And now, a word from NAAFA

Oakland, CA – The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, a civil rights organization fighting discrimination against people of
size strongly opposes the Mississippi House Bill 282. This bill
introduced by Representative W.T. Mayhall, Jr., a retired
pharmaceutical salesman with DuPont-Merk, and co-authored by Bobby
Shows, a businessman, and John Read, a pharmacist, would prohibit
restaurants with more than 5 seats from serving people who are
determined to be obese by standards set forth by the Department of
Health. Said restaurant owners who choose to ignore this bill if
passed into law would be subject to fines and/or closure. NAAFA calls upon the union leaders of the food service and hospitality industries to use your influence to stop this bill before it or others like it take your businesses down. If in fact
two-thirds of Mississippians are obese, such a bill could potentially eliminate two-thirds of your customer base, bankrupting an untold number of businesses and potentially impacting a high percentage of your union members/food service employees. NAAFA calls upon the restaurant lobby, gaming lobby and tourism lobby to
exercise your influence in stopping this disastrous bill.

NAAFA calls upon the people of Mississippi to stand up and make your voice heard. This is a clear and shameless violation of your human and civil rights. Flood your governor's office with letters, faxes and phone calls demanding that this bill be stopped in its tracks: Haley Barbour - Governor of MS - 1-877-405-0733 or 601.359.3150, or by mail at: P.O. Box 139, Jackson, Mississippi 39205.

Citizens of Mississippi, these state representatives are supported by your tax dollars. The 2000 Census says 16.2% of your state's residents make under $10,000 a year. The state poverty rate is around 20%. Wouldn't your tax dollars be better spent on representatives who are working to improve the income level of Mississippians? Your state consistently ranks in the bottom three in terms of public school successes. Wouldn't your tax dollars be better spent on representatives who are working to improve the educational system in Mississippi? Who do you think would have to pay for the enforcement of this bill if ratified? The very people who are no longer allowed to eat in restaurants! These men are wasting their time which is your money and could potentially bankrupt your state. Are these the kind of men you want to continue
to represent you?

Our own federal government recognizes that 95% - 98% of diets fail. Weight loss surgeons have admitted that only 5% of people undergoing weight loss surgery ever reach and maintain their weight loss goals. Depriving people of food does not cause them to lose weight in the long term and only increases the risk of ill health. Is our end goal good health and increased longevity or superficial appearance?

NAAFA calls upon every Mississippi citizen above the age of 18 to register to vote and remove these officials from office. Take a lesson from your own state's history. Demonstrate your distaste for prejudice and your disgust with discrimination by denouncing this bill.

Founded in 1969, NAAFA is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.

For more information: naafa_pr@yahoo.com