New York City Is Set to Ban Weight Discrimination
“We should never treat people differently because of their weight,” Mr. Adams said at a news conference last month.
The bill is part of a growing national campaign to address weight discrimination, with lawmakers in New Jersey and Massachusetts considering similar measures. Michigan and Washington State already prohibit it, as do some cities, like Washington, D.C. State lawmakers in New York are also considering a weight discrimination law.
Some business leaders and Republicans had expressed concerns about the bill, including Kathryn S. Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City, a business advocacy group, who said that it would be yet another onerous mandate for companies and that enforcement would ultimately be left to the courts, placing a burden on employers, regulators and the judicial system.
The bill’s sponsor, Shaun Abreu, said he hoped the law would raise awareness about treating heavier people with respect. He said he was confident that the mayor would sign the bill because his office helped negotiate the details with him.
“This vote is more than just providing a legal remedy to bring claims against employers and landlords for using weight as a factor,” he said. “It’s also about changing the culture in how we think about weight.”
Source: The New York Times
