I’m Ready For More…
Fat events, that is!
Have you ever been overwhelmed by goodness? By love? By friends? That’s kind of where I’m at today. Last week was my first “solo” effort since closing the cafe and I was busy, y’all! Ha-ha! I lunched with fabulous ladies and hung out with rad fatties (okay, some were the same people) and then went to Cupcake & Muffintops yesterday! Whew! I should be tired from it all, but I’m more energized! That is what the fat liberation community does for me. Every time I attend an event I walk away exhilarated! And I am! In fact, I’m so excited that I couldn’t even think of what to write for today’s post! Not that this is anything new, ha-ha!, but I wanted to write something meaningful or deep or whatever…yeah, that ain’t happenin’!
A commenter recently wondered where the fats were at in their home town/state. I felt this way, too! I can’t be the only bad ass fat ass around! And I am most certainly not! I will say it took a bit more work on my part to open myself up to new people. To be open minded, but also open to new friendships, philosophies, lifestyles…all for the better! I can honestly say that my views on many things have changed because of the fabulous people I have met through the fat liberation community. And I highly encourage any and all to do the same. Start a meet up group! Create activism in your area where none existed before! Be radical! Get political! Stand up & be heard! You could buy a “Yay! Scale” and use it in your activism (it is the coolest thing to see people’s reactions!). Start a zine! A newsletter! Or plan a clothing swap!
This one gets people out of their hidey holes, I think, most! Why? Because fat people don’t often get included in such things and finding fatshion, in your size, that fits, that isn’t a gazillion bucks? That is fantasyland, right?! But it doesn’t have to be! You could do a small swap with just a few people or a big ole one for all to attend and enjoy! I encourage gender inclusiveness and an overall sense of community building, but that’s just me. You can have a theme or a costume party or a craft day, whatever. Just dip your toe in the fat liberation community waters in your area. I promise you’re not the only fatty in town!
Where to start? Well, I got my fat activist training wheels on LiveJournal.com’s Fatshionista community. So I would start there. Read the posts, check out the tags, see what resources are there (there could already be a local meet up you haven’t heard about!) and then consider posting your own query about your town/area. It’s that simple! You start by planting that seed and if you nurture it, that baby will GROW! You could also try to get other local groups involved. GLTBQ groups, Feminist groups…there’s so many who could identify with our cause, I’m sure they’d love to help/join forces!
My first meet up didn’t go so well and I wasn’t as open and accepting as I am now. It was a diverse group, but I think too many severely different personality types. We lunched and shopped and that was the end of it. I tried to organize a meet up a few more times and finally it did work out. Though it ended up never being truly a monthly thing, more like every other month. But you know what? I have made some fabulous friends from that group and I wouldn’t trade that/them for the world! It is hard to put yourself out there, but try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Nobody is perfect or expecting you to be (and if they are? Fuck ’em!). Just keep it friendly and casual until you know what you want to do with the group. And if you do any of this stuff? Hit me up! I’d love to promote you! Take pictures! Have fun with it! I’m dying to throw a fatty dance party myself and I will, in time. =0)
For now I say this: If there is a fat event, attend! Support! Promote! Spread the good fat positive word! If there’s not? Consider getting your hands dirty and starting your own! Start small and open yourself up to the possibility of helping grow this spectacular fat liberation community in your area. You won’t regret it! <3
Your positive vibes are fabulously uplifting! Keep the awesome alive! Miss all you west coast rad fatties!
@Jessica: Miss you, too! <3
we are on our second clothing swap i have organized here in Kansas city mo. we will be having one on sept 25 at the north Kansas city library right off of armour and I-35. (if you need more info leave me a reply and we will connect somehow) the last one around Easter was a roaring success. we had 8 ladies wow up total, and after trading the each other were able to donate 8 bags of clothing to charity. I was awesome. one girl had had everything destroyed in a flood and was able to get a whole wardrobe. it was awesome!
@Erylin: That is fantastic!!! Just think of all of the many people who benefited from that single swap?! Too cool! Thank you for sharing…I’ll mention in today’s tank top post, too. =0)
I’m inspired that you were so brave as to try a fats meetup. I’ve lived in LA for 13 years and have been too scared to try it here. Last summer, I participated on a forum that I can’t exactly describe as a size acceptance forum, although it was for people of size and their, um, “admirers.” I met some women in the LA area on that forum and met up with them a few times in person – once at a dance club, and another at an outdoor picnic. But, unfortunately, our personalities and outlooks were not exactly compatible, and some of them were at different points on their size/self acceptance journey, so I wasn’t really inspired to hang out with them again. I’ve been too scared to try to organize a meetup by myself, but I’ve begun to seriously consider starting a size acceptance meetup group on Meetup.com just to see what kind of response I get. I think it’s harder in California, though, because most of the people I meet here who I’d consider fat or in-betweenie sized are not happy with their bodies and prefer to discuss dieting, weight loss programs and how unhappy they are with their appearance, rather than size acceptance.
@thirtiesgirl: I understand how scary it can be. For me it was about my wanting to do some community building and fat activism and knowing I wouldn’t/couldn’t do that on my own. I have always made it abundantly clear though, in emails/communications that it is a diet talk free zone, no body disparagement allowed either! This is vital! Some may try to push the boundaries of that, but I guess I was lucky to have some academics in women’s studies and other area that made sure our conversations never ventured off the deep end, as it were. But meeting new people is always nerve wracking. I feel ya on that. I had wanted to do mine on meetup.com as well, but I’m broke and it wanted like $75 up front or something to start my own group. Maybe it’s changed by now. I think part of the success (if you can call it that) of my meet up was that I had my own cafe for us to meet and hang at. I would shut the doors to “outsiders” and devote all of my attention to my group. We are now in limbo trying to find a new regular spot. It ain’t easy! I think if this is something that you truly want to do (for me I felt a need) then you should just go for it. Give it time! My group changed up a lot and that made it more excited, though sometimes a bummer when no one would show. You can’t put the pressure solely on yourself, everyone has a different schedule. Just see what happens. =0)
I think I was at that first fatshionista meetup! It was interesting. 🙂
@Blissing: Yeah, interesting would be the word I would use, too! Ha-ha! I have only run into two gals from that meet up since and they were both very positive. I do think it was just a bizarre group dynamic, but what can ya do? Thanks for reading. <3