I didn’t trip okay so I formally studied equity in my graduate work and each time
equity in my graduate work and each time
equity in my graduate work and each time I’d enter into one of these spaces I
I’d enter into one of these spaces I
I’d enter into one of these spaces I felt like they expected us to introduce
felt like they expected us to introduce
felt like they expected us to introduce ourselves by how we were most
ourselves by how we were most
ourselves by how we were most marginalized I’d introduce myself and I
marginalized I’d introduce myself and I
marginalized I’d introduce myself and I would say I was Jewish and although I’ve
would say I was Jewish and although I’ve
would say I was Jewish and although I’ve experienced discrimination as a function
experienced discrimination as a function
experienced discrimination as a function of that identity ironically in one of
of that identity ironically in one of
of that identity ironically in one of these equity courses for me being Jewish
these equity courses for me being Jewish
these equity courses for me being Jewish was about community and belonging what
was about community and belonging what
was about community and belonging what drew me to equity work was something
drew me to equity work was something
drew me to equity work was something different it was something visceral and
different it was something visceral and
different it was something visceral and embodied I knew what it was but I was
embodied I knew what it was but I was
embodied I knew what it was but I was afraid to speak it then a few years ago
afraid to speak it then a few years ago
afraid to speak it then a few years ago as part of a team that was writing an
as part of a team that was writing an
as part of a team that was writing an anti-oppression course for our board and
anti-oppression course for our board and
anti-oppression course for our board and there they were again the dreaded
there they were again the dreaded
there they were again the dreaded introductions I don’t know what came
introductions I don’t know what came
introductions I don’t know what came over me that day but I decided to speak
over me that day but I decided to speak
over me that day but I decided to speak my truth hi my name is Debbie I knew
my truth hi my name is Debbie I knew
my truth hi my name is Debbie I knew they expected me all to say that I was a
they expected me all to say that I was a
they expected me all to say that I was a Jew but I didn’t I said it I outed
Jew but I didn’t I said it I outed
Jew but I didn’t I said it I outed myself and I said to everyone in the
myself and I said to everyone in the
myself and I said to everyone in the room I come to this work because I’ve
room I come to this work because I’ve
room I come to this work because I’ve always felt marginalized for being fat
always felt marginalized for being fat
always felt marginalized for being fat they laughed at me my face went red and
they laughed at me my face went red and
they laughed at me my face went red and it was at that point that I made the
it was at that point that I made the
it was at that point that I made the commitment for people to see and
commitment for people to see and
commitment for people to see and understand the experiences of fat
understand the experiences of fat
understand the experiences of fat shaming body shaming and discrimination
shaming body shaming and discrimination
shaming body shaming and discrimination experienced by fat people every day when
experienced by fat people every day when
experienced by fat people every day when I was nine years old it was the
I was nine years old it was the
I was nine years old it was the International Year of the child I went
International Year of the child I went
International Year of the child I went to a day camp and to celebrate the year
to a day camp and to celebrate the year
to a day camp and to celebrate the year each of the cabins had to dress up as
each of the cabins had to dress up as
each of the cabins had to dress up as people from different countries and my
people from different countries and my
people from different countries and my cabin got Spain half the girls had to
cabin got Spain half the girls had to
cabin got Spain half the girls had to dress up as boys and I desperately did
dress up as boys and I desperately did
dress up as boys and I desperately did not want to be one I wanted to be one of
not want to be one I wanted to be one of
not want to be one I wanted to be one of those pretty little girls that got to
those pretty little girls that got to
those pretty little girls that got to our flowers in their hair and scarves
our flowers in their hair and scarves
our flowers in their hair and scarves around their waist like flamenco dancers
around their waist like flamenco dancers
around their waist like flamenco dancers but I was bigger in height and width
but I was bigger in height and width
but I was bigger in height and width than all the other children and
than all the other children and
than all the other children and invariably despite my begging they made
invariably despite my begging they made
invariably despite my begging they made me be a man
me be a man
me be a man my counselor taped a piece of black
my counselor taped a piece of black
my counselor taped a piece of black crepe paper to my face I hated it I
crepe paper to my face I hated it I
crepe paper to my face I hated it I hated that I was big I hated that I had
hated that I was big I hated that I had
hated that I was big I hated that I had to be a man and the tears started
to be a man and the tears started
to be a man and the tears started flowing and as the tears flowed they hit
flowing and as the tears flowed they hit
flowing and as the tears flowed they hit the crepe paper so now not only did I
the crepe paper so now not only did I
the crepe paper so now not only did I have a big black mustache
have a big black mustache
have a big black mustache I had a big black frank zappa handlebar
I had a big black frank zappa handlebar
I had a big black frank zappa handlebar moustache that went down my lips onto my
moustache that went down my lips onto my
