EVERY BODY DESERVES THE FREEDOM TO THRIVE
All bodies deserve care, love and respect. We want to be compensated fairly for our work, receive high-quality medical care, and be welcomed in all public spaces.
For people of larger size, that is not the current reality. Very few laws exist that specifically outlaw discrimination based on body size. In 2019 alone, body size discrimination harmed 34 million Americans. This discrimination denies people necessary—even life-saving—medical treatment, contributes to financial inequality, and creates serious mental health challenges. People suffer even more because this injustice is intertwined with systemic racism, sexism, and other efforts to deny our humanity.
That’s why NAAFA and FLARE* co-founded the Campaign for Size Freedom with support from Dove. We are on a mission to protect people of all sizes from unfair treatment —especially those most impacted by height and weight discrimination.
#SizeFreedom in Massachusetts
Image Description: On a cream colored background with blue, yellow, and orange shapes, is a white box with the following text: “Campaign for Size Freedom Call to Action! Support Massachusetts bill prohibiting size discrimination. If you live or work in the Commonwealth of MA, you can testify to support Bill H.1705/S.1108.”
#SizeFreedom Wins in NYC!
photo courtesy of NYC Mayor’s Office
In the first of many victories to come, the New York City Council passed legislation to outlaw size discrimination in NYC in employment, housing, and public accommodation. Mayor Eric Adams signed the bill into law on May 26, 2023, and the law goes into effect November 22.
Ways You Can Support #SizeFreedom
Write or call your legislators
After you’ve signed the petition, write your legislators to ask them to pass legislation to end body size discrimination. This is one of the most important actions you can take. Legislators want to hear from their constituents. Find your legislator here.
Show your support on social media
You can show your support for ending body size discrimination by sharing on social media. First, follow @naafaofficial on Twitter and Instagram. Then, use this sample language to post about the campaign on your social media channels:
People of every size should be compensated fairly for their work, receive high-quality medical care, and be comfortable in all public spaces. That’s why I support the Campaign for #SizeFreedom! @NAAFAofficial @FLAREforJustice @Dove naafa.org/sizefreedom
Donate to fund the movement
Your contributions will help fuel the Campaign for Size Freedom and our work to end body size discrimination. Click here to donate.
About the campaign
NAAFA and Law Office of Brandie Solovay’s FLARE Project, supported by Dove, launched the Campaign for Size Freedom to end body size discrimination. The campaign will strengthen legal protections and shift cultural narratives about body size through education, advocacy, and corporate social responsibility.
Since the launch of the campaign in spring 2023, New York City has passed INT0209-A to ban height and weight discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation, making it the 7th US city to do so. Four states are considering legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on height and weight. If successful, these states will join Michigan and Washington in being the only states in the country with explicit protections against body size discrimination.
The Campaign is currently strategizing about other locales. We expect to announce more as soon as this summer!
Background
Though people of larger size are the majority in America, very few laws specifically outlaw discrimination based on body size. Research conducted by Dove showed that nearly 90% of women—and 84% of all adults—living in larger bodies have at least once in their life been shamed because of their body size. Many have also been discriminated against because of their body size, with 78% of women and 65% of all adults living in larger bodies experiencing discrimination at least once. Race also plays a key role, with women of color living in larger bodies more at risk of discrimination than white women. Body size discrimination denies people necessary—even life-saving—medical treatment, contributes to financial inequality, and creates serious mental health challenges.
Despite the devastating impact that body discrimination has on people of higher weight, Michigan and Washington are the only states in the country with explicit protections against body size discrimination.
True equality means everyone at every size has the same freedom to thrive. It’s that simple. The Campaign for Size Freedom seeks to make the promise of equality a reality for people of all sizes and from all backgrounds.
With nearly 80% of people surveyed in the United States supporting legislation to make body size discrimination illegal, now it’s time to set things right.
For more information on the state of legislation to end body size discrimination, click here.
In 2019 alone, 34 million Americans were harmed by body size discrimination. Our new Campaign for #SizeFreedom, in collaboration with @FLAREforJustice and with support from @Dove, is seeking to make equality a reality for people of all sizes. Tell us your story here.
Click here for more information on the state of legislation to end body size discrimination.
Click here for more statistical information in Dove’s Body Size Discrimination in the U.S.
*FLARE is a project of the Law Office of Brandie Solovay.