Bill 200 to End Weight Discrimination in Manitoba, could be passed this Spring but not without your help. Please consider emailing your MLA asap with the following template to show your support to end weight discrimination in Manitoba. You do not need to be from Manitoba to email one of our MLA's or our Premier. Here is link to the MLA contact info: https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/mla_list_constituency.html Here is a sample letter template: Dear Member of the Legislative Assembly, I am writing today to urge you to pass Bill 200 to include “physical size, weight and appearance” as a protected category in the Manitoba Human Rights Code. Of larger bodied persons, over half (54%) report to having been discriminated against in the workplace, and more than 2/3 (69%) report having been discriminated against by doctors. Weight discrimination is also pervasive in the general public (Yale Rudd Center, 2012). Weight discrimination affects mental and physical health. Studies show that weight discrimination is associated with increased depression, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating. It is also associated with increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure (Puhl & Heuer, 2010).   There is a mistaken belief that shaming individuals to lose weight will help them to be healthier, when studies show, that those who experience weight discrimination, end up eating more and exercising less, thereby decreasing their health status and causing weight gain (Puhl & Heuer, 2010). Therefore, by impacting health status, weight discrimination directly increases costs to our health care system.   Weight discrimination also effects children in the form of bullying. The Yale Rudd Center reports in a study of adolescents in schools, 92% reported they witnessed larger bodied students being teased about their weight. Bullying can lead to suicide. Weight discrimination appears to be the last form of socially accepted discrimination and it a long overdue human rights issue that must be addressed through Human Rights legislation. Human Rights Legislation in this area will help to ensure equality, fair and respectful treatment and improve the lives of all Manitobans. Every Manitoba, of every size, and no matter their appearance, deserves respect, in the workplace, in healthcare, and in society.   Therefore, I urge you to pass Bill 200. There is growing support for the #SizeismSUCKS movement across Canada with petitions in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. I hope Manitoba leads the way with the legislation and the other provinces follow. Sincerely, A concerned citizen