NAAFA Webinar Series Archive
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DECEMBER 4, 2021 WEBINAR: HAPPY FAT (AND OTHER FAT FEELINGS) WITH SOFIE HAGEN
Flyer is for the 2021 NAAFA webinar series, "Happy Fat (and Other Fat Feelings): A Conversation with Sofie Hagen". Shown is a B&W pic of Sofie Hagen sitting on a couch. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
SPEAKER BIO:
Sofie Hagen is a London-based Danish comedian, podcaster, and activist. In 2015, Sofie won the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for her debut show Bubblewrap. She followed this up with the critically acclaimed sell out shows Shimmer Shatter in 2016, Dead Baby Frog in 2017, and The Bumswing in 2019.
Sofie published her debut book Happy Fat in 2019 and is the creator and host of the wildly successful podcast Made of Human (now Who Hurt You) and has hosted several other successful podcasts including The Guilty Feminist and Comedians Telling Stuff amongst others. Follow Sofie at @sofiehagendk on your favorite social media platforms.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
To see other webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
NOVEMBER 21, 2021 WEBINAR: INDIGENOUS COMEDY: LAUGHING FOR LIBERATION WITH COMEDIAN HOWIE MILLER
Flyer is for the 2021 NAAFA webinar series, "Indigenous Comedy: Laughing for Liberation featuring Comedian Howie Miller (he/him)". Shown is a pic of Comedian Howie Miller; a First Nation Cree man with short dark hair and wearing a black shirt. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
SPEAKER BIO:
Howie Miller is one of the funniest corporate and club comedians in North America. He is a First Nation Descendant of the Cree Nation and was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His quick wit and unique point of view on multi ethnic stereotypes is enjoyed by all audiences. This has garnered Howie numerous television appearances and placed him in great demand on the corporate comedy circuit. Howie’s hilarious routine, mixed with stellar impressions has the audience laughing from start to finish.
Howie was recently featured on American television in the Showtime special "No Reservations Needed" and has made numerous appearances on Canadian television, including the CBC comedy specials, “Winnipeg Comedy Festival: Welcome to Turtle Island 1 & 2”, CBC’s “Alberta Comedy Spectacular” and in his own half-hour comedy special “Comedy Now Presents Howie Miller.” He can also be heard on CBC’s popular radio show “The Debaters.” In 2010 Howie joined the “Pow Wow Comedy Jam” and since then they have received acclaim all over the US, earning “Entertainer of the Year” honors in 2011 by the National Indian Gaming Association and “Comedic Performance of the Year” at the National Indigenous Awards in New Mexico in 2012. Howie is an accomplished comedic actor and writer and has been nominated for a Gemini Award, a Canadian Comedy Award and a Canadian Screen Award for his writing and acting in the sketch comedy show “Caution: May Contain Nuts.”
The 2021 NAAFA Webinar Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.
Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English, ASL translation is provided by Pro Bono ASL.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
OCTOBER 8, 2021 AHEAD OF THE CURVE WEBINAR: LATINX HERITAGE MONTH EDITION - SPOTLIGHT ON BLOGGER HOUSE CURVY CLOSET
Flyer is for the Ahead of the Curve webinar series, "Spotlight on Blogger House Curvy Closet with Darlene Lebron CEO and Sandra Negron COO @bloggerhousecurvycloset. Shown are pics of Darlene Lebron and Sandra Negron. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
Ahead of the Curve is a NAAFA fat fashion series hosted by Marcy Cruz. This webinar featured the creators of Blogger House Curvy Closet, Darlene Lebron and Sandra Negron. ASL Interpreting provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Presenter Bios:
Darlene Lebron, CEO & Founder
New York City-based and proud Latina of Puerto-Rican descent, Darlene is a keynote speaker, award-winning lifestyle content creator and founder of the blog ‘Suits, Heels and Curves’. In 2017, the mom of two co-founded The Blogger House Curvy Closet, a community-focused online consignment marketplace that focuses on providing plus size women access to brand-name clothing from their favorite style influencers at affordable prices.
Photo of Darlene Lebron and Sandra Negron, owners and founders of Blogger House Curvy Closet, shown with clothing on racks and on a mannequin.
Sandra Negron, COO & Founder
Sandra is an award-winning New York City-based Puerto Rican content creator who uses her platform to talk to women who don’t have an hourglass body, pushing the message that fashion is for all body types. She founded her blog La Pecosa Preciosa (The Precious Freckle Face) in 2012 where she also spotlights her must-have products for curly hair and her favorite beauty products.
Sandra co-founded The Blogger House Curvy Closet in 2017 with fellow content creator and bestie Darlene Lebron, where the two powerhouses hold three weekly sales on Facebook Live and run an online community space for their customers who they affectionately refer to as the BHCC squad.
Darlene and Sandra are on a mission to inspire women everywhere to wear what they love on a budget, while giving women more access to clothing in their size.
You can find the Blogger House Curvy Closet on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/bloggerhousecurvycloset and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bloggerhousecurvycloset.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
JUNE 8, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: INTERVIEW WITH THE EDITORS OF FAT & QUEER: AN ANTHOLOGY OF QUEER & TRANS BODIES & LIVES
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "Fat & Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives - Discussion and reading with Editors Bruce Owens Grimm, Miguel M. Morales, and Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini". Shown are B&W pics of the editors and the cover of their book. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
The NAAFA Webinar Series is thrilled to welcome the editors of FAT & QUEER: An Anthology of Queer & Trans Bodies & Lives. This groundbreaking collection of prose and poetry made its worldwide debut on May 21, 2021. The anthology radically explores the intersection of fat and queer identities, showcasing new, emerging and established queer and trans writers from around the world. Editors Bruce Owens Grimm, Miguel M. Morales, and Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini join us to discuss the journey from idea to publication. They also read from their own work in the anthology. Hosted by Tigress Osborn.
Presenter bios:
Black and white photo of Bruce Owens Grimm.
Bruce Owens Grimm is a queer ghost nerd based in Chicago. He is a co-editor of Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. His essays and reviews have appeared in The Rumpus, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, Entropy, AWP's Writer's Notebook, Iron Horse Literary Review, Older Queer Voices, Ghost City Review, and elsewhere. He is a 2021 Tin House Winter Workshop alum and has attend residencies and workshops at The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Vermont Studio Center, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) among others. He can be found on Twitter @bruceowensgrimm
Black and white photo of Miguel Morales.
Miguel M. Morales grew up in Texas working as a migrant/seasonal farmworker. He is a Lambda Literary Fellow and an alum of VONA/Voices and the Macondo Writers Workshops. Miguel’s work that centers on fatness and queerness appears in From Macho to Mariposa: New Gay Latino Fiction, Hibernation and Other Poems by Bear Bards, Imaniman: Poets Writing in the Anzaldúan Borderlands, and The (Other) F Word: A Celebration of the Fat & Fierce. He is the co-editor of Pulse/Pulso: In Remembrance of Orlando and of Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. Follow him on social media as @TrustMiguel.
Photo of Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini dressed in winter outer wear and holding a “Mount Gay” bottle
Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini is an editor at Penguin Random House, Marketing Manager for MONKEY New Writing From Japan, and one of the co-editors of Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. A 2014 graduate of Manhattanville College’s MFA Program and a 2019 Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Fellow, TJ’s writing has appeared in The Gambler, Off the Rocks: The LGBTQ Anthology of Newtown Writers Press, Songs of My Selfie: An Anthology of Millennial Writing, and Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. They live in New York, and can be found on Twitter and Instagram @Ferenteeny.
Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English and ASL translation was provided by Pro Bono ASL.
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The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
MAY 27, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - FAT JUSTICE: UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHTS WE HAVE AND THE GOALS WE MUST WORK TOWARD; FEATURING BRANDIE SENDZIAK OF FAT LEGAL ADVOCACY, RIGHTS, AND EDUCATION PROJECT (FLARE)
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "Fat Justice: Understanding the Rights We Have and the Goals We Must Work Toward; Featuring Brandie Sendziak of Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights, and Education Project (FLARE)". Pictured is Brandie Sendziak, a smiling young woman with blonde hair. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
FLARE, the Fat Legal Advocacy and Rights Education project, is dedicated to the fundamental belief that fat people deserve justice, which includes equal rights under the law as well as a leadership role in decisions that impact fat people. In this special Fat Liberation Month edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, Brandie Sendziak, Legal Director of FLARE, guided participants through a basic understanding of the landscape of fat rights in the United States, including discussion of the ways fat hatred, racism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination work together to target fat people at the intersections.
