Puerto Rico’s governor, Pedro Pierluisi, signed a brand new legislation prohibiting discrimination towards folks sporting Afros, curls, locs, twists, braids, and different pure hairstyles.

The Associated Press experiences that this transfer was made to guard residents from discrimination in work, housing, training, and public providers.

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Puerto Rico Passes Hair Discrimination Law

Citizens within the racially numerous U.S. territory celebrated progress after a number of organizations have pushed for the legislation.

Welmo Romero Joseph, a group facilitator for the non-profit Taller Salud, stated, “It’s a victory for generations to come.”

We know that’s proper! He believes this sends an uplifting message that “you can reach positions of power without having to change your identity.”

Although Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects towards discrimination, together with Puerto Rico’s legal guidelines and structure, the desk was shaken in 2016 when a Court of Appeals dismissed a hair discrimination lawsuit. An Alabama employer’s no-dreadlock coverage was dominated authorized.

Puerto Rican legislators held a public listening to earlier this 12 months. Several residents defined how they confronted hair discrimination. They described employers who refused to rent people with pure hair.

Romero recalled a highschool principal demanding that he minimize his flat high off that “was a source of pride.” He defined that he was a stellar scholar with a “4.0” GPA  and that his coiffure ought to have been irrelevant.

The Caribbean island has a inhabitants of three.2 million, with 230,000 figuring out solely as Black. According to the brand new legislation, they nonetheless “face derogatory treatment.” Additionally, 1.6 million folks establish as being of two or extra races. So, one might think about the varied hair textures of the residents!

Romero, particularly, is reportedly grateful for the legislation. However, he says officers ought to take measures to make sure the laws has an impact, per AP.

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AP workers Dánica Coto contributed to this text.