Attention: Massachusetts Residents Support Bill to End Discrimination Based on Height and Weight

The Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is considering bill H.3752, sponsored by Byron Rushing, which would make it illegal for employers to discriminate based on height and weight. Jurisdictions in the United States routinely protect citizens from discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, and sexual orientation. Yet is it perfectly legal to deny employment, promotion or raises based on a person's height. That discrimination is real. Research shows that short people lose about $800/year per inch of height

Only one other state, Michigan, makes it illegal to discriminate based on person's height or weight. These protections were added to their discrimination laws in 1979. Since then we have seen very little progress. The only other governments that have similar protections are the cities of San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

Now there is an opportunity to correct these injustices but actions is required. If you are a resident of Massachusetts, please contact your State Senator and District Representative and ask that they support this bill.

On Wednesday March 25, 2008 at the the Massachusetts State House, bill H.1844 came before the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. NOSSA Vice President, Chris Hamre testified at the hearing.