French lawmakers are debating a bill Thursday that would ban discrimination based on the texture, length, colour or style of a person's hair. Its authors hope the groundbreaking measure will send a message of support to black people and others who have faced hostility in the workplace and elsewhere because of their hair.The bill echoes similar legislation in more than 20 US states. The bill was proposed by Olivier Serva, a French MP originally from the French island of Guadeloupe , in the West Indies, who says that if passed, it will make France the first country in the world to recognize nationwide hair discrimination.