Sikh Council has reacted to the brand new grooming coverage that the US Military introduced, barring everlasting shaving waivers past non secular lodging. Troopers may face expulsion in the event that they want shaving exemptions for greater than 12 months over a two-year interval, in line with the brand new guidelines. “That is about uniformity, self-discipline and requirements, and that is about coaching,” Steve Warren, a service spokesperson, stated.Sikh Coalition issued an announcement reacting to the grooming coverage and stated it has been demonstrated time and time once more that sustaining a beard poses no barrier to succesful and honorable navy service.“Over the course of our greater than 15 years of labor to help Sikhs with non secular lodging and battle for coverage modifications inside all branches of the navy, it has been demonstrated time and time once more that sustaining a beard poses no barrier to succesful and honorable navy service,” it stated, including that Sikh troopers wouldn’t be affected by the coverage as non secular lodging have been saved in thoughts. However the coalition stated that it could disproportionately hurt people with medical lodging, Black males, and South Asian males.“We’ve got seen elsewhere that insurance policies that discriminate towards these with a medical must shave are sometimes additionally used to infringe upon the rights of Sikhs who preserve their kesh (uncut hair) as an article of religion. Whereas non secular lodging stay exempt from this new steering for now, the Sikh Coalition stands in solidarity with troopers who could in the end be kicked out of the Military by this new shaving coverage, which can disproportionately have an effect on Black and South Asian males—particularly these with medical circumstances like pseudofolliculitis barbae,” it stated. “We stay dedicated to working alongside different marginalized teams as we proceed to battle for full equality of alternative for all certified people throughout the Division of Protection,” it stated.
