This is a prime example whee the letter of “the Law” contradicts the (perceived) Spirit of “the Place” (Walt was in truth a bigot and might have insisted on “the Law” for just this sort of situation). People expect diversity at places like Disney World, and attempts at uniformity contradict that expectation. This is a fundamental issue for the managment of Disney’s Theme Park managers to work through. Then the cast members and those who hire them can be better prepared for the conflicts wen they happen.
I knew this would show up here because it was on the Disney fan websites a couple of days ago. I hope the Disney suits will find a way to deal appropriately with this suit.

First of all Sikh’s look very dignified and exotic with their turbans, think he would have looked quite interesting in the band at Disneyland. Second why should a supervisor have the authority to remove anyone who looks different than the crowd working around him, without bringing management into the question? Doesn’t sound like a professionaly run organization. Then the Christmas after refuse his application for work again. A Disney spokesman said he didn’t seek re-employment, I suppose if there wasn’t an application on file by the Sikh, that the supervisor might have just filed it in the wastebasket?
Jest I never heard anyone in CA ever say Walt Disney was a bigot, what’s that about?

Interesting posts, j and H. I agree it would not hurt my enjoyment an iota to see a turbaned man playing, or a sari’d woman or ….

All I’m saying is he could work in the Aladdin display but he certainly couldn’t be Mickey.

Disney is thoroughly obsessive about every detail in its parks. Not the least of this is “the Disney Look”. They have strict regulations about the appearance and demeanor of cast members (a.k.a. park employees) who have any contact with guests. This is not the first time religious values have conflicted with the Disney obsession.
As to Walt’s biggotry, even the most generous biographies have not been able to mask very well his many prejudices. He was not especially toplerant of many people. Some excuse this as the quirks of a creative mind. But sometimes it became a problem. I refer you to any of the bio’s, though the most recent “Walt” (I forget the biographer) is considered excellent – both complementary and critical.
As a life-long Disney fan I am sometimes put off by the ways the Disney leadership tries to control everything they contact. There is no denying that much of it works well. But I have noticed that the tighter the economy and the lower the attendence numbers, the more rigid management gets. Once they loosen a bit, the attendence numbers begin to rise again. I love Disney World and the ways it presents exciting yet peaceful ways humanity can work together. But the underpinnings are often anything but peaceful.

A place of employment has the right to set dress codes and expect its employees to look a certain way, within reason. If there’s a dress code, you have to follow it. Whether it’s wearing a white, collared shirt and black pants at a supermarket, what my haidresser has to wear in her salon, what schools demand kids wear or not wear, or whatever, you have to follow the rules.
If this Sikh needed to wear his turban no matter what, then he needed to find a place where his religious obligations did not interfere with his work duties. People expect a Disney character to look like a Disney character, not like an easily identifiable ethnic whatever the person has to be. I don’t see many (if any) bearded, hatted Orthodox Jews working as Disney characters or in public view, either. They might be backstage somewhere, however.
It’s a business, after all, and is legally obligated only to make reasonable accommodations in this regard.

You bring a good point ecl, but the Sikh when asked to be some sort of Disney animal mentioned in above article wore the costume without complaint, as well as the toy soldier outfit. He also said he had permission from Disney to wear his Turban instead of the Beret that everyone else wore in the band. The Supervisor overuled the authority of someone else at Disney and said he didn’t look his part with a beard and turban, and took him out. This doesn’t sound right to me, and no wonder he brought a lawsuit against Disneyworld. This is a place of amusement, not some swanky Beauty Salon on Market St. in San Francisco, or a Law office with distinguished lawyers, and clientele. And as far as a Sikh not being thought of as a Disney Character, how about Arabian Nights? Or other Childrens stories? It doesn’t seem like a huge stretch to me to see a Sikh or even an orthodox Jew wearing a cap and beard playing music in Disneyworld. I’ve never been to Disneyworld in florida, but many times to Disneyland in California, and I don’t believe this would have occured there.

No way should a private business have to change its policies to accommodate apparel it sees as not conducive to its presentation. The turban is actually like saying now Disney must allow other religions to display their particular brand of symbols if it was a Christian demanding to wear Christian apparel there would be a instant outcry. It’s Disney Land and should be stamped with any other distinction.

Turbans, scarves, jewish caps, are part of who these individuals are, and since the Christians I know don’t wear the apparel that Jesus did to show it is a part of who they are I can’t picture a large outcry from the Presybeterians, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Lutherans. It seems childish not to let people be who they are in an Amusement Park.

It’s a privately owned “amusement park” key word being amusement so Disney’s idea of how to create that atmosphere is the only opinion that matters here.
It’s funny that you used the word “childish” as an insult to other opinions but that’s what they are going for a park that reminds people of carefree and child like fun; religious statements has no place there. And yes Christians certainly wear apparel with statements of faith, like my Christian t shirts, crosses and hats are very much a part of me but I’m so sure I wouldn’t be allowed to wear them to work if I worked for Disney and I wouldn’t be surprised.

It’s a privately owned “amusement park”
Technically, that statement is debatable, since Disney is a publicly held company.
However, a corporation still has a right to enforce dress codes. Disney is extraordinarily careful about controlling all aspects of what the public gets to see.

Disney contols all aspects of what the public gets to see because it wants to continue to be profitable. If they feel some particular thing will cause them to lose money then they have the right and an obligation to pursue other avenues.