Adams signs height, weight discrimination ban into law
Adams signs height, weight discrimination ban into law
02:12
New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation Friday that prohibits 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 are looking for a job, when you are out of our city, or you are looking for some kind of housing or an apartment to rent. Trying, you shouldn’t be treated any differently,” Adams said at a signing ceremony.
Law The mayor said there is an exemption for when a person’s weight or height prevents them from meeting the essential requirements of the job. The law is expected to take effect in 180 days, or on November 22.
Six other cities — including San Francisco and Washington, D.C. — and the state of Michigan also have similar restrictions on height and weight discrimination.
Weight discrimination is widespread, but reportedly affects women hardest, 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 this will ripple across the globe in terms of showing people all over the world that discrimination based on people’s body size is wrong and it’s something that we can change.” , ” said Osborne, who earlier this year led a rally to push the bill into law. “We can’t legislate behavior, but we can do everything that is in our power to make sure that people are treated equally.”
Shawn Abreu, the New York City Council member 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 lead to mental health challenges.
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marcia kramer
Marcia Kramer joined CBS2 in 1990 as an investigative and political reporter. Prior to CBS2, she was City Hall bureau chief at the New York Daily News.
