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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Overweight 'should be protected' | Overweight 'should be protected' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Attacking someone for being fat should be a hate crime, campaigners say. | Attacking someone for being fat should be a hate crime, campaigners say. |
| They want so-called "fat-ism" to be made illegal on the same grounds as race, age and religion. | They want so-called "fat-ism" to be made illegal on the same grounds as race, age and religion. |
| A demonstration is being held outside the offices of the mayor of London asking him to lead the way in making sure employers do not discriminate. | |
| They want the UK to follow San Francisco where a law bans "fat-ism" in housing, employment and curbs doctors from pressing patients to lose weight. | |
| Sondra Solway, a San Francisco lawyer, said: "The San Francisco ordnance says you may want to mention weight to the patient but if the patient says they do not want to talk about that then you are asked to respect those wishes." | Sondra Solway, a San Francisco lawyer, said: "The San Francisco ordnance says you may want to mention weight to the patient but if the patient says they do not want to talk about that then you are asked to respect those wishes." |
| Size acceptance | Size acceptance |
| In the UK, size is not a protected characteristic under discrimination legislation. | In the UK, size is not a protected characteristic under discrimination legislation. |
| People who are very overweight do experience a lot of prejudice both in their social life and working life and do need some protection." Dr Ian Campbell, Weight Concern | People who are very overweight do experience a lot of prejudice both in their social life and working life and do need some protection." Dr Ian Campbell, Weight Concern |
| The campaigners, who belong to the Size Acceptance Movement, say surveys show 93% of employers would rather employ a thinner person than a fatter one even if they are equally qualified. | The campaigners, who belong to the Size Acceptance Movement, say surveys show 93% of employers would rather employ a thinner person than a fatter one even if they are equally qualified. |
| Kathryn Szrodecki, who campaigns on behalf of overweight people, said that in the UK fat people were stared at, pointed at, talked about and attacked. | Kathryn Szrodecki, who campaigns on behalf of overweight people, said that in the UK fat people were stared at, pointed at, talked about and attacked. |
| She said: "I have been discriminated against - I am a YMCA qualified fitness instructor, but I have gone for jobs and been laughed off the premises. " | She said: "I have been discriminated against - I am a YMCA qualified fitness instructor, but I have gone for jobs and been laughed off the premises. " |
| Another campaigner, Marsha Coupe, said: "I have been punched, I have had beer thrown in my face, I have had people attack me on the train. | Another campaigner, Marsha Coupe, said: "I have been punched, I have had beer thrown in my face, I have had people attack me on the train. |
| "They say 'Move out of the way fattie! Well person coming down the aisle!' " | "They say 'Move out of the way fattie! Well person coming down the aisle!' " |
| Ms Szrodecki said: "This is a very common event - someone being beaten up should be a crime. | Ms Szrodecki said: "This is a very common event - someone being beaten up should be a crime. |
| "It is not about who you are or what you have done, it is just about the way you look. | "It is not about who you are or what you have done, it is just about the way you look. |
| "You are allowed to shame us just because of the way we look." | "You are allowed to shame us just because of the way we look." |
| Dr Ian Campbell, of the charity Weight Concern, said he was doubtful that legislation would have any immediate effect on the situation. | Dr Ian Campbell, of the charity Weight Concern, said he was doubtful that legislation would have any immediate effect on the situation. |
| He said: "People who are very overweight do experience a lot of prejudice both in their social life and working life and do need some protection. | He said: "People who are very overweight do experience a lot of prejudice both in their social life and working life and do need some protection. |
| "We know that genetic and social reasons can lead to this very complex problem. | "We know that genetic and social reasons can lead to this very complex problem. |
| "For instance, people in inner cities are much more likely to be overweight because of poorer education, poorer housing and poorer job opportunities. | "For instance, people in inner cities are much more likely to be overweight because of poorer education, poorer housing and poorer job opportunities. |
| "Not everyone has a free choice about controlling their weight." | "Not everyone has a free choice about controlling their weight." |