling into a pit of despair or insanity, encouraged me, and to whom I owe so much: Lauren Friedman, Vanessa Cruz, Amanda Searles, McCleary Searles, Katherine Whitmore, James Whitmore, Courtney Ashley Marie Vitale, and Daniel Bernal. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 Wicca in the Contemporary US: Practitioner Perspectives ......................................................... 1 Practitioner’s historical basis ................................................................................................... 2 Variations of Wiccan Practices................................................................................................ 3 Wiccan Beliefs ......................................................................................................................... 3 Wicca from the Academic Viewpoint ..................................................................................... 4 Persecution and Discrimination in the Academic Record ....................................................... 5 Pagan Discrimination in the news ........................................................................................... 6 Religious Demographics in the United States ......................................................................... 6 Trans Experiences in the US and the Potential of Wicca ............................................................ 7 Trans Discrimination in the news ............................................................................................ 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 9 Wicca ........................................................................................................................................... 9 History of Witchcraft and Wicca ............................................................................................. 9 Witchcraft in Scholarship ...................................................................................................... 11 Studies on Sexuality and Community in Wicca ........................................................................ 12 Transgender studies ................................................................................................................... 17 Queer theory and Anthropology ............................................................................................ 20 Liminality: Separation from dominant society.......................................................................... 22 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ................................................................................................. 28 Participant Selection .................................................................................................................. 28 Location ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 28 Observation ............................................................................................................................ 29 Interviews .............................................................................................................................. 29 Sample and Recruitment Methods ............................................................................................ 30 Data Collection and Analysis .................................................................................................... 30 Reflexive Statement .................................................................................................................. 31 v CHAPTER FOUR: COMMUNITY ............................................................................................. 33 Pagan Pride ................................................................................................................................ 34 A Community of Support .......................................................................................................... 35 The Other................................................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER FIVE: IDENTITY ..................................................................................................... 41 I am who I am............................................................................................................................ 41 Ritual and Identity ..................................................................................................................... 43 This is my Religion ................................................................................................................... 48 Trouble in ‘Paradise’ ................................................................................................................. 51 CHAPTER SIX: VULNERABILITY.......................................................................................... 52 Vandals in the Night .................................................................................................................. 52 The “Look Outs” ....................................................................................................................... 53 CHAPTER SEVEN: DISCUSSION ............................................................................................. 56 Separation from Society ............................................................................................................ 56 The liminal phase ...................................................................................................................... 57 Trans Pagans .......................................................................................................................... 59 Togetherness.............................................................................................................................
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