Driver’s licence photos are usually a serious affair, but one Pastafarian in Australia is trying to challenge the process.
Benjamin Ady from Melbourne, believes in Pastafarianism, which is a parody religion that’s also known as The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster. Members of the religion are known to wear spaghetti strainers on their heads.
The unusual religion was started in the U.S. by 25-year-old Bobby Henderson in 2005 as a protest against teaching students only one alternative to evolution in public schools.
On Wednesday, Ady battled with motor registry staff at VicsRoads in Carlton, Melbourne to wear his headgear for religious reasons in his licence photo. He documented the events in a series of videos uploaded to YouTube.
VicRoads staff told Ady he wouldn’t be allowed to wear the strainer, even though religious headgear is allowed in licence photos. “Not this particular religion,” Ady was told by one VicRoads staff member.
“I just want to be able to wear my religious headgear, like all of the other religions in my driver’s licence photo,” Ady can be heard saying.
In this video below, VicRoads staff finally budge on their initial decision and Ady’s photo is taken, but he’s warned by another VicRoads staff member that if the photo gets rejected, he will not receive his licence. It’s not yet known if the photo has been rejected by VicRoads.
Other Pastafarians have tried their hand at wearing their spaghetti strainers during licence photos, including this woman in Massachusetts and another fellow Australian last year. Benjamin Ady has been contacted for comment.
Based on these recent events, it’s safe to say this is becoming quite the trend amongst followers of The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster.
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