Sikh Cast Member at Walt Disney World Resort Can Wear Turban and Long Beard in View of Guests

POSTED: Tue, 07/14/2015 - 16:00 | POSTED BY: Traci C.

The Walt Disney World Resort has recently reversed a long-standing decision that forbid a Sikh cast member from performing his job in sight of park guests because his appearance violated the company's "Disney Look." The cast member, Gurdit Singh, is now allowed to wear a turban and a long, tied beard in his position as a mail carrier.

Disney reverses policy on cast member appearance

The announcement of the policy reversal was made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Earlier this year the ACLU and the Sikh Coalition had sent a letter to Disney on Singh's behalf asking that he be allowed to work on all routes while wearing his turban and a tied beard.

For the last seven years Singh could only deliver mail to the corporate offices and was not allowed to rotate his routes to deliver mail throughout the Walt Disney World Resort because of his appearance. According to the ACLU this created animosity among co-workers and limited Singh's possibility for advancement in his job.

Disney's guidelines for cast members allow beards with restrictions including length (no more than a quarter of an inch). The headwear guidelines allow "hats made of natural materials" with small brims "for protection from the sun."

Turbans are not mentioned in the guidelines although the policies do allow for "reasonable accommodations" for "sincerely held religious beliefs."

What are your thoughts on Disney's appearance policy? Let us know in the comments.

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JACQUE wrote on Tue, 07/14/2015 - 16:34:

Too bad Disney is allowing these people to change the rules. The dress code was there when he was hired. If he could not live by it, HE should have gone to work somewhere else! I am tired of them making us change to accommodate their beliefs!

Paul C wrote on Tue, 07/14/2015 - 18:38:

Good for Disney to change it's policy to be more inclusive.

Sleepiness wrote on Tue, 07/14/2015 - 21:39:

While I don't think a mailman is that big of a deal, I do worry about a slippery slope as far as CM appearances. I live in an area that has seen a great rise in religious violence and it scares me. I don't want to go to Disney and see anything religious quite frankly, not even my own. We go to Disney to escape. I guess it's not the most PC thinking, but leave all religions in your personal life when you're working for the Mouse.

crazycatperson wrote on Tue, 07/14/2015 - 21:56:

Definitely the right thing to do. I'd love to see the official Disney look expand to accommodate more ethnic and cultural diversity.

Kristen K. wrote on Wed, 07/15/2015 - 13:53:

+1 for freedom of religion and worship! It does my heart good to see this story because equality is what America is supposed to be all about.

ScottFL wrote on Wed, 07/15/2015 - 16:08:

Ironic to think that the Disney concept of welcoming everyone really shouldn't apply to 'some' of the 'everyone'.

DisneyLover wrote on Wed, 07/15/2015 - 22:58:

Lets get it right, he sewed WDW and won. So they had to change it for him.

Kristen K. wrote on Wed, 07/15/2015 - 23:30:

Very rarely does anyone win when they sue Disney. This isn't the first legal fight that they've had with a cast member who wanted to cover their hair for religious reasons at work. I hope that the policy gets changed once and for all.

ElaineE88 wrote on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 00:45:

If the man didn't want to work for Disney he would not have been there for 7 years. I'm glad Disney changed the policy. They don't ban visitors based on religious beliefs or garb, why would they turn away a loyal cast member? You wouldn't even see this gentleman in the parks as a cast member anyway. If you read the article it states he would be permitted to bring mail to the resorts in addition to the corporate offices. Open your mind. We live in (and he works in) America, a cultural melting pot. This is a great step in the right direction. Thank you Disney.

Kathy S wrote on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 10:17:

Before you apply for a job check their rules. If they are not fior you - don't apply. I think it's wrong that Disney caved for religious reasons. When I go to Disney I love that there's a complete overall look among the cast members. I don't want to have to be at Disney and see religion or any ethnic wardrobe - I want to be there with my family and enjoy our time escaping the real world for a few short days.

Zilli wrote on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 10:38:

I guess Epcot was one of the parks where it kinda was allowed to wear kind of traditional threads because of the ethnic themes. But by enforcing rules such as no beards & turbands makes it for a really large group impossible to work there.

Lindi wrote on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 11:47:

The policy was in place BEFORE he was hired in. He knew this. Dress code policies are there for a reason ESPECIALLY in Disney. You don't agree to policies, get hired in and then try to change them. Regardless of the religious factor--he knew the rules when he started.

Joan wrote on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 16:24:

Ridiculous. I am all for religious freedom , but if you go to a place w a dress code... Abide by it. Or try out for job in Epcot lands!

Jared wrote on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 21:24:

Give him a promotion, let him be Alladin for a character meet-and-greet, everybody's happy... BOOM.. Done

Terri wrote on Sat, 07/25/2015 - 03:29:

This begins a Slippery Slippery slope. The guy knew the code when he was hired. Then fights to change it. It's WRONG!!! This is the dress code has been since to company began. There is a look and feel to Disney to help with the Magic!!!! It's the reason for this dress code. You should see all the CMs coming into the dressing rooms and the change some of them make coming out. It's what's done if you want to work there. Stop trying to make everyone happy. If they don't like the rules find another place of employment

Big Daddy wrote on Tue, 09/19/2017 - 12:11:

@Terri please shut up and stop talking. You are making no type of sense. please just stop talking.

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