Planet Fitness has a dress code it asks its members to adhere to: “no jeans, work boots, bandannas, skull caps or revealing apparel" but 37-year-old Tarainia McDaniel feels she should be able to wear a head covering to the gym. Apparently she transferred from one New Mexico gym that allowed her to wear one, to one that did not. Back in 2011 she showed up at the new location, and she was told she was not allowed to work out as long as she wore the head covering. So, almost three years later, she has suddenly decided to sue the company for a violation of the Human Rights and Unfair Practices Acts, claiming that they denied her entrance because she was either Muslim or black.
According to McDaniels, when she arrived at the gym on October 3, 2011 wearing a head scarf, she was told she could not work out at that facility because she did not meet Planet Fitness dress code. She says that even after she told them she was a Muslim and wore the 'informal head covering' for religious purposes, and that she'd be happy to wear the more formal 'hijab', she was told no.
According to Planet Fitness:
"..they didn't know the head covering was for religious purposes," and that “.... our policy is, and has always been, that members are allowed to wear head scarves for religious reasons in our clubs."
Planet Fitness claims it did not violate any of McDaniel's rights, but there is no reason given as to why she was not allowed access even though they say they allow religious head coverings.
What I want to know is why did she wait this long to file suit?
Source: Al Arabiya
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