A woman from Utah tried her religious freedom by having her drivers license picture taken on Oct. 29 wearing a colander on her head, representing her belief in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, according to The Spectrum.
Asia Lemmon, whose name on her license is Jessica Steinhauser, is a St. George resident a former porn star who performed under the name Asia Carrera, The Spectrum reported.
Lemmon said she faced almost no resistance when she announced her religious belief and how she would like her picture taken, The New York Daily News reported.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster movement, also known as "Pastafarianism," started in 2005 as a protest against teaching intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in Kansas schools, according to The Spectrum.
About two years ago the first Pastafarians emerged, state officials determined the church is a recognized religion and its members don't require any special paperwork, she said, The Spectrum reported.
Lemmon said she wasn't sure if officials at the Division of Motor Vehicles office in Hurricane would allow her to wear the headgear, but "it was surprisingly really, really easy," according to The Spectrum.
"I'm a really proud, outspoken atheist," Lemmon said, The Spectrum reported. "I am proud of Utah for allowing freedom of all religions in what is considered by many to be a one-religion state."
According to Nannette Rolfe, the director of Utah's Driver License Division, about a dozen Pastafarians have had their state driver's license photos taken with a similar colander or pasta strainer on their heads in recent years, according to The Spectrum.
"As long as we can get a visual of the face, we're fine if they choose to wear the headgear," she added, The Spectrum reported.
