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.
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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ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2022
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. This month, we focus on Black History Month 2022 whose theme is Black Health and Wellness.
Black History Month And Black History Always
A personal reflection on Black History Month and a look at today’s questions surrounding Black leadership in NAAFA and fat liberation spaces from NAAFA’s Board Chair, Tigress Osborn.
“We see fat Black leadership in other social justice movements at the time of NAAFA’s founding. What does whiteness have to do with why we don’t see Black leadership, or even much Black participation, in early NAAFA? What does anti-Blackness have to do with it? Is there simply more urgency of other issues for Black folx (then? now?), or is there discomfort in these spaces for Black people (then? now?), or are Black people simply not interested in NAAFA (then? now?). The questions feel rhetorical, but they’re not.
If you’re wondering how we got from my first grade memory of Black History Month to the difficult questions NAAFA and other fat lib spaces have to answer about lack of intersectionality in the history of fat community, here’s how…”
Media and Research Roundup - January 2022
For the latest information and research on fatness, check out the Media and Research Roundup. This issue features: a travel article featuring Chubby Diaries travel blogger, Jeff Jenkins; a podcast interview; long term risks associated with WLS; Jessamyn Stanley shows how fitness instructors can become a fat ally and more!
How A Doctor’s Allyship Is Changing My Life
Medical avoidance was the norm after my teenage years. The loathing and judgement from medical systems was too much. Avoidance put me in the hospital twice. I could not bear the thought of going to the doctors. I would cry at the thought of it. If for some reason I had to go, the entire time was panic-inducing.
Fast forward to 2020 and my forties. I was a few years into learning about Health at Every Size (HAES), weight biases, and Fat Liberation. I decided to take the leap and sought after a weight-neutral doctor. After researching in my area, I found one.
Anti-Racism Resources - Allyship Edition
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. This month, we focus on being an Ally.
Introducing Ally Week
Our 2022 Ally Week explores the meaning of allyship in fat community -- how others show up for us and how we show up for others. We know thin people have a lot to learn about how to be allies to fat folx; we also know that fat folx with other privilege have a lot to learn about how to center marginalized people in fat community and how to show up as allies for other oppressed groups. NAAFA volunteers, guest speakers, special bloggers, and others have worked together to create programming about being allies; how we operate in our relationships of all kinds; how we invest our time, energy, and money; and more.
All events are free. Most are open to everyone, but our Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club is an affinity space limited to fat people. If you don’t understand why, our Intro to Allyship workshop will include discussion of safe spaces and why sometimes not showing up is an important part of allyship.
The NAAFA Community Voices Blog has a new Editor!
We're excited to introduce you to Janet Conroy-Quirk, who is taking on the role of Blog Editor of the NAAFA Community Voices Blog. Janet will work with our communications team to grow readership and build relationships with new writers. Welcome Janet!
Meet NAAFA’s New Board Members
NAAFA wrapped up 2021 with a very successful board search. We are thrilled to welcome the six new fat community leaders to our Board of Directors! Join us in welcoming them to the NAAFA Board of Directors.
Their bios and pics were provided by each new board member and featured in this posting.
NAAFA Chronicles 71: July 1986
The NAAFA Chronicles reflect a piece of fat acceptance/fat activist history. This month is the July 1986 issue of the NAAFA Chronicles featuring the 1985 NAAFA Convention Photo Special Edition!
Media and Research Roundup - December 2021
For the latest information and research on fatness, check out the Media and Research Roundup. This issue features: Fat myths, Bo-Po vs fat acceptance, healthism and ableism attitudes, traveling while fat, sharing fat history in an archive and more!
NAAFA Chronicles 70: June 1986
The NAAFA Chronicles reflect a piece of fat acceptance/fat activist history. This month is the June 1986 issue of the NAAFA Chronicles and discusses the right to be different in the U.S., media and publicity watches, seatbelt updates and more!
Following Dr. Ernsberger‘s Path: How Giving to NAAFA’s New Scholarship Supports Fat-Positive Science
The Dr. Paul Ernsberger research scholarship fund was established through the generous gift of one of Dr. Ernsberger’s colleagues. In this blog post, Dr. Richard Koletsky, who was Dr. Ernsberger’s research partner for many years at Case Western Reserve University, gives us more insight into their work and why it’s essential that Paul’s approach be carried on by the next generation of researchers.
ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES - WINTER CELEBRATIONS EDITION
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. This month’s Anti-Racism Resources focus on some of the various Winter Celebrations.
Collecting Care Rationing Stories to Advocate for More Inclusive Healthcare
During emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of people needing help, they turn to “care rationing.” Care rationing means medical providers limit the types of care they provide to certain people.
Sometimes care rationing means that people will be denied life-saving care and instead will only receive care to help them be more comfortable. When care rationing happens on the basis of certain characteristics, it can be unlawful or wrong. Because COVID precautions often mean patients are without their usual support systems, care rationing can happen behind closed doors without input from family members, friends, support workers, or community. It is important to share stories of discrimination so that all people receive fair treatment.
NAAFA 2021 Year in Review
As I reflect on this year, I’m so proud of folx on the NAAFA team at every level, not only of our accomplishments, but also of the ways we have challenged each other, worked through difficult issues, grown and created opportunities for others to grow. We got soooooo much done this year. I’ve outlined some highlights here, but they are really only a fraction of all we achieved. We hope that our work is evident to our community, and more than that, we hope each of you finds it meaningful in one way or another.
Media and Research Roundup - November 2021
For the latest information and research on fatness, check out the Media and Research Roundup. This issue features: “Obesity” studies, metabolic outcomes, anti-fatness and racism and more!
FAT PIG - The Opera
Fat Pig, is an unprecedented operatic performance that you have to see. Victory Hall Opera presents FAT PIG: a new chamber opera featuring the first romantic lead in opera to be written specifically for a plus-size woman.
The world premiere chamber opera written by Matt Boehler, commissioned by Victory Hall Opera, will be held for two performances only; January 22 & 27, 2022, 8:00pm ET at V. EARL DICKINSON THEATER AT PVCC, 501 College Dr., Charlottesville, VA 22902.
NAAFA Chronicles 69: May 1986
The NAAFA Chronicles reflect a piece of fat acceptance/fat activist history. This month is the May 1986 issue of the NAAFA Chronicles and discusses weight loss surgery, media and publicity watches, and looking for expert witnesses in a Human Rights case.
The Artful Tradition of Native American Beadwork
Native American beadwork has been a lifelong tradition passed down through the women in my family for generations. As soon as my daughter was able to properly thread a needle and sit at a table without tipping over the beads, she too was indoctrinated into this unique method of cultural expression. It takes a calm mind, good spirit, steady hand and sometimes a quality magnifying glass to create the intricate patterns the world has come to recognize as North American Indian beadwork.
Anti-Racism Resources - Indigenous Heritage Month
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. This month’s Anti-Racism Resources focus on Indigenous People in honor of Indigenous Heritage Month.