Are turbans ok in nightclubs?

[ravdhindsa]

Hey guys, me and two other mates are travelling down to Miami from England to watch Wrestlemania 28. We're staying on South Beach and want to go out at night to generally get smashed and have a good time in clubs but the only problem is that we are all Sikhs and two of us actually wear turbans (not the crazy sort the media portrays, the normal ones lol) so we were wondering.......... a) Will we actually be let into any clubs because of our turbans? b) Is it more likely we'll get into the club if we wear stylish, trendy hats instead of our turbans? c) Is it safe for us to go out at night? Any replies will be appreciated so please get back to me. Thank you. Rav

[GandJ]

Rav -

It is very rare to see Sikhs in South Beach, so I honestly can't say how the clubs would react. If your friends are wearing basic dhamalas, hopefully they should be let in. Keep the Kirpans covered, or they might think it's a weapon.
The club doormen don't seem to be the brightest bulbs in the world, and since Sikhs are so rare in South Beach, the club doormen might mistakenly assume you are Arabs. That could work in your favor, as they'll assume you have a deep wallet.

Anyway, most important is that you have girls / women with you. Guys have trouble getting in by themselves.

Have a fun time.


Glenn

[Christy]

Hi Rav,

South Beach is safe, you'll be fine going out at night..everyone else is out and about. The clubs are so strict in Miami that I wouldn't be surprised if you got turned away because of the turnbans. People get turned away for silly reasons all the time. I would book bottle service, go to the door without the turban, and then put it on after you're inside.

[ravdhindsa]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to respond Glenn and Christy. Look's like we'll just have to see what happens on the night! Maybe I'll ask the hotel concierge to find out in advance from promoters etc if we can get in. Thanks for your help and I'll actually be sure to let you know what actually happend when I get back from holiday lol

[Jess]

I would DEFINITELY go with the hat over the turban. I am sorry to have to offer this advice, but I want you guys to enjoy your holiday as you deserve to. And you don't want it ruined by a few stupid ignorant doormen. You may get mistaken for arabs who are rich but you also might have to deal with other kinds of views as South Beach is a vain and unforgiving place to go out.

That being said, you will have a wonderful time and enjoy the wrestling, weather and atmosphere of South Beach. So well done for checking out the situation before you arrive. South Beach is safe at night to be out in, it is busy 24/7 here so there isn't much street crime to worry about like in other cities.

[Matt Meltzer]

Bottom line, if you're going to spend a lot of money in there, you could go with a giant Carmen Miranda fruit basket on your head and they'd let you in. Legit, buy a few bottles and you're ok. If you're just trying to go, like walk up and get in, yeah you may have some problems.

[dylan]

You may get turned down because South Beach can be a little shallow, trendy hats would probably be your best bet if you are permitted to. Or maybe where a slimmer profile turban under a hat possibly. Also you may want to watch out for some racist, intoxicated, "not polite people" they might give you a bit of a hard time.

[Doug]

It seems like they would be concerned about religious discrimination issues if they turned someone away for wearing a turban. I didn't know that Sikhs got "smashed", lol!

[rk]

Of course they could also be sued for discrimination based on sex, weight, age, national origin and many other reasons which are illegal, but enforcement is very selective.

[Doug]

Maybe as far as criminal charges, but there's always civil....

[Christy]

I agree with rk..I wonder what ever happened with that girl who wanted to sue Tantra because she felt they turned her away because she was overweight.

Rav, I gave my answer based on bridal veils and crowns that bachelorettes try to wear to the clubs. We've been told by a promoter here to show up at the door sans headpiece, and put it on when they get inside. I would think the same holds true for a turban.

And Doug, as far as doormen having any concern for religion, they would never let any woman in with a conservative outfit. So that would turn away Amish, Orthodox Jews, and Muslim women if they dressed in traditional clothes. Catholic girls like me never have this problem..lots of fun dresses in my closet!

[GandJ]

You may get turned down because South Beach can be a little shallow, trendy hats would probably be your best bet if you are permitted to. Or maybe where a slimmer profile turban under a hat possibly. Also you may want to watch out for some racist, intoxicated, "not polite people" they might give you a bit of a hard time.

dylan -

It's not about racism. Sikhs aren't necessrily a particular race. Sikhs come from various races. Sikhism is a religion. Also, they can't necessarly wear a "slim profile" turban. Christy mentioned slipping it on after getting in the club. But, it can't just be "slipped on." It is a long piece of fabric (like 15 feet) that is used for wrapping and bundling their hair. Strict Sikhs NEVER cut their hair, so there's a whole lot of hair wrapped up in that turban.

