On Friday, New York City made a significant stride towards promoting body positivity and fairness. Mayor Eric Adams officiated a new legislation that denounces discrimination on the grounds of an individual's body size. The law places height and weight in the same category of protected attributes like race, sex, and religion, reflecting a critical step in promoting equal rights and fairness.
In a ceremony at City Hall, alongside fellow politicians and proponents of size acceptance, Mayor Adams stated that everyone deserves unbiased access to employment, housing, and public facilities. Our physical characteristics, such as height or weight, should not impact our rights or opportunities, emphasized the mayor.
An advocate for plant-based diet and a published author on the topic, Mayor Adams underlined that this new law would contribute to a fair and balanced society for all New York inhabitants. By promoting more inclusive workspaces and living conditions, the legislation aims to shield citizens from size-based discrimination.
However, the law does consider scenarios where an individual's physical attributes might hinder them from carrying out the fundamental duties of a job. These circumstances are provided exemptions under the new regulation, which the city council approved earlier this month.
Despite the promising move towards equality, some business figures voiced concerns about the legislation, cautioning that abiding by these new rules might prove cumbersome. Kathy Wylde, the head of the Partnership for New York City, expressed apprehension, suggesting that the full scope and potential costs of this law were yet to be thoroughly evaluated.
Regardless, New York City isn't alone in its endeavor to eradicate size discrimination. Several cities across the United States, including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Madison, Wisconsin, have outlawed such bias. Similar legislations are also under consideration in states like New Jersey and Massachusetts.
The chair of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, Tigress Osborn, advocated for New York City's anti-weight discrimination law as a standard for the rest of the nation and the world. According to Osborn, the city's adoption of the legislation will influence global change. She reaffirmed that discrimination based on body size is erroneous and changeable, and that New York City's move is a step towards that transformation.
