On behalf of its 75,000 members, Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) applauds Massachusetts for its efforts to end weight bias! Senators Rausch and Khan have sponsored SB-1127, and Representatives Nguyen, Kearney, Sabadosa, Robinson, LeBoeuf, and Kilcoyne have sponsored HB-1822. With this legislation, Massachusetts has the opportunity to become only the second state in the U.S. to make it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of height and weight in compensation, in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, housing, or public accommodations. This is an important step in stopping weight-based discrimination and ensuring that all people are treated equally and with dignity regardless of their weight or any physical attribute.

Obesity affects nearly 25% of the citizens of Massachusetts and nearly 100 million people across the country. Weight-based discrimination is a prevalent form of unfair treatment against individuals with overweight and obesity. At the root of weight-based inequities are negative stereotypes that individuals with obesity lack self-discipline, are sloppy, non-compliant, unintelligent and personally to blame for their weight. These stereotypes have been challenged and refuted, yet they continue to perpetuate discriminatory practices.

OAC thanks you for your leadership on this important issue, and urges you to continue building the support needed to enact this important law including the timely consideration of these bills in the Senate and House Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

WE NEED YOUR VOICE!

Take action today! Please write to the key members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary today by simply entering the requested information. Our system will help you create a message that you can customize and send, urging them to take action for the timely consideration and enactment of SB 1127 and HB 1822. CLICK HERE to take action!

To find out more about Obesity Action Coalition’s work to Stop Weight Bias, visit StopWeightBias.com