Sign language interpreting was provided by Pro Bono ASL. Closed captioning editing is in progress
About FLARE:
Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights & Education (FLARE) Project Logo
FLARE was founded as a project of the Law Office of Sondra Solovay. Founder Sondra Solovay, JD is a disabled attorney, author of Tipping the Scales of Justice, and co-editor of The Fat Studies Reader. During her career, Sondra was involved in numerous high-profile weight discrimination cases. Sondra has always recognized weight discrimination as a civil rights matter that disproportionately impacts people of color. In 2020, Sondra handed the reins for FLARE to Legal Director, Brandie Sendziak. FLARE is supported by an array of dedicated volunteers. For more information, visit flareproject.org.
About Brandie Sendziak, Esq.:
Brandie is a fat, legally blind disability and immigration attorney. In addition to her work with FLARE, she is the Supervising Immigration Attorney at Homeless Advocacy Project and supervises the legal department at Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco. Brandie also has a background in criminal defense.
Find FLARE at flareproject.org, @flareforjustice on IG, @FLAREforJustice on Twitter and Facebook.
MAY 25, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION WITH AARTI OLIVIA DUBEY
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "Destigmatizing Mental Health and Queering Fat Visibility featuring Aarti Olivia Dubey @curvesbecomeher". Pictured is Aarti Olivia Dubey, a Singapore India womxn. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
In this Fat Liberation Month edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, mental health advocate and fat activist Aarti Olivia Dubey shared insights from their 10 years in the public eye as a fat queer person. Aarti will discuss intersections of sexuality, gender identity, and fat identity through their personal and professional expertise. Based in Singapore, Aarti also shared insights about how expectations for Indian women have impacted them in their journey of being unapologetically fat and of coming out as non-binary.
Sign language interpreting was provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Presenter Bio:
Aarti Olivia Dubey is a former mental health therapist who exists as Curves Become Her across social media platforms. Over the past 10 years they have worked in plus size fashion, fat activism, race and gender politics. As a fat non binary South Asian born in South East Asia, they have worked with local, regional and international publications to speak upon fat liberation and existing as a minority voice.
Find Aarti at curvesbecomeher.wordpress.com, @curvesbecomeher on IG and Pinterest, @AartiOlivia on Twitter, @CurvesBecomeHer on Facebook.
MAY 22, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - LIVE BIG GIRL POETRY READING AND WRITING WORKSHOP
TW: Materials included in this show and workshop may include vulnerable topics, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others') about fat bodies. Please be advised.
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "Live Big Girl! Spoken Word Performance & Writing Workshop for Fat Community & Fat-Positive Folx starring Vanessa Chica, Karina Guardiola-Lopez and Rebeca Lois Lucret". Pictured is a pic of the speakers. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
In this special event, the cast of the acclaimed three-woman show Live Big Girl will perform spoken word pieces from their repertoire. Following the performance, the poets will lead participants in writing exercises exploring participants' own lives, families, and body image.
Accessibility notes: The performance and workshop are presented on Zoom, primarily in English, with some Spanish poetry. Sign language interpreting was provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Cast/teacher bios:
Headshot of poet Vanessa Chica, a fat brown-skinned woman with long dark hair.
Vanessa Chica Ferreira is an NYC educator, writer, poet, playwright, fat activist, poetry editor for The Ice Colony, and founder of theWORDbox. A featured poet at various events throughout New York City. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work has been published in The BX Files, The Abuela Stories Project, The Acentos Review, and Great Weather For Media. Vanessa Chica believes there is strength in vulnerability and is getting stronger every day. For more info visit vanessachica.com
Headshot of poet Karina Guardiola-Lopez, a fat brown-skinned woman with long dark hair.
Karina Guardiola-Lopez is an NYC poet, writer, educator, author of Jewtina Journals, and co-author of Live Big Girl. Her poetry has appeared in For Women who Roar, Writing For Peace, Great Weather for Media, The Scrib Arts Journal, Indolent Books, Acentos Review, The Ice Colony among many other publications. She has featured at The NYC Poetry Festival at Governor's Island, The National Black Theatre, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Bowery Poetry Club, The Bronx Museum, and many other locations. For more information visit kglopez.com
Headshot of poet Rebeca Lois Lucret, a fat brown-skinned woman with shoulder-length curly dark hair.
Rebeca Lois Lucret is a New York based, Puerto Rican-Cuban poet, writer and playwright. Her work explores her Afro-Latino roots, culture and an ever-evolving identity. She has featured at various NYC venues, is the co-writer of a three woman play titled, “Live Big Girl” and has been published in literary journals and anthologies, some of which include: The Abuela Stories Project Anthology and Brilliant Flame! Amiri Baraka: Poems, Plays, Politics for the People Anthology. Currently when she isn’t writing poems or nesting in Neruda’s pages, you can find her working on her upcoming memoir, Dandelion Strands. rllucretwriter.com
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
MAY 19, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR: FLM EDITION - ON FAT AND FAITH: WORKING TO END WEIGHT STIGMA IN SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS REALMS WITH REV. DR. E-K DAUFIN
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "On Fat and Faith: Working to Ed Weight Stigma in Spiritual and Religious Realms with Rev. Dr. E-k Daufin". Pictured is a B&W pic of the Rev. Dr. Daufin pictured while dancing. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
In this Fat Liberation Month edition of the NAAFA Webinar series, educator, activist, and ordained minister Rev. Dr. E-K Daufin (She/Her) guides us through understanding how anti-fatness shows up in various religious settings and what we can do about it. Christened Catholic, baptized Baptist, and whittled into Wiccan, Dr. D brings lived experience and scholarly expertise to her perspectives at the crossroads of spirituality and fat politics. Across all of her spiritual paths, she has found and fought against higher weight stigma and for fat positivity. Here, she seeks to show you how to begin to (or better) do the same…if you dare, in your own faith.
Sign language interpreting was provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Presenter Bio:
A lifelong meditator, dreamtime dancer, vocalist, student of many spiritual paths, passions and potions, Rev. Dr. E-K Daufin (She/Her) is a fat, intersectional, multi-religious, multi-faceted, social change artist, educator, ordained feminist minister, activist and consultant.
She earned her doctorate in multimedia communication from the Ohio State University. Dr. E-K. is the founding adviser of the National Organization for Women, Campus Action Network at Alabama State University, a historic HBCU in Montgomery, AL -- where her company (E-K. Daufin & Associates) is still headquartered.
Her multi-media work has been published in many forums both on paper and online -- including, The Los Angeles Times, ESSENCE magazine, the Associated Press, academic journals, monographs and books. Her work has been awarded by The Minorities And Communication Division and Commission on the Status of Women, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, and others. In addition to her past work with NAAFA, she has collaborated with many size-positive organizations, including ASDAH, Fat Studies Division of the international Popular Culture Association, BEDA and others.
Find Dr. Daufin on Facebook at facebook.com/E-K-Daufin-Associates-713066148878112
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
MAY 17, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - FAT!SO? FOREVER! WITH MARILYN WANN
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "Fat!So? Forever! featuring Author Marilyn Wann". Pictured is a B&W pic of the author along with a picture of the cover of her book. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
In this Fat Liberation Month special edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, long-time activist Marilyn Wann joined us to talk about 25 years of fat activism. Known for her zine-turned-book, Fat!So?, Marilyn took us back to the early days of her involvement in the Fat Liberation Movement and shared insights on what's changed, what hasn't, and what should. We also discussed what Marilyn's up to these days and what excites her in the fatosphere today.
