Fight Fat Discrimination

Fired for being fat?
Taken from your home for being fat?
Denied health care for being fat? 
Barred from transportation or services for being fat?
Told "There's nothing you can do"?

Yup -- this is all happening to fat people, all the time! (If this has happened to you personally, please post a comment and let us know about it.) For a well-done summary of some current examples, please see Peggy Elam's post on this subject.

Even more outrageous -- with few exceptions, such fat discrimination is legal in most U.S. states and localities. Something needs to be done about this! Well, something is: with FLARE! -- the light of empowerment against the hopeless darkness of fat discrimination.

Bloggers have been asked by Problogger to post "with heart" about our favorite charity, in exchange for a chance to win $1,000 for the named cause. I didn't even need to think about this one.

My favorite charity is NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) and specifically their FLARE! (Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights and Education) fund.

NAAFA is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA has been working since 1969 to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support. NAAFA needs the support of everyone who feels that size discrimination is unfair and unacceptable.

The FLARE! fund is NAAFA's response to the lack of legal support for the rights of fat people. FLARE! consults with victims of weight discrimination, their friends, families, and allies; and assists attorneys looking for resources and information about how to tackle fat discrimination. With few laws prohibiting weight discrimination and few lawyers trained to fight it, the FLARE! Project is currently one of the only places to turn for support and encouragement.

If you are a fat person; if you love a fat person; if you are a person of any size who believes that size discrimination is just plain wrong, I urge you to join me in supporting NAAFA and FLARE, with your membership and your donations! And, please post a comment to share your vocal support.

Fat discrimination is a dark blight in our society -- please help keep the FLARE! flames of hope burning.

Image in the public domain by Sackerman519 on Flickr.

AmpleThanks,
-Anne

Comments

[Opequon]

I know my weight is the reason for not getting a job in the last 4 years after I lost my marketing management job of 18 years. I had one company that practically gave me a job over the phone. He asked that I come in and show my portfolio. He also wanted to discuss what my job duties will be. I came in (early), was dressed professionally, prepared for the interview and he was trying to escort me out the door WITHOUT even looking at my portfolio that he was insistant on seeing. I filed a complaint with the Michigan Civil Rights office. When I talked to an attorney there he agreed I was dismissed because of my weight. BUT there was nothing he could do because the interviewer didn't say I wasn't being hired because I was fat. Michigan is the only state that has a law barring discrimination based on weight. But you can see it doesn't any good. Even the people that are supposed to protect us don't want anything to do with us.

[Coach Anne]

I’m so sad to hear that the Michigan law is not being upheld — especially when this seems to be so blatant a case of fat discrimination. Any other Michigan folks care to comment?

Opequon, I hope things have improved for you in the four years since. AmpleHugs to you!

[daisy]

good

[Thomas]

I hate descrimination for whatever reason. This new "fat" descrimination is the lowest of the lows. I think that we're all people, regardless of our fitness level, and should be treated as such.

That's my 2 cents.

Thomas :)

[Coach Anne]

Amen, Thomas. And, it begins with us. How many fat folks do you know who mistreat themselves, with body-hate talk? Negative self-concept? Endless self-criticism?

Before we can expect everyone else to respect us as people, we have to respect ourselves, and start treating ourselves -- body, spirit, heart, mind -- with compassion, love, and admiration.