New York City mayor signs height, weight discrimination ban into law
New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed a bill on Friday that would ban discrimination based on height and weight in employment, housing and public accommodations.
“It doesn’t matter how tall you are, or how much you weigh, when you’re looking for a job, when you’re out of town, or when you’re trying to rent an apartment or house. , you shouldn’t be treated any differently,” Adams said at the signing ceremony.
Law Meyer said there is an exemption when a person’s weight or height would prevent them from meeting the essential requirements of the job. The law is scheduled to come into force in 180 days or on November 22.
Six other cities — including San Francisco and Washington, D.C. — and the state of Michigan have similar restrictions on height and weight discrimination.
Weight discrimination is widespread, but arguably affects women the most, especially women of color. A Vanderbilt University study found that overweight women earn $5.25 less per hour, the so-called wage penalty.
“It helps level the playing field for all New Yorkers,” Adams said.
Tigress Osborne, president of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, said New York City’s new law could help promote similar legislation around the world.
“We all know that New York is a global city, and it’s going to go all over the world in terms of showing people around the world, that discriminating against people based on their physical size is wrong and it’s something that We can change.” said Osborne, who led a rally earlier this year to push for the bill to become law. “We can’t legislate attitudes, but we can do everything in our power to make sure people are treated equally.”
New York City Councilman Sean Abreu, who sponsored the legislation, said the first rallies to end height and weight discrimination took place in Central Park 50 years ago.
“It’s a new day in New York City and I couldn’t be more grateful,” Abreu said.
In addition to wage penalties, supporters of the new law say physical discrimination can sometimes deny people life-saving medical treatment and cause mental health challenges.