Sign language interpreting was provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Find Marilyn at fatso.com
Presenter bio:
Marilyn Wann has been a fat activist for more than a quarter-century. She created the FAT!SO? print 'zine and wrote the FAT!SO? book. She's had fun doing all sorts of fat-positive projects, including making and selling Yay! Scales™, which give compliments. Find Marilyn at fatso.com.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
MAY 15, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - EMPOWERING FAT BODIES THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY & SELFIE EXPRESSION WITH SPENCER PABLO OF HOWEVER CHUBBY
Flyer is for the FLM 2021 webinar, "Empowering Fat Bodies Through Photography & Selfie Expression featuring Spencer Pablo @howeverchubby". Pictured is a B&W pic of Spencer Pablo in shirt, tie, vest, jeans and wearing a cap. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
In this special Fat Liberation Month Edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, photographer Spencer Pablo discusses his popular However Chubby project, which spotlights large-bodied men and masculine folx. He also shares some tips from 20+ years behind the lens and one amazing year of self-portraits so we can all take epic photos and selfies regardless of our equipment and experience.
Sign language interpreting was provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Find Spencer Pablo at spencerpablophotography.com, or @howeverchubby on IG.
Presenter bio:
Comfortable behind a lens for over 20 years, Spencer Pablo's images have appeared in newspapers and museums. A photographer who likes to keep challenging himself, he doesn't sit still. He photographs people, places, and things. Before joining the ranks of a Sony Artisan of Imagery, Spencer Pablo taught many workshops–from the typical photo-based workshops to the emergency dispatch software conferences (and everything in between).
Born in the Philippines, Spencer moved to southern California at a very early age as a son of a US Navy sailor. He is a father, husband, a Sony Artisan of Imagery and a computer scientist with experience in RF engineering and systems design. Spencer is also the creator of However Chubby, which spotlights the bodies of men and masculine people in "imagery that isn't afraid of the calories" and represents bodies that are underrepresented in media. Last year, Spencer took the plunge into self portraits--a discipline that he once was quite unsure about--and shares his tips and experiences on making sure that we strive to put ourselves in good light to showcase who we are and not minimize ourselves.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
MAY 13, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - FAT AND SUPERFAT VISIBILITY IN ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN WITH TONI TAILS
Flyer for FLM 2021 webinar, “Fat and Superfat Bodies in Art and Graphic Design featuring Artist Toni Tails” and shows both a photo and caricature of the artist. Other information listed on the flyer is here in the listing.
In this Fat Liberation Month Edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, popular artist Toni Tails discussed her graphic design work, how and why she became an artist, and how she uses her platform to promote fat liberation and other social justice causes. Toni also conducted a brief digital art demo.
Presenter bio:
Toni Tails (she/her) is the CEO of ToniTails.com, Designs with Curve Appeal, the home of her art, writing, and popular t-shirts featuring fat-positive art and empowerment messages. In addition to being a renowned artist and graphic designer, Toni is also an autism mama, a childhood sexual abuse survivor, and a PTSD/ADHD Queer Babe. She is also an outspoken advocate for disability rights, supporting sexual trauma survivors, ending mental health stigma, and creating an anti-racist and gender-inclusive world. She is a published author and illustrator whose diverse work supports intersectional fat liberation. Toni is a long-time NAAFA member and the creator of NAAFA's 50th Anniversary Conference logo.
The 2021 NAAFA Webinar Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.
Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented on Zoom with ASL interpreting is provided by Pro Bono ASL.
Hosted by NAAFA Board Chair and Director of Community Outreach, Tigress Osborn.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
Transcript of the video is available here.
MAY 11, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - 10 YEARS OF FATSHION FOR MEN AND MASC FOLX WITH BRUCE STURGELL
Flyer for the webinar, 10 years of Fat Fashion for Men and Masc Folx featuring Bruce Sturgell. A B&W picture of Bruce seated on a wooden bench and wearing khaki pants, a plaid shirt and a suit jacket is shown. The information contained in the flyer is included in the post listed here.
In this Fat Liberation Month edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, Bruce Sturgell, founder of Chubstr.com, discusses his journey from frustrated fashion aficionado to founder of one of the internet's most popular plus-size fashion hubs. Chubstr celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year, and Bruce will discuss the changes he has seen (and influenced!) in expanding style options for men and masculine folx.
SPEAKER BIO:
Frustrated by lack of choices and representation, Bruce Sturgell created Chubstr.com to chronicle his awesome men's plus-size looks and where to find them. In doing so, he became a voice for others who were struggling to see men with bodies reflective of their own, creating a map of accessible fashion for all. Today, Chubstr highlights other stylish plus-size men and continues to shine a light on brands creating stylish, accessible clothing for bigger bodies with masculine tastes.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
Transcript of the video is available here.
MAY 7. 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - FATIZEN: FAT HEROES IN THE WORLD OF GRAPHIC NOVELS FEATURING AUTHOR PHILIP BARRAGÁN
Flyer for the webinar, Fatizen: Fat Heroes in the World of Graphic Novels featuring Philip Barragan, author. Information included is listed here on the post.
In this #FatLiberationMonth edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, author Philip Barragán joined us to discuss his novel Fatizen 24602, which was then republished as Fatizen: The Graphic Novel. The Fatizen books tell the story of Delilah Palladino and her family as they fight back against oppression in a world where the most powerful branch of government is the diet industry and thinness is a federal mandate. The books depict one woman's journey and how she stands up for her rights and inspires courage, hope and a revolution.
SPEAKER BIO:
Philip Barragán grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California, and has worked with post-incarcerated youth, runaway teenagers and adults living with HIV/AIDS both as a frontline case worker and director of a social service agency. Currently, he works for the local health department assisting disenfranchised populations maintain access to healthcare.
Philip is a writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University in 2011. His debut novel, Fatizen 24602, was published by Branch Hill Publications in 2015 and is the basis for the Fatizen, The Graphic Novel, Parts One & Two subsequently released by Embonpoint Publishing. He is currently working on a series of essays examining the intersection of fat, ableism, and adoration of the skin you’re in.
Philip was the co-founder of Girth and Mirth Long Beach in 1995 and has worked as an advocate and activist for the fat community for much of his life. He lives in Long Beach, California with his husband Mason Arrigo where they publish their unique graphic brand of graphic novels under their Embonpoint imprint.
To find Fatizen, the Graphic Novel Series, go to embonpointpublishing.com.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
Transcript of the video is available here.
MAY 4, 2021 NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES: FLM EDITION - RESISTING UGLIFICATION AND RECLAIMING U.G.L.Y. WITH VANESSA ROCHELLE LEWIS
Flyer for the webinar “Resisting Uglification and Reclaiming U.G.L.Y. featuring Vanessa Rochelle Lewis, a dark skin Black femme person. Other information listed is listed in the posting here.
Vanessa Rochelle Lewis is the Founding Director of Reclaim UGLY: Uplift Glorify Love Yourself – And Create A World Where Others Can As Well! Inspired by an incident of ugly-shaming on the internet, Vanessa turned pain to passion and began to build a movement for resisting uglification. Her vision is to co-create a world where everyone knows that they are a safe, welcomed, and valued member of their communities; has the support to dream authentically and exist in their truths; and accepts that there is no face, no body, and no person who is ugly or unworthy of love and acceptanctance. In this webinar for Fat Liberation Month, Vanessa shared the story of Reclaim UGLY and guided participants toward personal and community empowerment.
SPEAKER BIO:
Vanessa Rochelle Lewis (she/her), MFA,is a Queer, Fat, Black, Femme performer, facilitator, educator, writer, activist, healer, joyful weirdo, and Faerie Princess Mermaid Gangsta for The Revolution. In addition to being the Founding Director of Reclaim UGLY, Vanessa has been a Writer and Co-Managing Editor for acclaimed feminist magazines, Everyday Feminism & Black Girl Dangerous; a community college instructor at multiple Bay Area schools and radical transformative justice programs; a fundraiser and events coordinator for the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project; the Artist In Residence for the Young Women Freedom Center where she facilitated Art Healing Workshops and a Master Class for formerly incarcerated women, trans, and non-binary people; and so much more. She is currently a core team member for Creating Freedom Movements (a year long social education project that supports grassroots visionary leaders to incubate healing and joy projects while learning more about the art, theory, and practice of social justice movements) and a Creative and Programming Consultant for the Positive Results Center. Her book, Reclaim UGLY: Uplift Glorify Love Yourself And Create A World Where Others Can As Well, will be published by North Atlantic Press and dispersed by Penguin Random House in October 2021.
