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| US Sikh soldier to call for change in law |
A decorated US Army soldier who in 2009 received an unprecedented exception to a decades-old rule barring Sikh turbans and unshorn hair - will testify about his experience in the military and why the rule must be changed at a US Civil Rights Commission hearing this week.
Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi is expected to call on the military to end its general ban on turbaned Sikh service during his testimony.
At present, prospective Sikh American soldiers seeking to serve in the U.S. armed services are presumptively barred from service unless they receive an exemption to maintain their religiously-mandated turbans and unshorn hair.
Major Kalsi will argue that during a time when the military is opening its doors to LGBT service members and allowing females to serve in combat positions, it should also eliminate irrational bars on Sikh American service in the military because Sikh religious practices in no way prevent a soldier from serving with excellence.
Uniform rules preventing Sikhs from service also prevent observant Jewish American and Muslim American soldiers as well.
Major Kalsi will also make the point that military diversity helps project a positive image to the world of American values in action.