‘Pastafarian’ Gains The Right To Wear A Pasta Strainer In Her Driver’s License Photo

When Asia Lemmon, a former adult film star and mother of two, visited the Department of Motor Vehicles in Hurricane, Utah to renew her driver’s license recently, her experience roughly resembled that of most Americans: She stood in line, filled out forms, and signed tedious paperwork.
When it came time to take a new picture for Lemmon’s license, however, things took an odd turn. As officials readied the camera, Lemmon abruptly placed a colander on top of her head. She encountered initial resistance from confused DMV workers, but after explaining that she was a “Pastafarian” and presenting paperwork detailing how the headgear was a component of her religion, officials relented and snapped the photo.
But while Lemmon, whose legal name is Jessica Steinhauser and who previously went by Asia Carrera when working in the adult film industry, persuaded DMV workers by appealing to freedom of religion, she later explained her larger reasoning was a bit more complicated.
“I’m a really proud, outspoken atheist,” Lemmon told The Spectrum. “I am proud of Utah for allowing freedom of all religions in what is considered by many to be a one-religion state. I wanted to see if I could (wear the colander) in Utah. I wasn’t sure if they would let me.”