The Rights Desk is a team of trained Pagan EdNet volunteers who help people facing unfair treatment because of their Pagan religion. The service is free and confidential, and you do not need to be affiliated with anyone to use it.
What the Rights Desk Does
- Listens. An advocate reads your account carefully and asks questions until the situation is clear.
- Explains. We describe, in general terms, the protections that apply and the usual ways of resolving a problem like yours.
- Helps you write. We review and suggest improvements to your letter or accommodation request.
- Supplies documentation. With your permission, we send an educational letter and fact sheets to your employer, school, attorney, or institution, explaining your religion in plain terms.
- Refers. When a matter calls for a lawyer or a government agency, we help you find the right one.
- Follows up. Your advocate stays in touch until the matter is resolved or you tell us that you no longer need us.
What the Rights Desk Does Not Do
- We are not a law firm. We do not give legal advice, represent anyone, or appear in court.
- We do not contact anyone about you without your written permission.
- We do not take sides in disputes between Pagans or within Pagan groups.
- We do not assist with matters that are not connected with religion.
- We cannot provide money, housing, or emergency services.
If You Have a Deadline
Do not wait for us if a legal deadline is near. Time limits for complaints can be as short as a few weeks. If a hearing date or a filing deadline is approaching, contact an attorney or the relevant agency now, and tell us the date in the first line of your message.
How to Request Help
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Read the guide for your situation
Start with What to Do If You Face Discrimination and the Know Your Rights guide for your setting. They answer many questions at once.
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Write to the Rights Desk
Send an email to rightsdesk@paganednet.org from an address that only you can read. Do not use a work or school account.
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Include the essentials
Tell us your first name and your state, the kind of setting involved (work, school, court, hospital, or other), what happened and when, what you have already done, what result you hope for, and any deadline you know of. A few paragraphs are enough.
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Hold back sensitive documents
Please do not send original documents, identification numbers, medical records, or the names of children in your first message. Your advocate will tell you what is needed and how to send it safely.
What Happens Next
- Within three business days you will receive a reply from a member of the Rights Desk confirming that your message has been read.
- An advocate is assigned to you, normally one with experience in your kind of situation. You may ask for a different advocate at any time.
- You decide every step. The advocate offers information and options. Nothing is sent to anyone, and no one is contacted, unless you approve it in writing.
- When the matter closes, we ask whether we may keep a short summary with all identifying details removed, to help us improve our guidance. You may say no.
Confidentiality
We know that many people who write to us have told no one else about their religion. Everything you share is held in confidence by the Rights Desk coordinator and your advocate. We do not disclose your name, your religion, or your circumstances to anyone outside the Rights Desk without your written permission, and we do not use your story in our publications in any way that could identify you. For details on how we store and delete messages, see our Privacy Policy.
Who May Ask
Anyone in the United States who follows a Pagan or Earth-centered path, of any tradition or none, may ask for help, as may a parent, partner, or attorney acting for such a person. We regret that we cannot assist with matters under the law of other countries, though we will gladly share our educational materials with anyone.
Employers, schools, and institutions that want to handle a situation correctly are also welcome to write. We would much rather help prevent a problem than help resolve one.
The Rights Desk in Numbers
- 2005 year the Rights Desk was established
- 318 requests answered in 2025
- 22 volunteer advocates
- 72% of closed 2025 matters resolved informally
Read more in the Rights Desk Year in Review: 2025.
The People Behind the Desk
The Rights Desk is directed by coordinator Dana Okonkwo-Hale and staffed by volunteer advocates who complete thirty hours of training in listening, documentation, confidentiality, and the limits of their role. Its published guidance and letter templates are reviewed by the Legal Advisory Panel, a group of volunteer attorneys chaired by board member Marguerite Stone. To join the team, see Volunteer.