NAAFA NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
The NAAFA Newsletter is our monthly electronic publication updating our community on NAAFA plans, programming, and other important news. The newsletter is edited and approved by the Board of Directors Communications Committee.
Wild and ferocious generosity: Our team tells why we give to NAAFA each month
Each May, the NAAFA Board works hard to recruit new members to our group of Passionate Ongoing Donors. All of our board members give to NAAFA in an amount that is meaningful and accessible to them, just as we hope others in our community will do. Here, members of Team NAAFA share why they give their time and money to NAAFA.
Meet the newest NAAFA Artist, acclaimed illustrator Barry Deutsch!
We first introduced NAAFA friends to Barry Deutsch on the NAAFA Webinar Series in 2022. Now, Barry is back, and this time he’s created custom artwork for our latest batch of stickers. Learn more about Barry here, and if you haven’t already joined the NAAFA POD, be sure to sign up today! A monthly donation of $5 or more by June 1 will get you two thank you stickers created by Barry!
Is Southwest Customer of Size changing back?!?
This week, prominent news organizations like People magazine and the Washington Post said Southwest Airlines has responded to pressure from passengers and advocates to revert back to some of their former Customer of Size Policies. But as our own Tigress Osborn told the Washington Post, “If they think they’re done and now have won all the fat people back, no, absolutely not.”
Media & Research Roundup - May 2026
The Media & Research Roundup is a series of the latest in news and research affecting fat community. Compiled by Bill & Terri Weitze. This edition features an interview with Ashley Graham, information on weight stigma in healthcare environments, an article about Emma Copley Eisenberg’s activism and new book Fat Swim, and more!
Anti-Racism Resources - May 2026
We feature educational resources in the NAAFA Newsletter to support our community in working to dismantle racism. Resources may include historical information, tools for personal reflection, or information about how to get involved and make change. Many of the resources we suggest will be introductory resources, and this information is never intended to be full coverage on the complex and nuanced topics that are chosen each month.
This edition we invite you to join us in exploring resources about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
New Tax Provision for Donors in 2026
New tax provisions will allow charitable donations to be deducted for more filers, including those using the standard deduction. Our Administrative Director, Darliene Howell, shares more info about these changes and explains why it motivates her to donate more to NAAFA.
Featured Video - Spring 2026
Our featured video is the much anticipated Part 2 in our series of interviews with Fat Con attendees from January in Seattle, WA. This one happens to feature our Executive Director, Tigress Osborn, and NAAFA donor, Lindsey Fowler, plus lots of other fabulous conference participants. NAAFA Board Member, Tamra Dozier-Garland asked each attendee how they’re practicing the conference theme of #FatDefiance and this is what they had to say.
Media & Research Roundup - Spring 2026
The Media & Research Roundup is a series of the latest in news and research affecting fat community. Compiled by Bill & Terri Weitze. This issue features an interview with the founder of Body Liberation for Public Health based in Oregon, information on workplace weight stigma, an article about schools including weight discrimination in anti-discrimination education, and more!
Anti-Racism Resources - Spring 2026
We feature educational resources in the NAAFA Newsletter to support our community in working to dismantle racism. Resources may include historical information, tools for personal reflection, or information about how to get involved and make change. Many of the resources we suggest will be introductory resources, and this information is never intended to be full coverage on the complex and nuanced topics that are chosen each month.
This edition we invite you to join us in exploring resources about Organizations & Initiatives Fighting Anti-Blackness.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Bill Fabrey, NAAFA’s Founder
In 1969, Bill Fabrey gathered a few friends and started what was then known as the National Association to Aid Fat Americans. He dedicated the rest of his life to working to make a better world for fat people. Two weeks ago, Bill died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 84. Read more about his work with NAAFA, his commitment to other fat rights causes, and what Bill said about how he hopes people will remember him.
Anti-Racism Resources - January 2026
Each month, we feature educational resources in the NAAFA Newsletter to support our community in working to dismantle racism. Resources may include historical information, tools for personal reflection, or information about how to get involved and make change. Many of the resources we suggest will be introductory resources, and this information is never intended to be full coverage on the complex and nuanced topics that are chosen each month.
This month we invite you to join us in exploring resources about racism and diet culture.
Video of the Month - January 2026
Our featured video is from NAAFA’s Noon Year’s Eve party. Enjoy the musical stylings of Nicholas David from The Voice, groove with DJ Saucye, and hear from Burlesquer Mone’t Ha-Sidi, lifestyle content creator Danielle G, our host Matt Simko, and our Executive Director Tigress Osborn as we bid farewell to 2025.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Outgoing Board Members
All of us at NAAFA extend our deepest gratitude to two incredible board members who completed their terms in 2025. Their contributions were vital in building our organizational capacity, because dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Read more about Marcy and Tegan’s work with NAAFA and the impact it will continue to have.
Media & Research Roundup - January 2026
The Media & Research Roundup is a series of the latest in news and research affecting fat community. Compiled by Bill & Terri Weitze. This issue features an interview with Peg Elam of Pearlsong Press, information on Southwest’s policy changes, an article about a fat-positive yoga studio in Ireland, and more!
Meet NAAFA’s First-Ever International Intern!
We are so happy to introduce our community to Ieva Miltina (she/her), NAAFA’s first-ever International Intern! Ieva (pronounced “Yeh-vah”) is the recipient of a Professional Internship Program Scholarship from the Baltic American Freedom Foundation (BAFF). Ieva chose NAAFA because she is a fat liberationist and scholar who hopes to learn more about the American fat rights movement. She’ll be stationed in Phoenix alongside our Executive Director, supporting NAAFA and the Campaign for Size Freedom, researching fat labor, and getting to know local fat community through Fat Babes of Phoenix. Read more from Ieva about life in Latvia, how she found fat liberation, and her hopes for her time in the US.
Anti-Racism Resources - EOY 2025
Each month, we feature educational resources in the NAAFA Newsletter to support our community in working to dismantle racism. Resources may include historical information, tools for personal reflection, or information about how to get involved and make change. Many of the resources we suggest will be introductory resources, and this information is never intended to be full coverage on the complex and nuanced topics that are chosen each month.
This month we invite you to join us in exploring resources about Fascism.
Featured Video - EOY 2025
Our featured video is a clip of Tigress Osborn, our Executive Director, and Anna Ardelean, our Advocacy Coordinator, testifying to the Joint Judiciary Committee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Bill S.1249/H.1919, “An Act Prohibiting Body Size Discrimination.” You can view the entire hearing here.
Media & Research Roundup - EOY 2025
The Media & Research Roundup is a series of the latest in news and research effecting fat community compiled by Bill & Terri Weitze. Editor’s note: our newsletter was on hiatus this Fall, so this month’s edition includes articles from September through December.
Community and Connection
This year, NAAFA returned to IRL events for the first time in years. Learn more about why we started our Community Connect series and what’s in store for the future.
Anti-Racism Resources - September 2025
Each month, we feature educational resources in the NAAFA Newsletter to support our community in working to dismantle racism. Resources may include historical information, tools for personal reflection, or information about how to get involved and make change. Many of the resources we suggest will be introductory resources, and this information is never intended to be full coverage on the complex and nuanced topics that are chosen each month.
This month we invite you to join us in exploring resources about Latiné Heritage Month.