The SSIA of 2010 was created to combat the bullying of children in school. This act prohibits bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. The press conference will highlight why the omission of fat children only weakens the legislative intent of the anti-bullying protections.
Earlier this year, two teenage girls committed suicide because of bullying based on body size. A big boy in Australia was bullied to the point of exasperation when he finally threw his tormentor to the ground and the video went viral.
A recent study from the University of Michigan concludes that the odds of being bullied are 63% higher for children who are obese than their classmates of a normal weight.
Yet body size is left entirely out of the equation when we’re talking about protection from bullying! The current version of the SSIA does not prohibit bullying and harassment based on weight, height, or physical appearance. It is imperative that SSIA be amended to include weight and height to protect all our children.
On the web: http://www.naafa.org
For more information contact:
Peggy Howell, Public Relations Director, NAAFA
Email: pr@naafa.org Phone: 707-246-
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Founded in 1969, NAAFA is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to ending size discrimination. Our goal is for people of size to be accepted with dignity and equality and will pursue this goal through advocacy, public education, and support.
