Here’s to Us (and Major Georgia Billboard Update)

~ Ragen Chastain

Before I get to the Georgia Billboard Project announcement, there’s some stuff I want to say:  There has been a lot of friction on this blog the past couple of days as we’ve talked about what we believe and who we are as a movement and I think that’s a good thing. We are working on a paradigm shift, and another word for paradigm shift is Revolution, and that’s not an easy thing to do. I think that one of the most difficult things about our task is that on top of the giant pile ‘o crap that we get from society, there are difficult conversations to have with each other and it can be easy to lose sight of our progress in the midst of all this, so I wanted to remind us of some recent victories:

When Strong4Life started their fat shaming project it took a ton of work to get anyone to question it but that work succeeded as the I Stand posters poured out,  statements against fat shaming were made by everyone from television stars to mommy bloggers to the National Institutes for health, and we raised over $20,000 for a counter campaign.

After all the work the community did around that project, the response to the fat shaming Disney Ride was swift and definitive as experts recognized the shaming nature of the ride and the community immediately responded in news stories around the world.  Disney closed the ride for re-tooling right quick (as we say in the South). We are starting to show the world that the worldwide HAES and SA communities will fight fat oppression and weight bullying wherever we find it.  Mess with one of us, mess with all of us.

The Rolls Not Trolls Facebook community has become a team of people who go into fat-negative online discussiosn and create a coordinated effort to inject a respectful HAES/SA message.

One of the major things that made all of this possible is the online HAES/SA community that is full of amazing activists who are educating, supporting each other, and fighting for the civil rights of people of size. In fact, I’m declaring today to be a “Thank a Fat-Positive Activist Day”.  Consider taking a moment to send an e-mail, facebook, or tweet to say thanks to an awesome activist/blogger who you appreciate.  Trust me when I tell you that this will make their day. Looking for someone to thank?   You can check here for a list of people whose work I love and am inspired by.

Speaking of that Georgia Billboard Project, I haven’t posted an update in a while and that’s because i didn’t want to tell you until I was sure: Remember how we wanted to raise $10,000 for one billboard and they told us it couldn’t be done.  Remember how we raised $21,720.20 in a week and we were super excited that we were going to get a billboard and five bus shelter ads?

Well, Allan – our billboard rep in Georgia – got excited about the project and he got us a deal. On March 26th, SIX (that’s right 6) full size billboards and TEN (yup, 10) bus shelter signs will go up around Atlanta.  The billboards and bus shelter signs will send a powerful anti-shame message and will send people to resource websites for information about the HAES and SA communities.  They will be up until 5/20 and the reach is going to be huge. There are so many people involved in this project – Marilyn Wann and Atchka, who helped initiate the whole thing including the idea for the Big Fat Money Bomb. NAAFA who helped with getting the word out and offered of all kinds of awesome support, BEDA who offered their support in lots of way,  More of Me to Love with their $5,000 matching donation, VoluptuArt with their sponsorship, everyone who donated any amount, everyone who talked about it on Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and blogs, everyone who designed a billboard – this was a MASSIVE effort of the community and I am just busting out with pride for what we accomplished. I’m definitely going to Atlanta, if anybody wants to join me and plan a fatty & friends pilgrimage to Atlanta to look at our beautiful billboards and bus shelter signs and celebrate just let me know and we’ll get it coordinated. Viva La Billboards!

And I think that this deserves a song.  The song I pick is called “Here’s to Us” by a band called Halestorm because I just heard it tonight and it seems perfect for the occasion.  It has profanity that I happen to enjoy but that makes it NSFW unless your boss is cool.

This blog is supported by its readers rather than corporate ads.  If you feel that you get value out of the blog, can afford it, and want to support my work and activism, please consider a paid subscription or a one-time contribution.  The regular e-mail subscription (available at the top right hand side of this page) is still completely free.   Thanks for reading! ~Ragen

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Published by Ragen Chastain

Hi, I’m Ragen Chastain. Speaker, Writer, Dancer, Choreographer, Marathoner, Soon to be Iron-distance triathlete, Activist, Fat Person.

51 thoughts on “Here’s to Us (and Major Georgia Billboard Update)”

  1. wonderful work!!! and i thank you – my favorite fat positive activist. i am inspired by how you turn words into deeds. and you don’t take any crap.

    Reply

  3. I hope you’ll let me give you a driving tour of the billboards and bus shelter signs when you come. For what it’s worth, May in Atlanta is beautiful.

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  6. Here is to you !!! You can’t see me but I am raising a cup if cawfee in your direction! It wiuld b something more festive but it is only 8a.m. This is awesome news!

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  9. You reap what you sow, and you have sown a bumper crop here!! Fantastic!

    Are you in Atlanta?? I’m here in Augusta–hello, semi-neighbour!

    Reply

  11. Ragen, you’re one of the bloggers I’d like to thank.

    I agree that the discussion can be difficult, even within the FA/HAES world. We’re all individuals, with our own, very specific ways of seeing things. Some may read me and think I’m a bit of a food Nazi while others may be shocked at what they see as my “anything goes” attitude towards food and eating. And maybe, depending on the day, I’m both.

    Personally, I feel more comfortable calling myself a HAES supporter rather than a FA activist, but I’m proud to be a member of the FA/HAES world and thrilled with my own evolution away from the dieting = health seeking and thin = healthy mentality.

    You and your readers are fine, fine folks! This movement must continue!

