J. Patrick CoolicanUpdated, with response from Disney.
Disneyland has found itself in a bit of a PR nightmare the past week as they've allegedly not allowed a Muslim restaurant hostess to wear a hijab, a traditional head covering. The woman, Imane Boudlal, has filed a claim with the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, saying the prohibition amounts to religious discrimination. Disneyland has said they've been working to accommodate her. Boudlal's union, Unite Here Local 11, says Disney has allowed Boudlal to wear the hijab, but only in the absence of customers. (Wait: Apparently we can have a Muslim as President of the United States but not as Disneyland restaurant hostess? What gives?)
Now, according to the union, the geniuses at Disney have come up with their own alternative head covering, proving again that human beings can be both well-meaning, and incredibly stupid. Local 11 sent over a photo of the hilarious bonnet and hat contraption they've given the woman to wear. Take a look, after the jump.
As our colleague notes, how about some mouse ears on the hat?
Disney, from whom we're awaiting a response, has previously denied discrimination and blamed a longstanding feud with the union, which wants a new contract for Disney's hotel workers.
“The company values diversity and has a long-standing policy against discrimination of any kind,'' spokeswoman Suzi Brown said last week. “Unfortunately, this is yet another attempt by Local 11 to distort the facts and distract from the real issue that their members have been without a contract for two and a half years.''
Unite Here has staged numerous protests against Disneyland for more than two years.
Disney spokeswoman Brown emailed the following statement: We met with Ms. Boudlal on Saturday and presented her with several options. She asked that the costume be altered. Those alterations were made and a modified costume was presented to her that meets our costuming guidelines and which we believe provides an accommodation of her religious beliefs. We also provided four different roles that she could transition to that would allow her to wear her own hijab. She has twice chosen to reject all of the options that we've presented.
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