Introduction: On May 26, 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed landmark legislation prohibiting weight and height discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.1 As the New York City Commissioner on Human Rights explained, “most forms of appearance-based discrimination have persisted unchecked.”2 And after this legislation, the victims of attractiveness discrimination will remain largely unprotected, even in New York City. This Essay starts by describing the pervasiveness of attractiveness discrimination. It then documents the widespread harm of the practice to businesses, workers, and consumers. Next, the case for an expansive interpretation of Title VII to include attractiveness discrimination protections is provided, addressing the most common objection of subjectivity of attractiveness. Finally, the Essay concludes by emphasizing the benefit of protection under a federal statute, compared to the current practice of minimal protections in narrow geographic areas such as New York City.
Introduction: It may not be widely known, but in November 2015 President Donald J. Trump (“Trump”) was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame for his “contributions to boxing in Atlantic City.” In the late 1980's and early 1990's, casinos bearing Trump's name sponsored many major boxing events in Atlantic City. This is a legal case study of the tactics Trump used in connection with the negotiation of boxing events.