MORRISON, Colo. — The renowned concert venue, Red Rocks, frequented by music lovers from all walks of life, is imposing restrictions on the way their staff looks. Employees are now pushing back, saying this violates their right to self-expression and individuality.
A segment of the policy obtained by 9NEWS outlines a new dress code and staff appearance guidelines. Many employees would not interview with 9News fearing retaliation or job loss for speaking out.
But, for Amanda Wray, working at Red Rocks is her second job, alongside her primary employment in healthcare. She says she works there, because she loves it.
“I could make a lot more money doing a second job in my profession. But instead, I would rather be out here… It doesn't get old. I think I worked over 100 shows last season and to the very last show, it's like… It's Red Rocks, it's the best place in the city,” Wray said.
Approaching her third season, Red Rocks isn’t just a job for Wray, it has served as a sanctuary for self-expression.
She discovered her true self later in life, coming out as a lesbian at 28. Wray says she embraced her identity through getting tattoos and piercings, each one symbolizing her journey toward self-acceptance.
"Some people just get tattoos because they're pretty but for me, they are part of me," Wray explained. "It is the story of my life."
Wray says the magic of Red Rocks mostly has to do with the diversity of people who attend. The venue has allowed her to be herself and in turn, forge connections with fellow concertgoers who share her affinity for tattoos and piercings.
However, Wray says the guidelines threaten to diminish this sense of belonging for and her colleagues.
The policy limits facial hair; including sideburns, beards, and mustaches, bans facial piercings including nose, eyebrow, and tongue piercings, and mandates coverage for tattoos deemed “vulgar, explicit, or offensive.”
In a statement to 9NEWS, the city agency that operates Red Rocks, Denver Arts & Venues, said they have guidelines for uniforms and appearance to ensure people can identify their employees.
The full statement from Denver Arts & Venues is below.
Many employees find themselves at odds with the new regulations, arguing that their appearances have never hindered their work ethic. Some have opted not to return to work, viewing the policy as a compromise of their personal identity.
"We've always felt free to express ourselves here, but now it feels like we're being asked to hide a part of who we are," Wray lamented. “I was honestly really sad because I've spent the whole first part of my life hiding who I was.”
In response, a petition has emerged, seeking public support to challenge the policy change.
“Most of the employees are scared to speak out, just because they love this place. They want to keep working here, and so they're afraid to jeopardize that. But, I think if the community comes together and supports us, that goes much further than then we can ever manage,” Wray said.
Wray said her and other employees' efforts to communicate with city leaders who implemented the guidelines have been met with silence.
"We will ensure the guidelines are contemporary, speak to our current date and time, while also providing a welcoming experience for all patrons who attend the venue,” a spokesperson from Denver Arts & Venues said in their statement.
Despite her love for Red Rocks, Wray finds herself at a crossroads, torn between her personal identity and the workplace she once cherished.
“Being asked to, hide those things is being asked to hide a piece of me… I'm contemplating coming back or not just because my personal identity is so important to me at this point,” said Wray.
Full statement from Denver Arts & Venues:
We value the hard work and dedication of our staff who provide services at Red Rocks. We also value diversity and inclusion of all types. We are looking into the pre-existing employee guidelines to ensure they reflect the values of our diverse city. Like many live performance venues, Red Rocks has standards and guidelines for uniform and appearance to support easy identification of employees, both for customer service and safety protocols. We will ensure the guidelines are contemporary, speak to our current date and time, while also providing a welcoming experience for all patrons who attend the venue.
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