Be fair to fat workers, New York tells bosses
A CONTROVERSIAL bill protecting fat people from weight discrimination has been passed in New York City.
The bill, which is set to be signed into law by Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams this month, would outlaw discrimination on the basis of a person’s ‘height or weight’ in ‘employment, housing and public accommodation’.
But it has triggered outrage in some quarters, with Republican New York City council minority leader Joseph Borelli claiming it will empower people to ‘sue anyone and everything’.
Councilman Shaun Abreu, one of the bill’s main sponsors, said he realised weight discrimination was a ‘silent burden’ after he was treated differently when he gained more than 40lbs during lockdown. The bill had the support of charities and activists such as self- styled ‘Fat Fab Feminist’ Victoria Abraham.
It is set to include a defence for employers where consideration of height or weight was ‘reasonably necessary’ for the ‘normal operations’ of a job.
Mr Abreu said: ‘They’re being discriminated against with no recourse and society saying that’s perfectly fine.’
Ms Abraham, who campaigns for civil rights for overweight people, testified to the city council to help inform policymaking.
She said: ‘In most places in the United States, you can get fired for being fat and have no protection at all, which is crazy because this is a very fat country.’
The Bill received widespread support and passed 44-5 in the council on Thursday, but faced criticism from some.
Mr Borelli told the New York Times: ‘I’m overweight but I’m not a victim. No one should feel bad for me except my struggling shirt buttons.’
Michigan outlawed workplace discrimination based on weight in 1976 and other cities including San Francisco and Washington DC have similar legislation.
Other state-level bills have now been introduced in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey.
National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance advocacy director Tegan Lecheler said she hoped the legislation would ‘encourage a larger conversation of framing this beyond health’.
She added: ‘It’s not a health issue. It’s a civil rights issue.’
New York’s human rights law bars discrimination in housing, the workplace and public accommodation based on 27 characteristics, including age, marital status, disability and national origin. Weight and height are now added to that list.