Find Reclaim UGLY at reclaimugly.org
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.
To see other webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
Transcript of the video is available here.
APRIL 24, 2021 WEBINAR: PANDEMIC EDITION EPISODE 3 FEATURING THE #NOBODYISDISPOSABLE COALITION
Saturday, April 24. 2021 at 11am PDT/12pm MDT/1pm CDT/2pm EDT
In Part 3 of our 3-episode package on how the pandemic has impacted fat people, members of the #NoBodyIsDisposable Coalition will talk about their activism in California and Canada to ensure inclusive care guidelines and to demand vaccine access for fat, disabled, and other marginalized-bodied people.
Pic of Max Airborne, a fat person wearing an aqua t-shirt and a red knit cap.
SPEAKER BIOS:
Max Airborne (They/Them, Ki/Kin) is a fat activist and artist. Max co-founded Fat Rose in an effort to support a more radical fat liberation -- one that addresses fat hatred as rooted in systems of domination: white supremacy, capitalism, colonialism and heteropatriarchy. Fat Rose also seeks to build relationships with other social justice movements, to bring fat liberation into the visions and platforms of the left. Max also founded Fat Lib Ink, and co-founded FaT GiRL zine in the 1990s.
Pic of Fady Shanouda, a fat man with shoulder length dark curly hair with a light beard, wearing black-framed glasses and a blue print shirt.
Fady Shanouda (he/him) is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at City, University of London. His research examines the connections between international students’ distress and the Western university as a key site for the production and naturalization of colonialism. His scholarly contributions lie at the theoretical and pedagogical intersections of Disability, Mad, and Fat Studies and include socio-historical examinations that surface the interconnections of colonialism, racism, ableism/sanism and fatphobia. He has published scholarly articles on disability/mad-related issues in higher education, Canadian disability history and art, the anti-fat bias in medicine, and community-based learning. Dr. Shanouda is committed to research that simultaneously impacts academic thought and individuals in the community. To achieve this goal, he created and hosted the podcast “Disability Saves the World,” which invites members of the disability, mad, fat community to speak on their work and how they envision disability thought, activism, and art saving the world.
Pic of Brandie Sendziak, a fat woman with short blonde hair and wearing a black jacket.
Brandie Sendziak (she/her) is a Queer, fat, legally blind disability and immigration attorney. She is the Legal Director with the Fat Legal Advocacy Rights and Education Project, and she supervises the legal department at Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco. Brandie is also the supervising Immigration Attorney at Homeless Advocacy Project, and her background is in criminal defense. She is a co-founder of the #NoBodyIsDisposable Coalition
Pic of Tracy Tidgwell, a fat woman with long brown hair wearing a pink coat and a black hat.
Tracy Tidgwell (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, activist, and cultural producer working in the folds of the queer and disability arts communities. She’s co-editor of The Future is Fat, a book collection that reimagines understandings of time that allow for new expressions of fat experience, and creator of Fat Work, a photographic series that pictures fat women at work and explores fatness, class, race, and labour. Tracy is a core member of Fat Rose, a fat liberation cross-movement incubator, and works with the #NoBodyIsDisposable collation. She's the Project Manager for Bodies in Translation: Activist Art, Technology and Access to Life, a disability arts and culture project at Re•Vision: The Centre for Art and Social Justice at the University of Guelph. In all her work, Tracy explores how we are rooted in the past, present, and future and centres process, connection, love and queerness.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Lifesaving Activism to Protect Fat & Disabled People with NoBodyIsDisposable
To see other webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial
APRIL 13, 2021 WEBINAR: PANDEMIC EPISODE 2 FEATURING DR. CAT PAUSÉ
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 5pm PDT/6pm MDT/7pm CDT/8pm EDT
In part 2 of the 3-part series package on how the pandemic has impacted fat people, Dr. Cat Pausé will talk about how the media and the government have scapegoated fat people in ways that actually have nothing to do with us and how that blame causes so much harm, both now and in ongoing ways.
SPEAKER BIO:
Portrait pic of Cat Pausé, PhD, a smiling fat white womxn with red hair pulled back and wearing a black dress and a black and white fascinator.
Cat Pausé, PhD is a Fat Studies scholar at Massey University in New Zealand. She is the lead editor of Queering Fat Embodiment (Ashgate) and the International Handbook of Fat Studies (Routledge), and has coordinated three international conferences - Fat Studies: Reflective Intersections (2012), Fat Studies: Identity, Agency, Embodiment (2016), and Fat Studies: Past, Present, Futures (2020). Her research is focused on the effects of fat stigma on health and well-being on fat individuals and how fat activists resist the fatpocalypse. She has called for a new fat ethics, acknowledging the role science has played in the oppression of fat people and ensuring that research around fatness centers fat epistemology. Her work appears in scholarly journals including Fat Studies, Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics, Feminist Review, and Narrative Inquiries in Bioethics, as well as online in the Huffington Post, NPR, The Conversation, and her blog. Her fat positive radio show, Friend of Marilyn, has been showcasing fat studies scholarship and fat activism since 2011. Find Friend of Marilyn on Apple Podcast. Connect with Cat on Twitter @FOMNZ or on Instagram at fomnz.
Graphic is a drawing of Cat Pausé, a fat white womxn sitting with her feet up on a radio desk. She's wearing headphones and it shows a boom mic. It reads, "@FOMNZ" at the bottom right.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Pandemic Episode 2 featuring Dr. Caitlin Pausé
To see other webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
APRIL 6, 2021 WEBINAR: PANDEMIC EPISODE 1 FEATURING DA'SHAUN HARRISON AND RAGEN CHASTAIN
Graphic states, "NAAFA Webinar Series 2021" and the blue NAAFA logo at the top. Below reads, "COVID-19 Pandemic Special Edition, Diet Culture and Fat Shaming in the Age of the Coronavirus, Part 1 of 3; Tuesday April 6 at 4PDT/5PDT/6PDT/7PDT, naafa,org for details and registration; Free! for Fat Community & Fat-Postitive Folx of all Sizes" Black and white pictures with the captions "Featuring Da'Shawn Harrison (they/them)" and "Featuring Ragen Chastain (she/her)" are below.]
In Part 1 of our 3-episode package on how the pandemic has impacted fat people, activists Da'Shaun Harrison (they/them) and Ragen Chastain (she/her) discussed the socio-cultural challenges of dealing with diet culture in this COVID era.
Portrait of Da’Shaun Harrison, a young Black Trans person with long, dark hair in dreadlocks, a full beard and glasses, wearing a yellow t-shirt with the quote: “To be visibly queer is to choose your happiness over your safety. - Da’Shaun Harrison"
SPEAKER BIOS:
Da'Shaun Harrison (they/them) is a Black trans writer, abolitionist, and community organizer in Atlanta, GA. Harrison currently serves as the Managing Editor of Wear Your Voice Magazine, and is the author of Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness. Harrison is also a public speaker who often leads workshops on Blackness, queerness, gender, fatness, disabilities, and the intersection at which they all meet. Their portfolio and other work can be found on their website: dashaunharrison.com, on Twitter @DaShaunLH and on Instagram dashaunlh.
