New law gives fat privileges

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP): Overweight people in Brazil's capital city will soon have the right to a bit more comfort in buses and theaters, where they will be able to sit on seats specially designed for them.

A new law, scheduled to be ratified Friday, obliges theaters in Brazilia to earmark three percent of their seats for overweight people. Buses will have to have at least one seat that is twice the size of the ones currently in use.

With his 110-kilo father-in-law in mind, municipal councilman Miqueias Paz said he drew up the legislation so that "citizens with a robust figure can enjoy cultural affairs, and get to them, in comfort."

"My father-in-law, for example hasn't gone to the theater for 20 years because it's too uncomfortable and because he was too embarrassed," Paz said.

The seats, he added had to be at least 1 meter wide.