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 Solovay Law’s FLARE Project co-founded the Campaign for Size Freedom. We are on a mission to protect people of all sizes from unfair treatment —especially those most impacted by height and weight discrimination.
The Campaign for Size Freedom was launched with support from Dove.
This project is funded in part by the Unitarian Universalist Fund for a Just Society.
Call to Action!
Delaware - Massachusetts - New York
Three states have pending bills to outlaw body size discrimination. Contact your representatives today to let them know you want to them to vote yes on these bills.
Delaware
SB 115: AN ACT TO AMEND THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON WEIGHT, HEIGHT, OR BODY SIZE.
Click here to find your Delaware legislator.
Massachusetts
S1249/H1919: An Act prohibiting body size discrimination
Click here to find your Massachusetts legislator.
New York
S05503/A1858: AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting discrimination against a person based upon weight
Click here to find your New York Assemblyperson.
Click here to find your New York Senator.
#SizeFreedom Wins in NYC!
The most recent Size Freedom law to be passed in the US was passed by the New York City Council in 2023 and went into effect November 22, 2023. The law prohibits size discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation. This law was introduced by Councilmember Shaun Abreau and supported by Brooklyn District Leader Lydia Green.
3 Ways You Can Support #SizeFreedom no matter where you live
#1 Show your support on social media
Follow NAAFA and FLARE on your favorite social media. Be sure to like, comment, and share posts about the Campaign for Size Freedom and use #SizeFreedom and #EqualityAtEverySize.
#2 Seek out and support local fat-positive groups
Local organizations like Bigger Bodies Boston in Massachusetts and Wilmington Fat Collective in Delaware are essential to passing pending legislation and introducing new legislation. Is your local fat group the next one to work on a size discrimination law? The Campaign for Size Freedom is here to support you with coordination, resources, people power, and more!
#3 Donate to fund the movement
When you #FundFat, your contributions will help fuel the Campaign for Size Freedom and our work to end body size discrimination. Click here to donate to NAAFA. NAAFA is a 501c3 charitable organization and your donation is tax-deductible where permitted by law.
About the campaign
NAAFA and Solovay Law’s FLARE Project, with launch support by Dove, co-founded the Campaign for Size Freedom to outlaw body size discrimination. The campaign will strengthen legal protections and shift cultural narratives about body size through education, advocacy, and 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. This year, three 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. The Campaign for #SizeFreedom 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 Solovay Law.