'Pastafarian' Wins Right to Wear Spaghetti Strainer in Driver's License Photo

By JASON CLAFFEY (Patch Staff)

A Lowell woman has won the right to wear a spaghetti strainer on her head in her driver’s license photo.

Lindsay Miler, who claims to be a “Pastafarian,” was initially denied the request but recently won an appeal—as the RMV allows headgear in license photos for religious or medical reasons.

Miller is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, an atheist group whose followers wear spaghetti strainers as a religious symbol.

“As a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I feel delighted that my Pastafarianism has been respected by the Massachusetts RMV,” Miller said in a statement. “While I don’t think the government can involve itself in matters of religion, I do hope this decision encourages my fellow Pastafarian Atheists to come out and express themselves as I have.”

Miller got legal help from the American Humanist Association.

“The First Amendment applies to every person and every religion, so I was dismayed to hear that Lindsay had been ridiculed for simply seeking the same freedoms and protections afforded to people who belong to more traditional or theistic religions,” said Miller’s attorney, Patty DeJuneas, in a statement. “We appreciate that the RMV recognized the error, apologized, and issued a license respecting her First Amendment rights, and hope that RMV staff will be trained to respect diversity.”

Pastafarian Lindsay Miller with her approved driver’s license. (Credit: americanhumanist.org)

It wasn’t the first time a government body has acknowledged Pastafarians’ right to wear spaghetti strainers in official capacities.

In 2011, Austrian Niko Alm was allowed to wear one his driver’s license, while in 2014 a member of the Pomfret (N.Y.) town council wore one as he took his oath of office.