If anything, they could have a religious discrimination claim if denied entry, but good luck collecting on that. It seems that the clubs discriminate for any reason they want. There's a gray line as to whether they can discriminate. Just being "private" doesn't necessrily protect them. There are lots of private companies that are not allowed to discriminate. Generally, to be allowed to outright discriminate, you have to be a private organization or club with a "membership" ... things like private golf clubs, fraternal organizations like the ELKS, or Masons, etc. The South Beach clubs are not private "membership" clubs. They are private companies (just as many companies are private), and they market to the public. They are not a private "membership" organization. They invite the public via advertisement, etc.

Places like the ELKS club, Masons, etc., don't tell the public, "Hey, come to our place to see this band, this DJ, blah, blah, blah", ... and then turn you away at the door when you show up. Places like the ELKS are membership clubs and don't try to solicit business from the public, ... but South Beach clubs do try to solicit business from the public. If you're not going to be a membership club, and you're going to solicit the public, you need to follow different rules than private membership clubs.

I'd think that if someone wanted to push the issue, and spend the big $$$ for legal fees, he or she could win a civil discimination case against the club.


Glenn


Glenn

[Carlos Miller]

If you're that serious about Sikhism, then you wouldn't be getting "smashed" as the religion forbids intoxicants.

At least according to these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibitions_in_Sikhism

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_true_Sikhs_drink_alcohol

http://www.info-sikh.com/GoraPage2.html

So save yourself the drama and remove the turban for a night. Or leave it on and report back to us as to what happens.

[GandJ]

If you're that serious about Sikhism, then you wouldn't be getting "smashed" as the religion forbids intoxicants.

At least according to these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibitions_in_Sikhism

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_true_Sikhs_drink_alcohol

http://www.info-sikh.com/GoraPage2.html

So save yourself the drama and remove the turban for a night. Or leave it on and report back to us as to what happens.

I guess like the adherants of most religions, not everyone follows every tenet of the religion. Baptists who drink, Jews who aren't strictly kosher, etc. Some people are very serious about some parts of their religion, but don't necessarily believe in all parts. A common example are Catholics who are okay with birth control, but adamant about not having an abortion. Their being okay with birth control does not negate their seriousness about being against having an abortion, etc.

Rav's friends might be very serious about the hair / turban thing, but not about alcohol.


Glenn

[Carlos Miller]

I'm just being my typical anti-religion self. I find it all so cultish, including Catholicism, which I was raised under.

But my point was, it will probably be laughed out of court if somebody tries to claim discrimination against their religion when they openly admit they wanted to get smashed, which is a violation of their religion.

[Blackford Oakes]

The religion question is often misguided by many. Look at the foolish reaction to Tebow's team losing yesterday. It should be used soley for guidance and not a replacement of Faith.

I'm not one to critize anyone's religion or call it a cult, but there comes a time one needs to conform with society if you want to partake in some of it's graces.


On a personal level, I'm pretty much a Catholic as Glenn described. I get the formality of the ceremony, yet I don't subscribe to everything. If I did, I'd believe the planets revolve around the Earth.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Rav, I'm a bit late to this discussion but I do want to point out it is extremely rare to see a Sikh in Miami-Dade. In fact, I saw a handsome elegantly dressed Sikh the other day in central dade working at driver's license office and was amazed. South Beach can be a very shallow place and I can practically guarantee you will get weird looks and comments as the many people will be ignorant about your dress.

That being said, however, you can thoroughly enjoy being the odd one out if you have a good sense of humor. And there are tourists and people from all over the world hanging around anyway.

Clubs are the least democratic and accommodating of all private businesses ... as everyone has mentioned, they discriminate on everything ... and this is true of any city that has this kind of night life.

I hope you'll keep us posted on what happens! And do enjoy your vacation. There are plenty of great bars in South Beach too where you can get smashed and meet some cool locals. (Just search our threads.)

[Maria de los Angeles]

If anyone has seen the movie The English Patient, you will recall one of the characters is a Sikh and there is a scene where he is washing his hair and the nurse brings him some olive oil for conditioning it. The turban can't just be slipped on and off. There's a lot of gorgeous hair! Would put any extensions salon to shame.

[Jess]

Bottom line, if you're going to spend a lot of money in there, you could go with a giant Carmen Miranda fruit basket on your head and they'd let you in.

Ohhhh so sad but true!!!! I hope someone does it one day.

[GandJ]

Ohhhh so sad but true!!!! I hope someone does it one day.

Love it! (The Carmen Miranda hat)