Fat Chicks Rule

In honor

I just found out that  Jeanne Toombs has  passed on from complications of  pneumonia.   Jeanne was from Massachusetts and was involved getting the height/weight law on the books.  It would have never been done without her.  I was privileged to have meet her on many occasions.  She was wonderful, brilliant, and had marvelous energy.  She will be missed.  Apparently she would have liked money donated to NAAFA in lieu of flowers.

Laws like the one in Massachusetts are extremely important as fat discrimination is as high as ever.

Fat women are more likely to be given c-sections about 50%, even though in the 70's this rate was lower;   weight discrimination is as worse as racial discrimination and fat women as less likely to be tested for certain cancers (which I'm sure will then be blamed on their being fat.)  We are told we must diet, must eat a certain way, our kids are picked on,  must fit into a mold we don't belong and most shop in the basement.

So let's remember Jeanne and fight discrimination in any form: on the job, at the doctor's office, even at the clothing store. 

Ooohh models

Finally they are recognizing that not all models are meant to be tall, thin and blond.  It's even worse when plus size stores use thinner models than the sizes they actually carry.  I mean how am I supposed to even get a clue on how an outfit would look on me if the model is 10 sizes smaller than I am.

But here are some stores about plus size models making strides in this ultra-thin world:

Didn't really like the title,  but it is great story about the beautiful plus size model Kate Dillion who starved herself to be thin, but now is finding success as a model who happens to be size 14.

Beautiful Size 16 model Chloe Marshall,becomes Miss Surrey.  She's now in the run for Miss England.  I wish we could have these kind of role models with American Pageants.

Rise Of the Real People The thin and beautiful have had their turn. The hippest models today look more like the rest of us.

Finally the Adipositivity Project The Adipositivity Project aims to promote size acceptance, not by listing the merits of big people, or detailing examples of excellence (these things are easily seen all around us), but rather, through a visual display of fat physicality. The sort that's normally unseen.

Important reminder: If you live in Massachusetts please read last week's post! This is mucho important.  MA is on it's way to be only the second state to have a law against height and weight discrimination.

Historical MA bill March 25!

I may or may not be here. Right now probably not, but if you are in MA call your rep.  If you can get to Boston please attend the hearing to show support.

Are you in Massachusetts or know someone who is? Please pass it on.

H. 1844: the height/weight anti-discrimination law

Please support this much-needed civil rights law. People of all sizes face discrimination based on body size. It's real. It's not okay. Without a law, we have no protection. The only other places to offer such a law: San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Washington DC, Madison, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

You want to help make history?

If you live in Massachusetts:

1. Call your state Representative: 617 722 2000 (Ask to be directed based on your zip code.)
- Ask how the Rep. will vote for H. 1844, how they will support this historic legislation. If people strongly prefer to send e-mails, they can find their Rep's contact info at this website:
www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

2. Come to the crucial hearing! Tell your story!
Tuesday, March 25, 2pm
State House, room A-2, in Boston

For questions, contact Marilyn Wann: [email protected]

Fat and proud

So apparently Lisa Marie Presley is upset over being called fat (She's actually pregnant)  that she's suing the newspaper who called her that.  Gee, that’s the worst possible thing in the world to be called fat.  But don’t think I’m on the side of the newspaper who called her fat due to unhealthy eating habits (because women never gain weight as they approach middle age).  I'm thinking about getting a t-shirt that says "I'm not pregnant, I'm fat."

'October Road' Actress Hopes to Change Views on Plus-sized women  I don't watch October Road, (the previews made it seem sappy) but I think I might check it out.  Although I'm always glad to see a plus size woman in a drama, she is again not the main character.

Here is the clip from the Mike and Juliet show featuring Rachel from The F Word and Mo from Big Fat Deal You'll see why I love Rachel's hair.

Pierce Bronson’s beautiful wife who looks f*cking awesome in a bikini.

So called Epidemic...

Wow, despite this so called epidemic killing everything in site, cancer rates have dropped; people who don't diet are healthier than those who do; that exercise not weight reduction is the culprit to helping fight diseases; and it is an aging population not obesity that is the cause of raising health care costs.

This all brings me to a point bought up by the fabulous Marilyn Wann when I saw her speak at the Fat and Queer conference (Wonderful conference BTW) comparing the number of people who died of AIDS complications and of those who supposed died of "obesity".    I don't remember her exact numbers but what I found is that in 1996 was the height of AIDS epidemic in the US with about 40,000 people dying of AIDS.   Those who grew up in the 80's and 90's know what an epidemic it was.  It was all over the news, tv, etc.   So if obesity is such a deadly disease; killing 3x the amount of people who died of AIDS at the height of the epidemic, why aren't we finding fat bodies in the street? Why isn't it treated like the epidemic of HIV/AIDS?   Where is the ribbon for all the people who died of obesity.  I live in NYC, I see messages about HIV/AIDS everywhere.  Obesity?  The messages are in fashion magazines, diet centers and gyms. 

Is it because no one cares if fat people die, or that the gay community organized to help get the message out or is it that there is no real epidemic? That fat and thin people can be fit, unfit, eat doughnuts or not, have cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc and the epidemic is really the work of the Weight Loss industry and drug companies?