Portrait of Ragen Chastain; a white womxn with long hair and glasses with a rose-colored dress and heart necklace in front of a rock wall. Photo Credit Lindley Ashline (https://bodyliberationphotos.com/)
Ragen Chastain (she/her) is a speaker, writer, fathlete, Certified Health Coach and Functional Training Specialist, and thought leader in the fields of Body Image, Fat Liberation, Weight Stigma, and Health at Every Size, with specific focuses on weight stigma in healthcare, fitness, and eating disorders. Ragen has brought her signature mix of humor and hard facts to diverse college, conference, and corporate stages from Dartmouth and Cal Tech to the Diabetes Education Specialists National Conference, to Google Headquarters. Author of the popular blog danceswithfat.org since 2009, the book Fat: The Owner's Manual, editor of the anthology The Politics of Size, and published in outlets from espnW to Glamour, Ragen is frequently featured as an expert in print, radio, television, and documentary film including on both PBS and The Olympic Channel. Ragen is a three-time National dance champion and two-time marathoner who holds the Guinness World Record for Heaviest Woman to Complete a Marathon. Ragen lives in LA with her Fiancée Julianne and their two adorable dogs, Cuddles McPickMeUp and ChadShannel Royale. Find more information about her speaking at www.SizedForSuccess.com. Find Ragen on Twitter @danceswithfat and on Instagram ragenchastain.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Pandemic Episode 1 featuring Da'Shaun Harrison and Ragen Chastain
To see other webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
Graphic of the NAAFA Logo and stating, “ NAAFA 2020 Webinar Series”
DECEMBER 2020 WEBINAR: FEARING THE BLACK BODY: THE RACIAL ORIGINS OF FAT PHOBIA
Image description: Graphic is a square with a light gray rectangular block on the left and a black rectangular block on the left. Across the top of the gray block in black lettering reads,"NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES 2020". Below that is a black and white picture of Dr. Sabrina Strings framed in blue (a young Black woman, in a short-sleeved top and leaning her chin on her intertwined fingers). Below that in blue lettering reads "naafa.org for details and registration info". On the right side, in blue lettering reads, "Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Roots of Fat Phobia featuring Dr. Sabrina Strings. Thursday, December 10 6mpEDT/5pmCDT/4pmMDT/3pmPDT. Hosted by Tigress Osborn. Free for Fat Community and Allies." Below that is a blue NAAFA logo.
NAAFA Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn, is joined by author Dr. Sabrina Strings to discuss her book, Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia and its importance in understanding how race and fatness have been historically connected by racist society.
The 2020 NAAFA Webinar Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.
SPEAKER BIO:
Sabrina Strings, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Irvine. Sabrina has been featured in dozens of venues, including Huffington Post, Medium, Mashable, Los Angeles Times, Bitch Media, and goop. Her writing can be found in diverse venues, including The New York Times, Scientific American, Ethnic and Racial Studies and Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society.
Her book, Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia (2019), has been named a NYU Press Bestseller. It was awarded the 2020 Best Publication Prize by the Body & Embodiment Section of the American Sociological Association. Fearing the Black Body has been featured on BBC, NPR, and WNYC, as well as “must read” lists in Essence, Ms., and Colorlines. Keep up with Sabrina’s latest moves by visiting her website: Sabrinastrings.com, or follow her on Twitter @Sastrings.
Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English without captions. A transcript of the webinar will be made available at a later date.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia
To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.
OCTOBER 24, 2020 WEBINAR: FAT GIRLS IN BLACK BODIES WITH DR. JOY COX
Image description: Graphic is a square with a black rectangular block on the left and a light gray rectangular block on the right as the background. Across the top of the black block in gray lettering reads,"NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES 2020". Below that in blue lettering reads "Fat Girls in Black Bodies featuring Dr. Joy Cox. Saturday, October 24 1pEDT/12pCDT/11aMDT/10aPDT. Hosted by Tigress Osborn. Free! For fat community & fat-positive folx of all sizes. NAAFA.ORG for details and registration info." Below that is a blue NAAFA logo. Across the light gray block on the right is a black and white picture of Dr. Joy Cox, a young Black woman, wearing a lacy top with a bow at the collar and jeans sitting on a sidewalk between two houses.
NAAFA welcomed author, podcaster and activist Dr. Joy Cox! Dr. Cox had a conversation with NAAFA Board Chair Elect and Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn, about her new book, Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating Communities of Our Own, and much more!
NAAFA webinars are free and open to the community. and fat-positive folx of all sizes.
Presenter Bio:
Joy Arlene Renee Cox is an ordinary person who has been given an extraordinary opportunity to share stories about people much more fabulous than herself. She is a Philadelphia native, born on the blessed thirty-first day of December. Joy is a claircognizant Capricorn that thrives through connection and love, rooting for the underdogs in life to take their rightful place as overcomers. She is also a doctor, receiving her PhD from Rutgers University–New Brunswick in 2018. Her field of work is centered on fatness, identity, and social change.
Reflective of the name she bears, Joy has the cheeks to outsmile her detractors. Reflective of her work in print, she has the research to back up her claims. While the spotlight has never been a position she’d prefer to stand in, Joy does believe in speaking up and advocating for what’s right. She is the author of Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating Communities of Our Own, published through North Atlantic Books, and the host of the pro-fat, pro-Black podcast Fresh Out the Cocoon.
Joy has been featured in articles by the Huffington Post and SELF magazine. Joy has also been on several podcasts, such as Positive Nutrition with Paige Smathers and Food Psych with Christy Harrison. Dr. Cox is simply a conduit through which love, wisdom, and justice flow. Her pride is in her people and her values. Her strength is in her disposition and her intuition. Find her online at DrJoyCox.com.
If you'd like to give to further Dr. Joy’s work, here is her payment information: Venmo - @joycox; Cashapp - $joysrich; drjoycox.com if interested in consults about research or speaking opportunity.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Fat Girls in Black Bodies
OCTOBER 15, 2020 WEBINAR: 5 DECADES & COUNTING: THOUGHTS ON THE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE OF FAT ACCEPTANCE WITH NAAFA FOUNDER, BILL FABREY
Graphic is a blue rectangle on the left and a white rectangle on the right as the background; on the left side at the top reads in white lettering: "NAAFA Webinar Series 2020" with the NAAFA logo on the right; below that is a Black and White picture of a senior Caucasian man with white hair and a full beard, wearing metal framed glasses, a suede cap, collared shirt and jacket; on the right side of the pic in black lettering reads,"5 Decades and Counting: Thoughts on the Past, Present & Future of Fat Acceptance with NAAFA Founder Bill Fabrey" and a gray line below that; below the picture in white lettering reads: "free for fat community and allies, naafa.org for details and registration"; on the right in blue lettering it reads: Thursday, October 15, 3P. 4M. 5C. 6E. ZOOM (Registration required for link)
NAAFA Founder, Bill Fabrey, and NAAFA Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn, will engage in a lively dialogue about how the fat acceptance movement has changed since the organization was founded in 1969. Bill will discuss NAAFA history including landmark events, the organization's role in shaping the fat liberation movement overall, how intersectionality did and did not factor into NAAFA's priorities, and what he's learned from fat community about being a good activist and a good human.
NAAFA webinars are free and open to the community.
Presenter Bio:
In 1969, Bill Fabrey came up with the concept of a national organization to serve as an advocacy group for fat people. He drafted bylaws, rounded up some individuals to serve as the first Board of Directors, and the National Association to Aid Fat Americans (NAAFA) was born. Bill has been a member of NAAFA (now known as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) for 51 years. He participated actively in NAAFA leadership until the early 90’s. In 1991, Bill became co-founder of the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination (CSWD). He now serves as the Council’s President. Bill has also served on the membership committee of the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) since 2008. At age 79, Bill is “retired,” but working harder than ever--running a small business, supporting Black Lives Matter and indigenous rights, and continuing to work toward ending bullying and fat stigmatization. Learn more about the organizations Bill has worked with at naafa.org, cswd.org, and sizediversityandhealth.org (ASDAH).
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: 5 Decades & Counting: Thoughts on the Past, Present & Future of Fat Acceptance
OCTOBER 11, 2020 WEBINAR: UNASHAMED: MUSINGS OF A FAT, BLACK MUSLIM WITH LEAH VERNON
Image description: Graphic is a square with a light gray rectangular block on the left and a black rectangular block on the right as the background. Across the top of the gray block in black lettering reads,"NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES 2020". Below that in blue lettering reads"Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim featuring Leah Vernon. Sunday, October 11, 1P EDT/12P CDT/11A MDT/10A PDT. Hosted by Tigress Osborn. NAAFA.ORG for details and registration info." Below that is a blue NAAFA logo. Across the black block on the right is a black and white picture of Leah Vernon, and young Black woman, wearing a floral shirt dress and Hijab standing in front of a flowered background and framed on the top and bottom in blue.
NAAFA welcomes acclaimed author, social media influencer and model, Leah Vernon in a conversation hosted by NAAFA Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn.
