France’s lower house passes a bill banning hair discrimination. It now goes to the Senate

By JADE LE DELEY
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Lawmakers in France’s lower house of parliament have approved a bill that would ban discrimination over the texture, length, color or style of someone’s hair. The bill’s authors hope the groundbreaking bill sends a message of support to Black people and others who have faced hostility in the workplace and beyond because of their hair. But the measure still faces a long road ahead. It goes to the Senate next where it could face opposition. Only 50 of the National Assembly’s 577 lawmakers were on hand for Thursday’s vote. But they overwhelmingly backed the bill in a 44-2 vote. There were four abstentions.