By Bob Katzen

Bill(H 1822) prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s height or weight unless for the purpose of compliance with any established state, federal or industry safety standard.

“Women are particularly vulnerable to this type of discrimination in the hiring process and the workplace,” said sponsor Rep. Tram Nguyen (D-Andover). “As a society, we need to change how we treat people based on their appearance which can negatively impact their mental and physical wellbeing. Removing this barrier to equal participation in the workforce will not only benefit these deserving individuals, but their contributions will also boost our economy.”

“As our country makes efforts to provide resources to help and support people who are battling obesity, we must also protect our fellow Americans from height and weight-based discrimination,” continued Nguyen. “It is appalling that the commonwealth has laws protecting an individual from discrimination regarding their race, sex, and disability, but not height and weight.”