NYC to ban weight discrimination with law backed by ‘fat activists’ as critics warn it would allow New Yorkers ‘to sue anyone and anything’
- The bill will prohibit discrimination based on height or weight in work and housing
- Minority leader in the New York City Council, Joseph Borelli, warned that this could lead to more lawsuits
A law was passed in New York City outlawing weight discrimination. This is helping more US states to make height a protected characteristic like race or gender.
The bill, due to be signed into law by Democratic Mayor of New York City Eric Adams this month, would outlaw discrimination based on a person’s “height or weight” in “employment, housing and public accommodations.”
But it has sparked anger from some, as New York City Council Minority Republican leader Joseph Borelli claimed the law would give people the power to “sue anyone and anything.”
Councilman Shaun Abreu, one of the main sponsors of the bill, said he has realized weight discrimination is a “silent liability” after being treated differently when he gained more than 18kg during lockdown.
The bill is also backed by charities and activists such as self-proclaimed “fat fab feminist” Victoria Abraham, who testified before City Council in support of the bill earlier this year.
The bill, due to be signed into law by Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams (pictured) this month, would outlaw discrimination based on a person’s “height or weight” in “employment, housing and public accommodation.”
But the bill sparked anger from some, as New York City Council Minority Republican leader Joseph Borelli (pictured) claimed the bill would give people the power to “sue anyone and anything.”
It will also include a defense for employers when taking height or weight into account was “reasonably necessary” for the “normal operation” of a workplace.
Councilor Abreu said: “You are being discriminated against without recourse, and society says that’s perfectly fine.”
Miss Abraham, a civil rights advocate for the overweight, testified before the city council to help with policy making.
She told ABC7NY, “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 broad support and passed Thursday’s council by a vote of 44-5, but drew criticism from some.
Councilman Borelli told the New York Times, “I’m overweight, but I’m not a victim.” “No one should feel sorry for me except my shirt buttons, which have problems.”
Councilor Shaun Abreu (pictured), one of the main sponsors of the bill, said he realized weight discrimination was a “silent liability” after being treated differently when he gained more than 18kg during lockdown.
The bill is also backed by charities and activists such as self-proclaimed “fat fab feminist” Victoria Abraham (pictured), who testified before City Council in support of the bill earlier this year
Michigan outlawed workplace weight discrimination in 1976, and other cities, including San Francisco and Washington DC, have similar laws.
Other state-level bills have since been introduced in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey.
Tegan Lecheler, head of advocacy for the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance, which worked on the bill, told the BBC she hoped the legislation “would stimulate a broader discussion about framing this beyond health”. .
She added, “It’s not a health issue.” It’s a civil rights issue. “This is really about whether people are safe and secure and have the right to be indoors.”
New York’s human rights law already prohibits discrimination in the home, workplace, and public accommodation based on 27 characteristics, including age, marital status, disability, and national origin.
The bill adds weight and height to that list and provides exceptions for occupations where weight and height is a “good faith professional qualification” or where there are public health and safety concerns.