Strength in a Fat Body

Our first Fat Narrative Project of the year was built around one theme: Strength in a Fat Body. And honestly, the storytellers delivered. Throughout the evening, storytellers explored what strength looks like when life gets messy, uncertain, or uncomfortable. There were stories about love, identity, visibility, changing bodies, navigating anti-fat bias in corporate America and finding strength in community. And, apparently, strength sometimes looks like agreeing to be Brad Majors in Rocky Horror Picture Show and surviving the experience.

The evening was a reminder that strength looks different for all of us. Sometimes, strength is standing in front of a room of strangers and sharing your smutty poetry for the first time. Sometimes, strength is finding joy and pleasure in a changing body. And sometimes strength is letting other people carry you when you can’t carry yourself.

That’s what’s so great about the Fat Narrative Project. Every event starts with a theme, but the stories reveal something larger. They remind us that there’s no one way to be strong and no one way to move through the world.

To our storytellers — thank you for your honesty, vulnerability, humor and trust.

To everyone who joined us — thank you for showing up, listening and helping create a space where fat stories can be told on our own terms.

If this night taught us anything, it’s that fat people are strong and we’re even stronger in community.

In the meantime, check out these awesome photos from our friend and ally, Connor Mattison.