Restaurant hires only "hot, white girls"

[Jenn! 918]

Feds Sue Ellensburg Restaurant Owner Over Racial Remark

August 16, 2006

By Associated Press

SPOKANE, WASH. - The federal government is suing a restaurant in Ellensburg after a black employee contended she was refused a better-paying job because she is a Muslim and because the owner wanted only "hot, white girls" to be cocktail servers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

The lawsuit contends the owner of the Starlight Lounge failed to promote waitress Angela Harper to a cocktail server position because of race and religion.

"I was shocked to realize that I would never be promoted because of my race and religion," Harper said in a press release from the EEOC.

Harper, who wears a headscarf in observance of her Muslim faith, sought the more lucrative cocktail server position, but the owner said she was looking only for "hot, white girls" to be cocktail servers, the EEOC said.

Restaurant owner Doris Morgan denied making the comment, saying it was made to Harper by a disgruntled former manager of the restaurant who no longer works there.

"The Starlight Lounge is a nice, upscale restaurant and lounge," Morgan said in a telephone interview. "It is the most diverse, tolerant business in Ellensburg. We have always hired people of all races and genders."

...

Race and religious discrimination is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC said. The agency filed the lawsuit only after first attempting to reach a settlement with Morgan.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, training on anti-discrimination laws, posting of notices at the work site and other relief.

"It is disturbing to know that in today's workplace, there are still those employers who place more value on people's skin color or religion than in their capacity as loyal and hardworking employees," said Joan Ehrlich, district director of the EEOC in San Francisco.

...

http://www.komotv.com/stories/44968.htm

This story reminded me of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine accuses the owner of Monk's of discriminating against flat-chested women when it came to hiring waitresses. Turned out they were all his daughters.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

She's just hatin' cuz she's a butterface.

[samir_shannon 0]

Gupt LOL

[Alex+R 0]

Well, I believe it. Certain establishments DO usually just hire hot girls. Whether it was about her race or religion, I somehow doubt. Whether covered Muslim women fit the "hot" stereotype... well, I have never seen a hijabi in a rap video, if you know what I mean. It's just not accepted as hot.

I bet she didn't get the job for not being hot. Or, ahem, for being a butterface.

[Veiled Princess 1]

A "cocktail waitress" would imply she is wanting to serve "cocktails" no? Cocktails are alcoholic?

[Alex+R 0]

A "cocktail waitress" would imply she is wanting to serve "cocktails" no? Cocktails are alcoholic?

Does Islam say that you not only can't drink alcohol but also can't SERVE alcohol?

[Veiled Princess 1]

A "cocktail waitress" would imply she is wanting to serve "cocktails" no? Cocktails are alcoholic?

Does Islam say that you not only can't drink alcohol but also can't SERVE alcohol?

Muslims can't serve, sell, make, distribute, tansport or consume alcohol.

[Alex+R 0]

Hmmmm well then she must not be THAT observant, huh... wow. Well her cover's blown there.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A "cocktail waitress" would imply she is wanting to serve "cocktails" no? Cocktails are alcoholic?

Does Islam say that you not only can't drink alcohol but also can't SERVE alcohol?

Muslims can't serve, sell, make, distribute, tansport or consume alcohol.

Obviously, not all Muslims are equally observant. Half the liquor stores in my area are owned by Pakistanis.

[Alex+R 0]

On the other side of the issue, do you think it's ok for establishments like bars and restaurants to use physical appearance (not tidiness, but body shape, hair color, etc.) to choose employees? Obviously it's illegal; obviously it's also in practice at thousands of establishments.

[Jenn! 918]

A "cocktail waitress" would imply she is wanting to serve "cocktails" no? Cocktails are alcoholic?

Does Islam say that you not only can't drink alcohol but also can't SERVE alcohol?

Muslims can't serve, sell, make, distribute, tansport or consume alcohol.

Obviously, not all Muslims are equally observant. Half the liquor stores in my area are owned by Pakistanis.

I was going to say the same thing. I've only traveled to one Muslim country, but I did not find many Moroccan men to be particularly observant of this rule.

On the other side of the issue, do you think it's ok for establishments like bars and restaurants to use physical appearance (not tidiness, but body shape, hair color, etc.) to choose employees? Obviously it's illegal; obviously it's also in practice at thousands of establishments.

Yes, I think it's OK. If I decided to open up a Moroccan restaurant, I wouldn't want some pale, skinny, blonde girl working there. I believe business owners should be able to choose those sorts of things, like allowing smoking as well...

[Veiled Princess 1]

On the other side of the issue, do you think it's ok for establishments like bars and restaurants to use physical appearance (not tidiness, but body shape, hair color, etc.) to choose employees? Obviously it's illegal; obviously it's also in practice at thousands of establishments.

How is it illegal? If an obese woman walks into a strip club looking for a job as a dancer she's not gonna get it... unless maybe if it's that kind of club... and all the lawsuits in the world isn't gonna help her.

Same thing goes at hooters.

Same thing goes for most establishments that profit from the exploitation of women.

Obviously, not all Muslims are equally observant. Half the liquor stores in my area are owned by Pakistanis.

I was going to say the same thing. I've only traveled to one Muslim country, but I did not find many Moroccan men to be particularly observant of this rule.

True but I think what got my goat with this story is her complaining that she can't practice her religion there and serve alcohol at the same time...

Edited August 17, 2006 by Veiled Princess

[vartan 0]

She is just suing because she can.. and she will win .. even though her religion says she can't sell alcohol .. cause you can't ask about her religion cause that is not right either.. its horrible how people sue for everything.

[Alex+R 0]

On the other side of the issue, do you think it's ok for establishments like bars and restaurants to use physical appearance (not tidiness, but body shape, hair color, etc.) to choose employees? Obviously it's illegal; obviously it's also in practice at thousands of establishments.

How is it illegal? If an obese woman walks into a strip club looking for a job as a dancer she's not gonna get it... unless maybe if it's that kind of club... and all the lawsuits in the world isn't gonna help her.

Same thing goes at hooters.

Same thing goes for most establishments that profit from the exploitation of women.

Well, where is the line drawn? Why should a waitress be in the same category as a stripper? Why isn't she in the same category as bankers, butchers, accountants or pipefitters?

[Fandango 1,440]

On the other side of the issue, do you think it's ok for establishments like bars and restaurants to use physical appearance (not tidiness, but body shape, hair color, etc.) to choose employees? Obviously it's illegal; obviously it's also in practice at thousands of establishments.

How is it illegal? If an obese woman walks into a strip club looking for a job as a dancer she's not gonna get it... unless maybe if it's that kind of club... and all the lawsuits in the world isn't gonna help her.

Same thing goes at hooters.

Same thing goes for most establishments that profit from the exploitation of women.

Well, where is the line drawn? Why should a waitress be in the same category as a stripper? Why isn't she in the same category as bankers, butchers, accountants or pipefitters?

Because a waitress is eye candy