July
8, 2015 (New York, NY) – The Sikh Coalition and the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are thrilled to announce that a Sikh
employee at Walt Disney World will no longer be kept hidden from
public view of Disney visitors because of his religious appearance.
After the Sikh Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) intervened, Walt Disney World agreed to desegregate Gurdit
Singh, a mail carrier who had been barred from delivering mail
throughout Disney’s resorts and theme parks in view of
guests.
Gurdit Singh wears a turban and maintains
unshorn hair and a beard, which allegedly violate Disney’s “Look
Policy.” For seven years, Mr. Singh was restricted to delivering
mail to Disney corporate offices, on a single mail route that
shielded him from areas where Disney guests congregate. All of Mr.
Singh’s co-workers, however, rotated their routes every three weeks
and delivered mail in full view of Disney customers. Disney’s
segregation of Mr. Singh relegated him to an inferior position,
directly impacted his workload, created animosity amongst his
co-workers, and precluded his opportunities for professional
advancement.
Mr. Singh contacted the Sikh Coalition to help
him assert his right to be free of discrimination in the workplace.
Earlier this year, the Sikh Coalition partnered with the ACLU and
sent a forceful demand letter to Disney explaining that its
treatment of Mr. Singh violated the law. In response,Disney agreed to
fully desegregate Mr. Singh by allowing him to rotate his
delivery route like the rest of his colleagues who work in full view
of Disney guests.
“The motto at Disney World is that
it is a place ‘where dreams come true.’ For the past seven years,
the dream of having equal rights has not been the case for our
client,” said the Sikh Coalition’s Senior Staff Attorney, Gurjot
Kaur. “Disney was segregating an employee because of how he looks.
We welcome Disney’s decision to reverse course and we look forward
to this paving the way for other Sikh Americans to wear their
articles of faith publicly in jobs at Walt Disney World.”
The
Sikh Coalition thanks attorneys Daniel Mach and Heather Weaver at the
ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief for their partnership
on the case.
“I am grateful to the Sikh Coalition and
the ACLU for demanding that Walt Disney World give me back my dignity
and basic rights to practice my faith freely in the workplace,”
said Gurdit Singh. “Racial or religious-based segregation has no
place in our society. No one should have to face daily humiliation
because of his or her religious beliefs. I am also grateful to Disney
and hope this decision opens the door for other Sikhs and religious
minorities who wish to work for this company.”
As
always, the Sikh Coalition urges all Sikhs to practice their faith
fearlessly.