moustache that went down my lips onto my chin and down my neck and it was
chin and down my neck and it was
chin and down my neck and it was permanently on my face for the rest of
permanently on my face for the rest of
permanently on my face for the rest of the day I know right so then in sixth
the day I know right so then in sixth
the day I know right so then in sixth grade we went on an exchange to Quebec
grade we went on an exchange to Quebec
grade we went on an exchange to Quebec this is another good one so the plan was
this is another good one so the plan was
this is another good one so the plan was that we were going to be billeted with
that we were going to be billeted with
that we were going to be billeted with families and we had to fill out these
families and we had to fill out these
families and we had to fill out these profiles to explain our likes and
profiles to explain our likes and
profiles to explain our likes and dislikes it was like a dating service
dislikes it was like a dating service
dislikes it was like a dating service and the teachers then had to make a
and the teachers then had to make a
and the teachers then had to make a decision about who would be our partners
decision about who would be our partners
decision about who would be our partners so the day came when everybody got their
so the day came when everybody got their
so the day came when everybody got their profiles except for me the teacher pulls
profiles except for me the teacher pulls
profiles except for me the teacher pulls me aside and she says now Debbie we were
me aside and she says now Debbie we were
me aside and she says now Debbie we were gonna place you with one girl but then
gonna place you with one girl but then
gonna place you with one girl but then we realized she probably wasn’t placed
we realized she probably wasn’t placed
we realized she probably wasn’t placed with the right person because that girl
with the right person because that girl
with the right person because that girl is not known for being kind so we
is not known for being kind so we
is not known for being kind so we thought since you were both overweight
thought since you were both overweight
thought since you were both overweight you would be better suited to one
you would be better suited to one
you would be better suited to one another so you will be now partners okay
so in eighth grade we did the 12-minute
so in eighth grade we did the 12-minute rhymin now I know you probably find this
rhymin now I know you probably find this
rhymin now I know you probably find this surprising but I was not the best runner
surprising but I was not the best runner
surprising but I was not the best runner in fact I was literally the worst runner
in fact I was literally the worst runner
in fact I was literally the worst runner the teacher would call out to everyone
the teacher would call out to everyone
the teacher would call out to everyone in cost and say the runs over Debbie
in cost and say the runs over Debbie
in cost and say the runs over Debbie just arrived and you’re right so I don’t
just arrived and you’re right so I don’t
just arrived and you’re right so I don’t actually remember my classmates making
actually remember my classmates making
actually remember my classmates making fun of me but I remember the teacher I
fun of me but I remember the teacher I
fun of me but I remember the teacher I remembers we would do our neighborhood
remembers we would do our neighborhood
remembers we would do our neighborhood runs how she would drive through the
runs how she would drive through the
runs how she would drive through the neighborhood in her car and scream at us
neighborhood in her car and scream at us
neighborhood in her car and scream at us from her window saying hurry up and go
from her window saying hurry up and go
from her window saying hurry up and go faster and I’d wonder if she recognized
faster and I’d wonder if she recognized
faster and I’d wonder if she recognized the hypocrisy of this while she was
the hypocrisy of this while she was
the hypocrisy of this while she was sitting in her air-conditioned car while
sitting in her air-conditioned car while
sitting in her air-conditioned car while my legs were
my legs were
my legs were chafing and my lungs are on fire
anyway so back to the run this time was
anyway so back to the run this time was gonna be different I asked a girlfriend
gonna be different I asked a girlfriend
gonna be different I asked a girlfriend of mine who was a great runner if she
of mine who was a great runner if she
of mine who was a great runner if she would help me and every day after school
would help me and every day after school
would help me and every day after school we practiced for three weeks the day of
we practiced for three weeks the day of
we practiced for three weeks the day of the run I was ready I did not expect
the run I was ready I did not expect
the run I was ready I did not expect miracles but I did expect better
miracles but I did expect better
miracles but I did expect better performance one of my girlfriends Beth
performance one of my girlfriends Beth
performance one of my girlfriends Beth my tanco who is right there
my tanco who is right there
my tanco who is right there had to count my laps so as I ran around
had to count my laps so as I ran around
had to count my laps so as I ran around in circles she would scream words of
in circles she would scream words of
in circles she would scream words of encouragement at me like keep going and
encouragement at me like keep going and
encouragement at me like keep going and you’re doing great and when the run was
you’re doing great and when the run was
you’re doing great and when the run was over I was red-faced and tired but proud
over I was red-faced and tired but proud
over I was red-faced and tired but proud we had to line up and give our teacher
we had to line up and give our teacher
we had to line up and give our teacher the numbers and so I stood in line and I
the numbers and so I stood in line and I
the numbers and so I stood in line and I was excited so excited to tell her and I
was excited so excited to tell her and I