Leah Vernon is an international Hijabi social media influencer. The award-winning author of Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim, Leah is also a motivational speaker, educator, and content creator. Her content has garnered over a million views combined, and she’s been featured in hundreds of media platforms from The New York Times to Buzzfeed. For more information on Leah, visit her website at www.leahvernon.com.
Where you can find Leah:
http://www.leahvernon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lvernon2000/ https://www.youtube.com/user/msLeahVernon
If you'd like to give to further Leah's work, here is her payment information:
Venmo: @LeahV Paypal: Leahjvernon@gmail.com
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel [Some adult language used]: Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim
OCTOBER 8, 2020 WEBINAR: FAT FABULOUSNESS AND LATINX REPRESENTATION WITH ADY DEL VALLE
Image description: Graphic is a square with a light gray rectangular block on the left and a black rectangular block on the right as the background. Across the top of the gray block in black lettering reads,"NAAFA WEBINAR SERIES 2020". Below that in blue lettering reads"FAT FABULOUSNESS AND LATINX REPRESENTATION, featuring ADY DEL VALLE. Thursday, October 8, 8E/7C/6M/5P. Hosted by Tigress Osborn. NAAFA.ORG for details and registration info." Below that is a blue NAAFA logo. Across the black block on the right is a black and white picture of Ady Del Valle, and young bald latinx with a beard, wearing a turtleneck shirt and a chain necklace in front of a flowering bush and framed on the top and bottom in blue.
Learn how fatness, fashion, and Latinx representation intersect as NAAFA Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn talks with the fabulous Ady Del Valle!
Ady Del Valle (he/her) is best known as a plus model, speaker, and advocate for underrepresented models in the fashion world. He has appeared on the runways of New York Fashion week and done campaigns for Patrick Church, Fat Trunk Jeans, HOMOCO Apparel and more. Among many accolades and achievements in her five years in the fashion industry, Ady was one of Slink Magazine’s Best of Plus Favorite Male Model nominees. He has been featured on the covers of OBVIOUS and Volup2, as well as featured in articles in the New York Post and numerous other publications.
Outside of fashion, Ady uses her platform as an LGBTQ+ advocate, a voice for Latinx representation, and a role model for unapologetic fat pride. She founded @thelatinx_creative on Instagram to improve representation for other Latinx creatives on social media. In 2020, Ady was named by Teen Vogue as one of “6 Latinx Innovators Changing the Plus SIze Fashion Industry." He is also co-author of a chapter in The Other F Word: A Celebration of the Fat and Fierce. Find Ady on your favorite social media site at:
https://www.instagram.com/_adydelvalle/
https://www.facebook.com/ady.delvalle
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Fat Fabulousness and Latinx Representation
SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 WEBINAR: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF BIG MOVES!
Image Description: In a photo by Lisa J. Ellis, members of emFATic DANCE are seen on stage performing at the annual Big Moves Dance Show. Seven fat people in black and white print dresses are caught mid-choreography against a dark background
Fat dance has played an essential role in artistic expression and in fat visibility since the beginning of fat liberation movement. With nearly 20 years of service under their feet, Big Moves has danced their way into the hearts of fat community in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area and beyond. Just as they were preparing to celebrate this major milestone, the global pandemic shut down what could've been their biggest year yet.
Join NAAFA as we check in with Jessica Erin Judd and Matilda St. John, the Co-Producers of Big Moves Events and Operations. Jessica and Matilda are also the Co-Creative Directors of emFATic DANCE, the organization's official dance company. Jessica and Matilda guided us through the past, present, and future of Big Moves and discussed why fat dance matters to all of fat community whether you are a dance or not.
#Happy20thAnniversaryBigMoves! #NAAFAWebinarSeries Hosted by NAAFA Community Outreach Director Tigress Osborn.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Celebrating 20 Years of Big Moves
Presenter Bios: Jessica Erin Judd and Matilda St. John are the Co-Artistic Directors of emFATic DANCE and Co-Producers of Big Moves’ events and operations. They’ve been dancing, plotting, and sharing cat photos with each other since the earliest days of Big Moves. In addition to keeping weekly rehearsals going over Zoom, they’re spending 2020 planning some exciting surprises for their post-pandemic shows. You can find more extensive bios for Jessica, Matilda, and the other emFATs at www.bigmoves.org.
Big Moves currently operates out of the San Francisco Bay Area and is home to emFATic DANCE, a jazz dance based performing company for people of all shapes, sizes, and genders. When not faced with a global pandemic, typical offerings and events include: open rehearsals with emFATic DANCE (in Berkeley, CA), Day of Dance (a day of free dance classes), an annual full scale stage production featuring emFATic DANCE and special guests (spotlighting POC performers), Cupcakes and Muffintops clothing and bake sale (offered in conjunction with FatFriendlyFunders), and A Taste for Dance in October (dance showcase and chocolate-tasting fundraiser and fat community building event). www.bigmoves.org, Facebook.com/bigmovesbayarea, IG: @bigmoves_bayarea, Twitter: @bigmovesbayarea
Giving info: Big Moves is a fiscally-sponsored project of Intersection for the Arts. Donations can be made through theintersection.org (be sure to specify that the donation is for us!) or send to: Big Moves, PO Box 27215, Oakland, CA 94602
AUGUST 24, 2020 WEBINAR: SPOTLIGHT ON MECHANIC SHOP FEMME, CHAYA MILCHTEIN
Graphic reads at the top: NAAFA Webinar Series 2020 with NAAFA logo on the right; below is a Black and White picture of a young fat girl in a dress in fron of a car with Spotlight on Mechanic Shop Femme; Auto talk, Plus size weddings. Fat Queer visibility. Troll fighting. And more.; on the right side of the pic, below on the left states free for fat community and allies, naafa.org for details and registration; On the left it says Monday, August 24th 4P. 5M. 6C. 7E. ZOOM (Registration required for link)
View a conversation with Mechanic Shop Femme, Chaya Milchtein, and hosted by NAAFA Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn.
Chaya Milchtein is an automotive educator, writer, and speaker, and founder of Mechanic Shop Femme. Her work has appeared or been featured in publications ranging from the Chicago Tribune to Shondaland. With seven years in the auto industry under her belt and three years of virtual courses, you'll find her an engaging personality who bring her whole self to her work. You can find her online at www.mechanicshopfemme.com and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Spotlight on Mechanic Shop Femme
AUGUST 6, 2020 WEBINAR: ADDING 'WEIGHT' TO THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW IN YOUR AREA FEATURING DANY ATKINS, CAROLE CULLUM AND SEAN MASSEY
Image description: Information about NAAFA's August 6th webinar is presented on a white background with multiple shades of blue on the upper and lower borders. The logo of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is appears in the bottom corner. Black and white headshots of the three featured speakers are shown alongside the following text: NAAFA Webinar Series 2020. Adding Weight to Anti-Discrimination Law in Your Area featuring Dany Atkins, Carole Cullum and Sean Massey. Hosted by Tigress Osborn. Thursday, August 6. 5p-6m-7c-8e. free to fat community and allies. naafa.org for details and registration.
Protection against discrimination based on the size or weight of your body is a reality in only one state and six cities in the United States. According to statistics from the CDC, this potentially affects the lives of 42.4% of Americans; including 49.6% blacks, 44.8% Hispanics 42.2% whites and 17.4% Asians. Legislative protections cover employment, housing, medical treatment, education and public accommodation. In the wake of a pandemic where people have lost their jobs and many have lost the lives of loved ones, we believe discrimination against people's body size will affect their everyday living. Adverse decisions may be made based on weight in geographic areas not protected. In our efforts to oppose racism and oppression of marginalized people including body size in anti-discrimination laws can work in favor of that cause and give protections to intersections of 'age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression'.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel:
Adding 'Weight' to the Anti-Discrimination Law in Your Area
If you have an interest in connecting with others in your area to work together in changing the laws in your area, go to the Equality At Every Size page and complete the form at the bottom of the page.
