New York City Mayor Eric Adams is trying to ensure he doesn’t lose the vote of obese people in his city. He signed a bill into law on Friday that adds weight and height to the list of protected categories that include more traditional protection items like race, sex, and religion.
As of November 2, it’s fair game for fat people to file a lawsuit if they feel they didn’t get an apartment or a job because of their size.
This will be something to keep your eye on. Republican city council minority leader Joseph Borelli trashed the law, saying it will empower people to “sue everyone and everything.”
Mayor Adams says, “Hold on.” The more people we can protect and make dependent on the government, the better. “We all deserve the same access to employment, housing, and public accommodation, regardless of our appearance, and it shouldn’t matter how tall you are or how much you weigh.”
There are some exceptions built into the law, which include cases where someone’s height or weight might prevent them from performing critical parts of the job. In other words, it looks like a 4’8” man can’t sue the New York Knicks for not signing him to a 10-day contract.
One of the main sponsors of the bill was Councilman Shaun Abreu. He said he gained 40 pounds during Covid lockdowns and felt he wasn’t treated the same because he wouldn’t control his eating or chose not to take care of himself. Hence, the new law.
Victoria Abraham calls herself a “Fat Fab Feminist,” and she was one of the bill’s most prominent proponents. Here’s what she told ABC 7 in New York. “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.”
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