    Reply

  12. Ragen – what an amazing woman you are! Would love to see you on the competitive dance floor someday, because I’m sure it would be a thrill.

    Your writing is always excellent: articulate, on point, smart & strong. It’s a joy to read your every post, to see your take on what’s going on out there.

    I hope you keep doing what you do for a LONG time – also hope we will eventually get the point across to all the shamers & haters. When that day comes, it will be in large part due to people like you, and so I say a HUGE thank you.

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  13. Awesome work, Ragen! I cannot believe this deal. What an incredible accomplishment. Thank you for all of your hard work!

    Peace,
    Shannon

    Reply

  14. I want to thank you Ragen: you were my first exposure to FA and HAES, and your blog has done more than I can possibly say to bolster my self-esteem, improve my mental well-being, and wake me up to the notion that I’m awesome just how I am.
    You taught me that I deserve respect NOW – not 50lb from now, not when I act like a ‘normal person’ and not when I start conforming to what other people think I should be or do or say or eat – and I shouldn’t be afraid to fight for it if I need to.
    .
    I’m awesome RIGHT NOW, and even eighteen months ago I’d never have believed it. You helped me realise that, and I can never thank you enough for it.

    Reply

    1. Reading this made me so happy. I am incredibly glad that you’ve realized your own awesomeness! I may have provided some information or ideas but you did the hard work so congratulations, thanks for owning your awesome!!!

      ~Ragen

      Reply

  15. Thank you, Ragen, for your tenacity and your organizing skills. And you can’t see it, but I am cheering and waving my arms like an enthusiastic muppet over the news from Georgia.

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  16. Ragen, I thank YOU for all of the amazing dedication and hard work that it takes to be committed to such a tough program that receives so little respect in our world. You make me sit up straighter in my chair and look the world in the eye rather than casting my eyes down in shame. Thank you – for EVERYTHING you do!!

    Reply

  17. Thank you, Ragen. Thank you a million times over.

    I know you didn’t come up with Thank a Fat-Positive Activist Day for the purpose of getting thanked yourself, but you’re going to get a lot of well-deserved love today.

    So there.

    Reply

  19. I’m not far from Atlanta and want to meet you too! Where do I sign up for the parrrtayyy!

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  21. I too would like to thank you Ragen. I am turning 60 this year and I never thought I would see a day when people of size could, let alone would, organize and INSIST on ending the shaming and shunning we have endured. I was thrilled to take part in the Stand4kids poster campaign. And have been encouraged by your efforts and the efforts of other FA/HAES people to shift the cultural paradigm that has wounded so many people over such a long time. I’m thrilled at the success of acquiring billboards and closing down the Disney fat-shaming attraction. I watched Miss Representation last night and was in tears to hear leaders of industry, media and culture finally speak to the need to show women and men in a DIVERSITY of sizes both on tv and movies but also as leaders at every level. To make sure we are represented positively in visual media and in print. To make the media stop commenting critically and hatefully about what a woman of size, who was in the spotlight for being a political, entertainment or cultural leader, was wearing or what size she wore, or about her appearance in general. I was encouraged to see young people of both sexes speaking out about fat discrimination and how wrong it is. They knew that what is important is what a person is on the inside; our gifts, talents and skills should be in the spotlight not what size we are. I have hope that change really can happen and I congratulate everyone who has been involved in any way.

    Reply

  25. You rock around the world, Girl, here’s to you! I thank every day for you and the many, many people who are doing this work. I can totally see a big party forming in Atlanta . . . gotta be able to dance at this revolution! BIG HUGS!!!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Deb. You are one of my heroes and I wouldn’t be doing this work if it were for you and other pioneers in the field. Thank you for the work that you do, for being awesome, and for being so supportive! I hope to dance with you in Atlanta!!!!

      ~Ragen

      Reply

  27. What an exciting post, Ragen – so full of positive news! Wow! Talk about the power of organization, passion, and focus – this is IT.

    Thank you – thank you so very much.

    (Love the song – thanks also for that!)

    Irene

    Reply

  29. I just posted the following in my facebook page, but since you’re not there:’

    It’s Thank a Fat-Positive Activist Day!

    Today, I’d like to thank Marilyn Wann, Lesley Kinzel, Kate Harding, Marianne Kirby, ****Ragen Chastain***, Kath of Fat Heffalump, and my personal coach Golda Poretsky of Body Love Wellness.

    Ladies: two years ago, I loathed and was ashamed of my body. Five years ago, I was engaging in extremely disordered behavior to try to make it “go away”. Today, I see my body as my home, my self, and my gift to share with the world. All because of your example, your inspiration, and your tireless work. You ladies rock!

    *** emphasis added for this comment 🙂

    Reply

  31. I am so glad to see what you’ve done. I’m an Atlantan and I don’t know if I even have words for my reaction to seeing these. They’re mostly on public transportation, which I use, and I see it almost every day. I’m offended by their message and I hate the thought that these billboards were ever thought to be the best thing to put out. So many people had to approve these. Many people will take these messages at face value and won’t see some of the really negative messages behind them. I’m thrilled that you, especially, are working to combat this. I’m even more thrilled to see how much support this has gained. Thank you.

    Reply

  33. I can’t WAIT to see those billboards go up. Please send lots of pictures from Atlanta. Are you coordinating with fat-friendly media so they’ll pack as much punch as possible?

    Reply

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