Critics of Democratic Mayor Eric Adams’s recent enactment aimed at eliminating weight discrimination in New York City foresee a potential bonanza for lawyers.
In a bold move, Adams officially signed the controversial legislation into law last Friday, effectively banning discrimination based on weight or height in various settings, including the workplace, housing, and public accommodations.
Defending his decision, Adams emphasized his belief in promoting overall well-being, stating, “This isn’t about combating obesity; it’s about fairness and treating individuals with respect regardless of their body type.”
He further asserted, “I firmly believe that this is the right course of action. We’re not just done yet, though. We have more progressive health initiatives to discuss. Scientific evidence has consistently shown that body type does not determine one’s health, and it’s time to dispel that myth.”
In addition to their existing inquiries into discrimination based on race, gender, and age, the city’s Commission on Human Rights will now also address complaints related to weight and height discrimination.
However, opponents of the law have raised concerns about its potential repercussions, particularly in terms of legal battles.
Joseph Borelli, the Republican leader of the New York City Council, expressed apprehension, suggesting that the legislation might lead to an onslaught of lawsuits. He reportedly quipped to the Daily Mail, “Although I may be overweight, I don’t consider myself a victim. The only sympathy I need is for my struggling shirt buttons.”
The New York Post’s editorial board went so far as to label the legislation a “windfall for bottom-feeding legal opportunists preying on the city.”
This legislation exemplifies a growing wave of political change sweeping across the United States. While weight discrimination is already illegal in certain jurisdictions like Michigan, Washington State, and the District of Columbia, lawmakers in New Jersey and Massachusetts are reportedly contemplating similar measures.
According to a previous report on Fox News Digital, “health justice” has emerged as a progressive priority on college campuses nationwide, as progressive academics strive to dismantle the societal stigma surrounding obesity, even going so far as to advocate for the elimination of the term “obesity” itself.