Our panel is comprised of three people that have played a key role in changing the anti-discrimination law: Dany Atkins for the City of Santa Cruz, CA; Sean Massey for the City of Binghamton, NY; and Carole Cullum for the City and County of San Francisco, CA and hosted by Tigress Osborn, NAAFA Community Outreach Director.
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS:
Portrait-style pic of Dany Atkins, a smiling Caucasian woman with shoulder length brown hair pulled back from her face and wearing glasses and a floral top
Dany Atkins (formerly Dawn Atkins, MA) is an activist, journalist, anthropologist, and author. She co-founded the Body Image Task Force (BITF) in Santa Cruz, CA along with her mother Mary E. Atkins. The two worked with other activists to push National NOW to adopt size acceptance as part of their platform. In addition to working as the Director/Chair of the BITF, Dany joined NAAFA and served as research chair for several years.
In the early 1990s, Atkins worked with then Santa Cruz Mayor, Neil Coonerty, to propose adding “height, weight, and personal appearance” to the city anti-discrimination ordinance. They were ultimately able to pass a more comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Ordinance that set precedence on several levels, as well as adding “sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, and personal appearance.”
Dany was instrumental in helping others as they added protections in San Francisco and Iowa City, Iowa, where she had moved to join the Ph.D. program in Feminist Anthropology at University of Iowa. Her dissertation research focused on body image and sexuality among transgender people.
Dany Atkins is currently working on a second round of research and plans to publish a longitudinal work of transgender lives.
Portrait-style pic of Carole Cullum, a smiling Caucasian woman with salt and pepper hair wearing a black jacket, red top and white pearl necklace
Carole Cullum has been politically active throughout her life. In the 60’s and 70’s she worked to stop the Vietnam war and demonstrated in the MAYDAY actions (If they won’t stop the war, we’ll stop the government) in Washington, DC. She has been an advocate for women’s rights, working for Congresswoman Bella Abzug and helping with The National Women’s Conference.
Cullum worked for senate campaigns, the first alcoholism center for lesbians funded by the US government, and helped found Ocean Park Community Organization in Santa Monica, CA. After attending law school, Carole became a family law specialist. She joined the Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic club and served as co-president. Carole was appointed by Mayor Willie Brown to the Board of Permit Appeals. She joined NAAFA and served as President for several years.
In San Francisco, Cullum joined Marilyn Wan and other fat activists in a series of actions against a fitness company’s billboards that stated, “When the aliens come, they will eat the fat ones first.” This important and colorful demonstration was the first step toward the passage of San Francisco’s ordinance that bans discrimination based on height and weight.
Portrait-style pic of Sean Massey, a smiling Caucasian man with short gray hair wearing a black jacket and light gray shirt
Sean G. Massey is Associate Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Binghamton University. He received his PhD in Social Personality Psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. His research focuses on the study of sexuality, gender, anti-LGBTQ prejudice, attitudes toward same-sex parenting, racial bias in educational and law enforcement contexts, and the relationship between social science and social change. He is co-investigator in the Binghamton University Human Sexualities Lab.
Dr. Massey also served on the Binghamton City Council from 2008-2011 where he coauthored legislation establishing the Binghamton Human Rights Commission and the Binghamton Human Rights Law, which banned discrimination based on gender expression, height, and weight in employment, housing, and public accommodation. He served as Chair of the Binghamton Human Rights Commission from 2012-2015.
JULY 18, 2020 WEBINAR: HOW WEIGHT STIGMA BENEFITS SOCIAL POLICY MAKERS WITH NANCY ELLIS ORDWAY
Pic of a Caucasian woman with long brown hair wearing a black top with a multi-color jacket and a gold necklace standing in front of a wooden staircase.
This was a great presentation by Dr. Ellis-Ordway on how weight stigma negatively affects quality of life for all people and influences social policy. She outlined how social determinants have a stronger influence on public and personal health than behavior but how interventions continue to focus on changing individual body size. This focus effectively distracts from the need for interventions that target social disparities such as poverty, pollution, racism and oppression. Fear-mongering about the "obesity epidemic" and the associated weight stigma preserves the systems that maintain inequities that contribute to poor health. Blaming individuals for being fat and coercing them into losing weight is much easier than addressing the social determinants of health. Weight stigma provides an effective distraction for policy makers who want to avoid the more complicated and nuanced discussions about who is responsible for the health of the larger community and all of its residents, and how that responsibility should be met.
Hosted by NAAFA’s Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn. NAAFA webinars are free and open to the community.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: How Weight Stigma Benefits Social Policy Makers
Link to webinar transcript: 7/18/20 Webinar Transcript
Nancy Ellis-Ordway, LCSW, PhD, is a psychotherapist with more than thirty years’ experience, specializing in treating eating disorders, body image issues, stress, anxiety, depression and relationship issues. She has a private practice in Jefferson City, MO. In addition to a Master of Social Work degree from Washington University, she completed the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy training program at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute and a Ph.D. in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Missouri. She is the author of Thrive at Any Weight: Eating to Nourish Body, Soul, and Self-Esteem (2019).
JUNE 29, 2020 WEBINAR: CENTERING PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE BODY LOVE MOVEMENT WITH GLORIA LUCAS
A color photo of Gloria Lucas is featured. Gloria is a Xicana woman with long dark hair, dark framed glasses, and dark lipstick wearing a red, long-sleeved blouse.
We were thrilled to be joined by Gloria Lucas of Nalgona Positivity Pride. Gloria is a leader in making space for BIPoC people in the world of eating disorder recovery, as well as for being a leader in creating more representation for Communities of Color in the #bodypositivity, especially online where NPP has over 100,000 followers on Instagram. In this webinar, Gloria shared her perspectives on how the #bodylove movement can center People of Color (particularly womxn and femmes) and why it is important to do so. We heard from Gloria about how and why she started Nalgona Positivity Pride, what her journey has been as a body positive online influencer, and what's next for her. Hosted by NAAFA Community Outreach Director Tigress Osborn.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Centering People of Color in the Body Love Movement
Transcipt of webinar: 6/29/20 Webinar Transcript
Gloria Lucas is an eating disorders awareness activist that specializes in intersectional eating disorders education and resources that transform the lives of BIPOC individuals and expand eating disorders treatment models. Being the founder and CEO of Nalgona Positivity Pride, she is able to raise awareness through digital media, public speaking, and grassroots activism. She lives in Santa Ana, CA.
Nalgona Positivity Pride (NPP) is an in-community eating disorders and body-positive organization dedicated in creating visibility and resources for Black, Indigenous, communities of color (BICC.) Since 2016, NPP has been raising awareness around the specific needs of BICC through digital media, education, grassroots eating disorders treatment models, and art. Rooted in Xicana indigenous feminism and DIY punx praxis, NPP emerged out of a great need not only to shed light on the experiences and barriers that exist in BICC affected by body-image and troubled eating but to create opportunities of healing by and for BICC.
JUNE 18, 2020 WEBINAR: FAT & QUEER INTERSECTIONS WITH YARROW HALPERN, ANDY DURAN AND TREVOR KEZON
The logo of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is appears in the bottom corner. Black and white headshots of the three featured speakers are shown alongside the following text: NAAFA Webinar Series 2020. Fat & Queer Intersections: A Dialogue. Featuring Andy Duran, Yarrow Halpern, and Trevor Kezon. Hosted by Tigress Osborn. Thursday, June 18. 5p-6m-7c-8e. free to fat community and allies. naafa.org for details and registration.
This was a fantastic discussion of fat and queer intersections featuring our panelists: Yarrow Halpern, Andy Duran and Trevor Kezon and hosted by NAAFA’s Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn.
If you were unable to attend the live webinar, we have it recorded and now available on YouTube for viewing!
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Fat & Queer Intersections
Transcript of the webinar: Fat & Queer Intersections Transcript
Yarrow Halpern
Pic of a queer, black, brown, asian and indigenous femme wearing a light knit cap with glasses and dark hair
Yarrow Halpern, BA, (they/them) is a fat, queer, nonbinary social justice focused activist and educator. They currently work at Gender Spectrum, a nonprofit dedicated to making the work a safer place for trans, non-binary and gender expansive youth. They graduated with Honors from Mills College with a BA in International Relations and a double minor in African Diaspora Studies and Spanish. Yarrow speaks Spanish, English and French. They are a radical, queer, black, brown, asian and indigenous femme and healer born and raised in the Bay Area. Community work is incredibly important to them and they have worked in nonprofits for 13+ years. When not working at Gender Spectrum, they facilitate groups and workshops as a Fat Positive Facilitator and also do Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consulting. Follow Yarrow on Instagram @oaklandbae.
