NAAFA Community Voices Blog

Sharing thoughts and ideas from fat community.

Image shows a young black woman with blonde hair and wearing glasses, a pink sweater and a laptop on the desk in front of her.

Image shows a young black woman with blonde hair and wearing glasses, a pink sweater and a laptop on the desk in front of her.

Blog postings are shown in date order of posting (newest to oldest). You may search by author, tag or use the following categories: Events, From the Newsletter, Guest Posts, History, Legislation, LGBTQIA+, Medical, Press Releases, Resource Guides, Videos, Webinars.

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NAAFA Recognizes Indigenous Heritage Month
BIPOC, From the Newsletter, History, Antiracism Amanda Cooper BIPOC, From the Newsletter, History, Antiracism Amanda Cooper

NAAFA Recognizes Indigenous Heritage Month

Every November, we receive the reminder that American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (as referred to by the United States government), also called Indigenous Heritage Month, provides the opportunity to recognize, reflect, and amplify Indigenous people, cultures and the historic and current impact of Native American activists and actions in the United States.

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Media and Research Roundup - October 2021
Activism, Media, Medical, From the Newsletter, Health At Every Size Terri and Bill Weitze Activism, Media, Medical, From the Newsletter, Health At Every Size Terri and Bill Weitze

Media and Research Roundup - October 2021

For the latest information and research on fatness, check out the Media and Research Roundup. This issue features: debunking the science of the cause of fatness (or are they?), the real stats about COVID-19 risks to fat folx, Fat Studies focuses on fat activism and more!

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Fat Girls Rock! So why aren't there more in Rock Music?
Activism, Guest Posts, Social Media Darliene Howell Activism, Guest Posts, Social Media Darliene Howell

Fat Girls Rock! So why aren't there more in Rock Music?

Finding a famous plus size female guitar player in the history of rock music can be a rare challenge. There are way too many slim female guitar players on Instagram and Tiktok. I barely see any fat girls screaming with an electric guitar. Fat liberation and plus size positivity needs to be seen in rock music. It is crucial. I live for rock music and I’m very passionate and vocal about being a fat girl in rock.

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#FIGHTFORINCLUSIVITY: A Call to Action for Fat Fashion Equality
Activism, Guest Posts, Call to Action Darliene Howell Activism, Guest Posts, Call to Action Darliene Howell

#FIGHTFORINCLUSIVITY: A Call to Action for Fat Fashion Equality

#FIGHTFORINCLUSIVITY is a social media campaign created by plus model, fat fashion influencer and fat activist, Saucye West to challenge plus size consumers to take their power back. As Saucye always says, “The consumer is the real influencer.” This is a call to action for consumers not to shop with brands retailers and designers that do not offer clothing past a size 3x/4x and to support brands and indie designers that are truly inclusive.

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FATT Chat #4: Vanessa Chica
BIPOC, Guest Posts, Social Media, Fatt Chat Guest User BIPOC, Guest Posts, Social Media, Fatt Chat Guest User

FATT Chat #4: Vanessa Chica

Welcome to FATT Chat! The acronym stands for Fat Acceptance Tales & Techniques and underlines the very intention for this series. The hope is to create fat visibility with first-person fat liberation stories, as well as foster fat acceptance in others by sharing fat positive resources and strategies. In FATT Chat, you’ll find interviews with NAAFA members and non-members alike who will share their personal stories of fat acceptance and the real life techniques that have and continue to help them in their own lives. You’ll also find all resources discussed in an easy-access list at the end of each interview.

With that, please enjoy this FATT Chat featuring Vanessa Chica!

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Anti-Racism Resources in Celebration of Latinx Heritage Month

Anti-Racism Resources in Celebration of Latinx Heritage Month

September 15th through October 15th, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. As an organization, NAAFA recognizes this period as Latinx Heritage Month. These anti-racism resources look at the history of racism against Latinx people in the U.S., fighting racism in the Latinx community, and allyship in supporting Latinx people.

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NAAFA Recognizes Latinx Heritage Month

NAAFA Recognizes Latinx Heritage Month

Latinx Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15 and it’s a time of celebration for Americans to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of US residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. As it has in the past, this month NAAFA will shine a spotlight on some Latinx folks who have been working in Fat Liberation.

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Anti-Racism Resources - Back to School

Anti-Racism Resources - Back to School

Summer leads to preparation for the upcoming school year: buying books and helping students focus on education and learning. The anti-racism resources we share this month are aimed at BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students and white allies who want to help. You can find more resources on the NAAFA website at https://naafa.org/antiracism-resources.

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Anti-Racism Resources

Anti-Racism Resources

Each month, we will be featuring educational resources on the NAAFA Community Voices Blog. Some resources will be historic information about systemic racism. Others will be resources on doing the internal work of understanding ourselves and how we play a part in that system. There will also be actions that can be taken to directly oppose racism. You can find more resources on the NAAFA website at https://naafa.org/antiracism-resources.

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Media and Research Roundup

Media and Research Roundup

For the latest information and research on fatness, check out the Media and Research Roundup. This issue features: studies around weight loss surgery complications, discussion on the body positivity vs fat liberation, Lizzo’s statement that body positivity is leaving out black and brown folx, new regulations from the FAA and more.

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Anti-Fatness and Police Violence
Activism, BIPOC, From the Newsletter, Antiracism Amanda Cooper Activism, BIPOC, From the Newsletter, Antiracism Amanda Cooper

Anti-Fatness and Police Violence

The protests of 2020 have made an impact, focusing the world's attention on police violence throughout the U.S., and possibly even reducing police violence in areas with the most active movements. But unfortunately, police are still using violent tactics that result in harm and death throughout the country.

This problem hit home for NAAFA Board Member Amanda Cooper this spring, when local police in her Alameda, CA community responded to a call about a mile from her. A young man, Mario Gonzalez, was sitting in a park on a warm Monday afternoon. Some neighbors called the police non-emergency line and said they were afraid of him, even though they admitted he was not threatening them or doing anything remotely violent. The police came to the scene, attempted to arrest him even though he posed no harm, and he died with his face in the dirt as they held him down.

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Media and Research Roundup
Medical, From the Newsletter, Healthcare, Activism, Media Terri and Bill Weitze Medical, From the Newsletter, Healthcare, Activism, Media Terri and Bill Weitze

Media and Research Roundup

For the latest information and research on fatness, check out the Media and Research Roundup. This issue features: studies around weight loss surgery complications, discussion on the body positive movement, NAAFA's FLARE (Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights & Education) Project provides a COVID-19 Vaccine Access , Fat Fact Sheet and more.

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FATT Chat #3: Trevor Kezon
Fatt Chat, Guest Posts, LGBT+ Guest User Fatt Chat, Guest Posts, LGBT+ Guest User

FATT Chat #3: Trevor Kezon

Welcome to FATT Chat! The acronym stands for Fat Acceptance Tales & Techniques and underlines the very intention for this series. My hope is to create fat visibility with first-person fat liberation stories, as well as foster fat acceptance in others by sharing fat positive resources and strategies. In FATT Chat, you’ll find interviews with NAAFA members and non-members alike who will share their personal stories of fat acceptance and the real life techniques that have and continue to help them in their own lives. You’ll also find all resources discussed in an easy-access list at the end of each interview.

With that, please enjoy this FATT Chat featuring Trevor Kezon!

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