I started working at Hooters in Huntsville, Alabama a year and a half ago. When I first started, it was the greatest thing to me. I was able to be myself in an atmosphere that promoted self-love and confidence--or so I thought. In the beginning, the tattoo policy never bothered me much, seeing as I had no visible tattoos to cover. However, last October, I got a tattoo on my arm to commemorate my father and the service he did for our country. It was very well done with nothing offensive hidden within it. In the beginning, it never really bothered me to cover my tattoo. After all, it was a rule, and rules are meant to be followed. I'd seen many girls do it, so it was just a natural habit to follow suit. However, as time has passed, I've begun to think of this policy as suppressing. Not only suppressing to the history of what my father has done for our country, but suppressing to who I am as a person. See, without my father, I wouldn't be half the woman I am today. This man has raised me to be a strong, independent, and kind. One of the greatest lessons he has taught me, though, is to be vocal and to stand up for the things I believe in, which is exactly what I am doing. 

Most of the guests that visit our store tell us how dated they think the policy is and how they wish we didn't have to cover them at all. As a matter of fact, most of the women I work with have tattoos. We hear daily, multiple times a day at that, that it looks much worse when we have makeup slathered across our bodies. People constantly want to learn about our tattoos and the decision and thought process that went into our artwork. Each and every tattoo tells a story. They help tell our own personal narratives, and they help explain who we are as people. I've made this petition in the hopes that our corporate office can sit down and reflect upon the policies they have set towards our image. Things are much different than they were in 1983, when Hooters was born. Times have changed, and people have changed. I think its fair that we ask for a change as well.