- The New York City Council seems poised to pass a bill banning weight and height discrimination.
- The bill applies to employment opportunities, housing and public facilities.
- Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey and New York may enact similar policies. Washington Post.
New York City lawmakers are poised to pass a bill outlawing discrimination based on weight and height, reports say.
of SpecificationCity councilman Sean Abreu introduced it last spring.
The bill is currently undergoing committee hearings, according to the legislative branch of Congress websiteThe bill won 33 co-sponsors, more than the 26 affirmative votes required for passage, and Mayor Eric Adams signaled His support for legislation, The Post reported.
“This has been put off for a long time as a civil rights issue,” said Abreu. Said Washington Post“It is very important to treat everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve. Ultimately, this is about job safety, home safety. are of different body sizes or weigh more, who cares?”
Last month, Abreu said he was “honored to endorse” the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, which has voiced its support for the bill.
“Together we will build an inclusive world that celebrates our differences,” Abreu tweeted.
—Council Member Sean Abreu (@CMShaunAbreu) February 28, 2023
Exceptions will be made for employers who are required to consider height and weight as “a bona fide professional qualification reasonably necessary for the normal operation of their business,” according to the text of the bill. Similarly, it exempts “operators or providers of public facilities only if the height or weight requirements are deemed to have genuine considerations of public health and safety.”
Size-based protection already exists Michigan and Washington state. Lawmakers in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey are also considering similar measures, the paper reported.
About 30.7% of US adults are overweight and 42.4% are obese, according to a 2017-2018 survey. data (latest available) From the National Health and Nutrition Survey.