June 2022 NAAFA Newsletter |
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Pride And Prejudice And Love And Liberation
By Mycroft Masada Holmes |
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Content warning:
This piece includes the use of terminology for fat-attracted people that some use as important identifiers and others find objectionable.
Happy LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2022!
This month and every month, I’m proud to be a queer and nonbinary trans person, a fat-attracted person married to a wonderful superfat queer gender non-conforming / butch / mas(s)culine-presenting woman, and an ally in the fat liberation movement.
I am not writing this piece to receive “ally cookies” (rewards from an oppressed community for supporting them in ways that everyone should as part of being a
mensch, a good person). My
kavannah, intention, is to show other thin people some ways they can begin, maintain or grow their practice of allyship with the fat community. Whether we are LGBTQIA+ or not, wherever we are and go in life, we can and must share the good news of fat liberation. We must center fat voices, and we must add our own in solidarity. It is not always safe, or without cost, but it is far safer and less costly for us than for fat folks.
I’m proud to be a queer and trans person and leader who advocates for fat liberation in the LGBTQ+ community, and LGBTQIA+ liberation in the fat community. Particularly when fat trans people are denied access to trans healthcare based on BMI/size/shape, which like all medical fatphobia is not evidence-based or otherwise ethical. And there are many other overlaps in the Venn diagram of queer/trans and fat issues. Including the issue of disclosure – better known as the lifelong process of being “out” or “open” about one’s marginalized identities.
I’m proud of being fat-attracted*, and of having a fat partner. Online and off, I strive to model an ethical, joyful, liberatory form of fat attraction, affection, sexuality, romance and relationship. I want to help other thin fat-attracted people discern and live into their vital roles as partners and allies in truly open, loving, anti-oppressive ways. I want to help fat fat-attracted people feel seen, heard and supported. I want to show people of all sizes that fat attraction and partnership are possible, distinctive, and beautiful.
I’m so proud of my spouse for founding and co-adminning the DMV Fat-Positive Community and Big & Tall Style For Butches & Others, as well as her other work around mas(s)culine fatshion. I’m also proud of her work in the academic field of Fat Studies, and her support of my work there. I co-admin the DMV FPC with her, and contribute to Big & Tall Style. And I share resources in Fat Club For Men, founded by fat advocate Marilyn Wann.
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Join Us at Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club! Event Is Free!
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The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+) Next gathering is 6/24, 5:30 - 7:30 PST
Each month has a theme. The theme for June is #Food. Here's what you can expect:
- Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)
- Themed discussion about Food
- Themed game - Food-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)
- Open social time
Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)
You must RSVP at bit.ly/ff-june22 |
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The History of LGBTQAI+
This informative video featuring Wanda Sykes takes us back through time and helps us understand some of the history of the LGBTQIA+ community. Get to know a little bit about the fight for equality. (Note: this video mentions Marsha P. Johnson as the leader of the Stonewall Rebellion. Other sources, including Marsha herself, note that she was not at Stonewall when the protest started. See this month’s Anti-Racism Resources for more info, and read here to learn more about Marsha’s importance to LGBTQIA+ rights).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkzwDOCEDCo |
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Health At Every Size and HAES are registered trademarks of the Association for Size Diversity and Health, and are used with permission.
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2022 Dr. Paul Ernsberger Research Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022/23 academic year.
Filing deadline is 8/1/22.
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The mission of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is to change perceptions of fat and end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support.
The goal of the scholarship is to provide financial support to graduate students currently enrolled in a grad program with an accredited U.S. college or university. Dr. Ernsberger’s decades of research on metabolic syndrome, diabetes, weight cycling, and the medical harm caused by diet obsession and weight bias has had an immeasurable impact on debunking myths and misunderstandings about fat and health. It is an honor for NAAFA to support graduate students who hope to carry on and advance Dr. Ernsberger’s legacy.
Up to 3 scholarships in the amount of $2,500 will be awarded.
Areas of concentration in scientific laboratory research
- Nutrition and higher weight people
- Metabolic syndrome
- Insulin resistance/diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidemia
- Weight cycling
- Medical harm from being obsessed with weight loss
- Medical harm from the bias of physicians
Priority will be given to applicants of marginalized identity (POC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, fat/superfat).
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Anti-Racism Resources for LGBTQIA2S+ People of Color
compiled by Darliene Howell
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Content warning: Article contains discussion of medical anti-fat rhetoric, IWL and use of the "O" word.
As part of our monthly NAAFA Chronicles feature, enjoy NAAFA's 77th newsletter from January, 1987.
For more, check out the "Chronicles" page of the NAAFA website,https://naafa.org/chronicles.
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Media and Research Roundup
by Bill and Terri Weitze
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July 1, 2021: With new weight-loss drugs being approved by the FDA, this interview of Marquisele Mercedes regarding research and financial conflicts is still relevant. The second link is to Mercedes' article on weight loss drug Wegovy.
https://virginiasolesmith.substack.com/p/thats-unethical-as-hell?s=r
https://www.marquiselemercedes.com/read/wegovy
May 13, 2022: Last month the Roundup told you about 14-year old Zeke Sanchez, diving since he was 8 years old and changing body image expectations. Click below to see some footage of Zeke's amazing diving skills.
https://local21news.com/news/offbeat/14-year-old-diver-redefining-body-image-on-social-media-tiktok-instagram-water-polo-diving-east-valley-dive-club-mesa-airzona-phoenix
May 19, 2022:
Scientific American discusses how weight stigma comes between fat patients and healthcare while contributing to more mental and physical issues.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-weight-of-stigma-heavier-patients-confront-the-burden-of-bias/
May 19, 2022: In memory of her friend Dr. Cat Pausé, who suddenly passed away in March 2022, Michelle Duff talks about Dr. Pausé's work, goals and personal philosophy. Dr. Pausé was renowned for her work for fat liberation.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/300591340/my-fat-friend-cat-she-loved-her-fat-body-and-thats-what-enraged-people
June 2022: It's a fairly long read, but Marquisele Mercedes' article on healthcare access problems, fatphobia and the interconnection with race is well worth it.
https://pipewrenchmag.com/dismantling-medical-fatphobia/
June 5, 2022: The press is touting the latest weight loss drug, tirzepatide, as being "extremely effective". Drug trial participants lost as much as 21% of their body weight. However, to maintain the weight loss patients must continue to take the drug. Nausea and vomiting, should you "overindulge", are common side effects.
https://news.yahoo.com/diabetes-drug-helps-patients-lose-163044633.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2022/05/01/eli-lillys-weight-loss-drug-tirzepatide-shows-promising-phase-3-results-if-approved-next-hurdle-would-be-reimbursement/?sh=d549cb066ba6
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038?query=clinical-medicine |
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Founded in 1969, NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.
Any products or services mentioned in articles in this newsletter are for information only and should not be considered endorsements by NAAFA.
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