I'll take that bet... They made it a law.
NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) - FATF (Fat Activist Task Force)
naafa.org
naafa.org
On Thursday, July 26, 2001 the San Francisco Human Rights Commission unanimously approved historic guidelines for implementing the height/weight anti-discrimination law.
San Francisco is now the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to offer guidelines on how to prevent discrimination based on weight or height. These guidelines should serve as a model for other cities, states, and countries to follow in drafting similar legislation.
There are so many exciting points in these beautiful, thrilling, and strongly worded guidelines. I'd like to list just a few that make me whoop for joy:
* First of all, employers, business owners, organizations, landlords, medical providers, and others doing business in San Francisco are required to provide reasonable accommodation and give equal treatment to people of
all sizes. (This means making available uniforms that fit everyone, gowns that fit everyone, chairs that fit everyone!)
* The guidelines clearly prohibit employment discrimination based on height or weight! (And businesses must post anti-discrimination notices that include height and weight.)
* Further, the guidelines require businesses in San Francisco to prevent the use of disrespectful language or behavior based on height or weight!
What a cool concept!!!
* One of my faves: Medical providers must not deny treatment based on height or weight. They also shouldn't make weight loss efforts a condition of medical treatment. And they should respect a patient's choice *not* to discuss weight loss!
How cool is that!?!
The height/weight anti-discrimination guidelines will be posted soon on the website for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. They make for really delightful reading. Check 'em out:
<http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfhumanrights/>
Our heroes in getting these guidelines on the books:
* All of the wonderful Human Rights Commissioners who voted in support of these guidelines and who will help enforce them.
(As Commissioner Martha Knutzen--a strong supporter of the height/weight law--said just before the unanimous vote, "This is a proud moment as a Human Rights Commission member. It is historic. I want to thank the activists and the staff and the City Attorney. I appreciate the craftsmanship that went into the guidelines.")
* An all-star team of Human Rights Commission representatives: Larry Brinkin, Hadas Rivera-Weiss, and Pansy Waller, who created the structure of the guidelines; drafted, edited, and tweaked language; negotiated with all the parties; and designed the layout for the completed version.
* Sondra Solovay (diversity trainer, attorney, and author of the brilliant book, "Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight-Based Discrimination"), who did a substantial part of the research and drafting of the guidelines.
* Carole Cullum, attorney and fat community member, who met with city representatives, gave critical input in drafting the guidelines, and lent her political clout to the cause.
* San Francisco's City Attorney, who had to ensure the guidelines are legally enforceable.
* Many fat community members, including Jo Kuney, who's been pushing for this legislation since the beginning; NAAFA leader Frances White, who helped review one of many of the nearly final drafts; and "FAT!SO?" author Marilyn Wann, who gave important input on the wording and content of the
guidelines. Also, members of the communities of little people and tall people helped.
* And finally, all of the people who wrote letters or attended hearings or testified or just crossed their fingers and hoped for this law to pass is a hero, too. Thank you so much for your help!
Now that we have these amazing and historic guidelines on the books, we must use them!
What can you do to help, now that the law and the guidelines are on the books!?!
#1. Ideally, San Francisco's height/weight law and these guidelines will prevent discrimination by educating people about it. You can help with this goal by telling everyone you know about the height/weight law and the guidelines!
#2. Anyone who faces discrimination based on their weight or their height in San Francisco has the right to use the law. You can help with this important process by supporting the people you know who may be experiencing discrimination to speak up about it and seek redress!
#3. You can also do brilliant work by printing out copies of the guidelines and passing them along to employers, HR people, friends who own small businesses, your doctor or nurse practitioner or therapist or hairdresser or massage therapist or mother...and anyone else you can think of who
should read them!!!
#4. You can celebrate this exciting and historic news in your own style, by doing the Happy Dance, watching a sunset, lifting a glass of something bubbly. You can say, wholeheartedly...
Rock on, San Francisco! - Marilyn Wann, FAT!SO? chick
PS - Please feel free to forward this message anywhere folks are interested |
