I’m not a romantic, but clicking through this gallery gave me a warm feeling on this chilly fall day. The lovely Lesley of Fatshionista created the Museum of Fat Love as a way to showcase happy fat people in relationships. Contrary to popular belief, fat people are not unlovable. You don’t have to wait until you lose x pounds to find the partner(s) of your dreams, if a partner (or more) is what you want.
Says Lesley:
Fat Love isn’t simply about loving a fat person or being a fat person and being loved by someone else; it’s about loving yourself. You may have the most devoted partner(s) in the world, but that doesn’t mean much if you never understand why they love you; loving yourself is primal and key to human happiness, whether you’re in a relationship or not.
Visibility is a powerful tool for dismantling stereotypes about any group. Also see: fat brides (which I’ve linked to before) and fat athletes. The photos and personal narratives can also be just plain heartwarming.
Perfect timing for me on this one.
I went on my first date in about 2 years today. The guy is UNBELIEVABLY CUTE. As I was walking to the car afterwards, I realized that if I had had this date around a year ago, I would have spent the whole time wondering, “What does he see in me?” and assuming that he couldn’t possibly like me as more than a friend because I’m not a size 10. But, knowing myself better and actually (gasp) loving my body as it is means that I spent the whole time ENJOYING MYSELF.
So, yes, yes, yes. Cosign this sentiment a million times over.
It makes me happy anytime someone is out there loudly proclaiming that women can and will have love and companionship no matter what their weight, age, ability, income, etc.
That’s the reality, of course, but since we never, ever see that reality portrayed in our culture, we’re brainwashed into thinking romance and sex is only for the young, thin, pretty and rich.
Yo Sarah, I think I might toss that fat athlete site over to my new health insurance, who jacked up my rate $35/month for being “too heavy” for my height. No blood pressure/cholesterol/lifestyle stats, nothing. Not even BMI. Just a little table that the pencil-neck on the other end used to fill in her Excel worksheet. That’s, like, waaayyyy easier than using a formula and junk to figure it out.
BearDownCBears, BMI *is* just height and weight. It’s (weight) / (height squared).
I’m sorry to hear about your health insurance being denied.
Sorry to hear that, Bear.
But glad you liked the gallery, Vegkitty!
Oh, oops, you’re right. I thought it was that caliper test. Actually, now that I think about it, that might just be called a “caliper test”.
Seeing Sweet Machine’s name reminds me that I initially considered the “fat athletes” slide show offensive and patronizing. But commenters on her post swayed me (including her).
Oh my god! All those happy fat people! Don’t they know they’re on the verge of death simply because they’re fat! Oh dear! Oh lord! Lawzee! Somebody needs to tell them they’re fat or else they might infect other people with their hideousness! Or else they might do something even worse, like be happy with their lives!
And god knows we can’t have that. Happy fat people? Ladies, come on. Don’t know you the world would end if people were fat and happy?
Now I’ma go eat some meringue cookies and have some fat sex.
I’m glad to hear you decided the Fat and Fit pictures were a good idea. Your objections on the call for pictures post stayed with me as I was deciding whether to submit a picture. It’s a fine line between raising visibility and feeding into good fatty/bad fatty tropes. But ultimately, I think you’re right that visibility is so important.
And who doesn’t get at least a little choked up at pictures of happy people in love??
Aww. Seeing happy people makes me feel happy.