Hail Satan!

Do you own an article of clothing that you hesitate to wear in public? Perhaps it’s that “oh-so-comfortable,” decades-old, faded cotton sweater. After a thousand wash cycles, the fabric is as soft as silk, and the few tiny holes and stains shouldn’t be that noticeable. After all, I’m just going to the grocery store. Or maybe it’s an item possessing both sentimental and historical value, like my 1969 “New York Mets World Champions” shirt. That particular item of clothing has not been worn since the Mets’ most recent World Championship (1986, in case you don’t follow baseball), but is lovingly preserved in a drawer like the sacred relic it is.

Several months ago, a friend presented me with a t-shirt that I only just wore in public for the first time yesterday. There are no holes or stains – it’s brand new. When my friend gave it to me I was overjoyed and grateful, delighted by the colorful design and cheeky text, as well as by the thoughtfulness of the gift. “It’s perfect,” I said with a laugh, “you know me too well!” On a black background is a large image of Baphomet in pastel colors, and a caption that reads, “Satan respects pronouns.”

Though some might not recognize the illustration, most people would instantly associate the goat-like image with the Devil, even before reading the words directly below. But in case anyone had doubts about the identity of this horned creature, the word “Satan” pretty much gives it away.

The First Amendment of the Constitution notwithstanding, we live in a country steeped in Judeo-Christian (or just Christian if you happen to live in a “fly-over” state) tradition, and I would not hesitate to guess that the vast majority of people, even if not religious, would draw negative associations with the name or image of Satan. (I prefer the more obscure designation of “Baphomet” for the horned fellow, but then as you’ve probably already guessed I’m a bit contrarian.)

My hesitation for wearing this shirt in public comes not from a personal hostility towards Satan (I have no such feelings), but from the strange looks or even enmity of those I might encounter outside the privacy of my home. More importantly, I fear that the phrase “Satan respects pronouns” might be completely misinterpreted as meaning the exact opposite of what this t-shirt represents. For me, the shirt emphatically proclaims my alliance with LGBTQ+ people, but some folks who read the slogan might interpret it as anti-LGBTQ. If Satan respects pronouns, then pronouns must be bad. It is a sad commentary on the state of American culture wars, that even a part of speech is now vilified by some on the right.

Yesterday, the only reaction to my shirt was a positive one, an affable “He does” from the dog-walker I encountered on my neighborhood excursion. The young man seemed pleasant enough, but I had to make sure I had found a kindred spirit by politely confirming that like me, he was pro-LGBTQ, and had no particular animosity towards Satan. We engaged in a brief, friendly conversation, and I discovered to my surprise that I had met a fellow member of The Satanic Temple (TST). Now before you jump to any wild conclusions, we don’t “worship the Devil” or eat babies. As explained on the TST website, this non-theistic religion focuses on benevolence, empathy and advocacy, and views Satan as a figurative symbol of resistance to tyrannical authority, not as a literal deity. Their irreverence towards religious norms aligns with mine, and I fully endorse their “Seven Fundamental Tenets,” none of which involve human sacrifice or other acts of evil-doing. You may not agree with their pro-science, pro-choice stance, but I assure you that TST members undertake noble pursuits, as their mission statement proclaims.

I don’t generally engage the fellow New Yorkers I pass on the sidewalk with more than a “Good morning,” but then I’d never met a fellow Satanist before. I petted one of his charges, a sweet-tempered golden retriever, and not wanting to further delay him while he was working, wrapped up the conversation. We both went on our ways with a smile, a wave, and a cheerful “Hail Satan!”