Andy Duran
Pic of a queer/trans Blaxican with dark hair and in a print shirt
Andy Duran is a Sexual Health Director and California Brown Bear cub born and raised in Oakland. This queer/trans Blaxican has been an activist and educator throughout the community for over 20 years, on numerous intersectional, anti-oppression based topics with hopes to arouse curiosity and spread truth. When not working, this cat Daddy can be found singing George Michael, blushing, and keeping up his teddy bear figure. Follow Andy online @EducatorAndy.
Trevor Kezon
Pic of a Caucasian gay male with dark hair, wearing glasses and in a red shirt
Trevor Kezon (he/him) is a Chicago-born writer who currently resides in Los Angeles. He primarily writes fiction for young audiences, and his nonfiction has been featured in the New York Times. In his free time, he dabbles in sumo wrestling, baking, and witchcraft. He’s married to The Big Fat Gay Podcast co-host Dan Oliverio and plays Dungeons and Dragons with his other co-hosts, Michael and Don. He hopes that sharing his experiences as a fat gay man will give comfort and laughter to the community at large. Check out Trevor online @bigfatgaypodcast.
MAY 21, 2020 WEBINAR: FAT GLAMOUR AND VISIBILITY POLITICS WITH SAUCYE WEST
Pic of beautiful African-American plus-size model with long flowing hair.
Join us as one of our favorite supersize models discusses the role beauty plays in fat liberation. We hear from Saucye about what it means to be a 400+ pound model on the runway and on the internet, as well as talk about how plus models are using social media to push back against the constant "fear of weight gain" messages that have come with quarantine life. We also talk about make-up and mental health, go through some quarantine beauty basics, and see Saucye do a demo of eye-emphasizing looks for those of you who want to glamorize your mask-wearing lives. Hosted by NAAFA Director of Community Outreach Tigress Osborn.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Fat Glamour and Visibility Politics
MAY 6, 2020 WEBINAR: NAAFA WEBINAR: REVISITING THE FAT FLASH MOB WITH JUICY D. LIGHT
Poster with pink background showing a pic of a fat flash mob and information on the webinar event.
In this very special edition #InternationalNoDietDay edition of the #NAAFAWebinarSeries, actress/activist/dancer Juicy D. Light chatted with NAAFA Director of Community Outreach, Tigress Osborn, about the Fat Flash Mob (2014), as well as her groundbreaking work as the founder of Rubenesque Burlesque (2006) and her current projects. We discussed the importance of fat dance as a way of claiming space and living apologetically. Due to technical difficulties, we were not able to capture the live webinar that day, but Tigress and Juicy sat down together a few days later to revisit some of the webinar subjects and talk about other fat community themes and Juicy's new one-woman show #AngryBlackWoman.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Revisiting the Fat Flash Mob with Juicy D. Light Video
MARCH 2020 WEBINAR: WAS IT EVER OKAY TO BE FAT?
Picture of Dina Amlund
Most people believe that fatphobia and thin-privilege are new phenomena in Western Culture. To some it is an unspecified new phenomenon in very recent history, to others there is an idea that it perhaps started with the early 1900s. Still others go even further back in history. Many argue that fatphobia was created specifically for colonialism. We discover that fatphobia is actually a structure that has granted thin privilege for thin people throughout the entire western history. Colonialism played the fatphobic instrument that was already made ready to be used.
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Was it Ever Okay to Be Fat? Video
FEBRUARY 2020 PROGRAM: FAT POSITIVE EVENT PLANNING FOR BEGINNERS
Members of the PHX Fat Force at Palabras Bookstore in Phoenix, AZ
Live from Palabras Bookstore in Phoenix, AZ: A conversation with Nicky Amber (Redstreak Girl) and Amy Rios-Richardson (Fat Girls Hiking Phoenix Chapter), hosted by Tigress Osborn, NAAFA Director of Community Outreach. If you were unable to attend the live session, you don't have to miss it!
The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel: Fat Positive Event Planning for Beginners Video
Graphic showing the NAAFA Logo and stating, “NAAFA 2018 Webinar Series”
November 2018 NAAFA Webinar - A Conversation with Author and Activist, Jes Baker
Jes Baker
Join NAAFA's Community Outreach Director, Tigress Osborn, in a conversation with Jes Baker, author of Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls: A Handbook for Unapologetic Living and Landwhale: On Turning Insults Into Nicknames, Why Body Image Is Hard, and How Diets Can Kiss My Ass. Jes is a positive, progressive, and magnificently irreverent force to be reckoned with in the realm of self-love advocacy and mental health. She is internationally known for preaching the importance of body liberation, hard conversations, strong coffee, and even stronger language.
October 2018 NAAFA Webinar - Intersectionality in Fat Liberation
Tigress Osborn, Caleb Luna and Tammy Johnson
Intersectionality in Fat Liberation features Caleb Luna and Tammy Johnson in conversation with NAAFA Community outreach Director Tigress Osborn. The term intersectionality was first used by Black womanist writers to critique how mainstream feminism treated middle and upper class white experience as universal while ignoring the realities of other women. The term has since come to be used to discuss the ways that social injustices and the social justice movements that attempt to address them have different impacts and effects on people from marginalized identities. They discuss what this has to do with fat activism and the fat liberation movement.
September 2018 NAAFA Webinar - Embodied Dance with Ifasina TaMeicka L. Clear
Ifasina TaMeicka L. Clear
The Oakland/SF Bay Area is home to the popular ABC Line Dance and Afro Beat dance class led by dancer and choreographer Ifasina TaMeicka L. Clear. NAAFA is proud to bring Ifasina's popular class to a nationwide audience. ABC = All Bodies Centered, and Ifasina teaches popular line dances for all levels of dance experience and with modifications for all ability levels. For this webinar, Ifasina will be joined by NAAFA Board Member Tigress Osborn to discuss creating dance spaces for all bodies and then Ifasina will lead Tigress and other guests in helping our webinar audience enjoy embodied movement.
Graphics showing the NAAFA Logo and stating, “2017 NAAFA Advisors Webinar Series”
September 2017 NAAFA Webinar - Human Rights for Fat Humans
Lily O’Hara, Ph.D.
Human Rights for Fat Humans is presented by NAAFA Advisory Board Member, Lily O'Hara Ph.D. In this webinar Dr. O'Hara will critique the weight-centered health paradigm through a human rights lens. By working within the weight-centered health paradigm, practitioners and organizations may inadvertently breach their human rights obligations.
June 2017 NAAFA Webinar - Weapons of Mass Distraction - How to deal with the constant questions "But aren't they unhealthy?" and "Why can't they just lose weight?"
Esther Rothblum Ph.D.
Weapons of Mass Distraction is presented by NAAFA Advisory Board Member, Esther Rothblum Ph.D. This webinar will focus on how to deal with the constant questions "But aren't they unhealthy?" and "Why can't they just lose weight?" It will focus on four strategies: Placing weight obession into historical and cultural focus. Exposing the methodological flaws in the myth about weight and health. Exposing the methodological flaws in the myth that permanent weight loss is possible. Discussing fat activism and Health at Every Size.
March 2017 NAAFA Webinar - Fatshion as Action - Having Fun With Clothes While Changing the World!
Supersize model Saucye West and fashion designer Bertha Pearl of Size Queen Clothing
Fatshion as Action is presented by NAAFA Board Member, Tigress Osborn, acclaimed fashion designer Bertha Pearl of Size Queen Clothing and supersize model Saucye West, founder of #FatAndFree. They will examine marketing vocabulary and fashion jargon as it relates to fat and plus size bodies, how fashion works as activism by increasing fat visibility in mainstream media, and we will discuss how this helps or hinders fat freedom, behind-the-scenes insights into the world of fatshion, resources for finding, affording and creating fat positive looks for people of all genders.