was excited so excited to tell her and I told her my numbers and in front of
told her my numbers and in front of
told her my numbers and in front of everyone she said there’s no way you did
everyone she said there’s no way you did
everyone she said there’s no way you did not many laps do it again on the second
not many laps do it again on the second
not many laps do it again on the second round
round
round so I’m bent over you know those running
so I’m bent over you know those running
so I’m bent over you know those running cramps that you got and I’m ready face
cramps that you got and I’m ready face
cramps that you got and I’m ready face do it again I’m exhausted
do it again I’m exhausted
do it again I’m exhausted she said then do it again at 4 o’clock I
she said then do it again at 4 o’clock I
she said then do it again at 4 o’clock I told her that I wasn’t lying Beth told
told her that I wasn’t lying Beth told
told her that I wasn’t lying Beth told her that the count was accurate but she
her that the count was accurate but she
her that the count was accurate but she was still convinced that we were both
was still convinced that we were both
was still convinced that we were both lying and when I look back I wonder how
lying and when I look back I wonder how
lying and when I look back I wonder how did it serve her to say that we were
did it serve her to say that we were
did it serve her to say that we were lying so me the well-behaved you can
lying so me the well-behaved you can
lying so me the well-behaved you can always count on me student changed
always count on me student changed
always count on me student changed forever in that moment and I looked up
forever in that moment and I looked up
forever in that moment and I looked up at the teacher and in front of everyone
at the teacher and in front of everyone
at the teacher and in front of everyone in class I told her to f off
except I actually said the word but I’m
except I actually said the word but I’m not allowed to say it on the stage
not allowed to say it on the stage
not allowed to say it on the stage because there’s students in the room
anyway you can guess what happened next
anyway you can guess what happened next she yelled at me she sent me to the
she yelled at me she sent me to the
she yelled at me she sent me to the office I made my way to the change room
office I made my way to the change room
office I made my way to the change room trying to take off my sweaty gym clothes
trying to take off my sweaty gym clothes
trying to take off my sweaty gym clothes but they were sticking to me and I gave
but they were sticking to me and I gave
but they were sticking to me and I gave up and I just sat down in a pool of my
up and I just sat down in a pool of my
up and I just sat down in a pool of my own tears but it was more than tears it
own tears but it was more than tears it
own tears but it was more than tears it was shame it was humiliation it was
was shame it was humiliation it was
was shame it was humiliation it was frustration it was complete and utter
frustration it was complete and utter
frustration it was complete and utter resignation that no effort I ever made
resignation that no effort I ever made
resignation that no effort I ever made was going to make a difference some time
was going to make a difference some time
was going to make a difference some time later the principal walked into the
later the principal walked into the
later the principal walked into the change room she told me to wash up and
change room she told me to wash up and
change room she told me to wash up and take my time and then come have a chat
take my time and then come have a chat
take my time and then come have a chat with her in the office she was an
with her in the office she was an
with her in the office she was an incredibly kind woman and when I think
incredibly kind woman and when I think
incredibly kind woman and when I think back I think that part of her empathy
back I think that part of her empathy
back I think that part of her empathy stem for the fact that she had survived
stem for the fact that she had survived
stem for the fact that she had survived polio as a young girl and understood
polio as a young girl and understood
polio as a young girl and understood what it was like to live with physical
what it was like to live with physical
what it was like to live with physical challenges so this is actually her this
challenges so this is actually her this
challenges so this is actually her this is actually funny this is her autograph
is actually funny this is her autograph
is actually funny this is her autograph to me at the end of grade 8 after I said
to me at the end of grade 8 after I said
to me at the end of grade 8 after I said that word to the teacher Debbie
that word to the teacher Debbie
that word to the teacher Debbie congratulations on your great year have
congratulations on your great year have
congratulations on your great year have a wonderful summer so I made my way to
a wonderful summer so I made my way to
a wonderful summer so I made my way to the office and there she was sitting at
the office and there she was sitting at
the office and there she was sitting at her desk with my student record in front
her desk with my student record in front
her desk with my student record in front of her up until then I had no idea that
of her up until then I had no idea that
of her up until then I had no idea that these things existed now as a principal
these things existed now as a principal
these things existed now as a principal I know what those heavily-used student
I know what those heavily-used student
I know what those heavily-used student records look like they are thick with
records look like they are thick with
records look like they are thick with documentation hundreds of pages bursting
documentation hundreds of pages bursting
documentation hundreds of pages bursting out of it corners are curled mine was
out of it corners are curled mine was
out of it corners are curled mine was flat thin and untied she said to me by
flat thin and untied she said to me by
flat thin and untied she said to me by the look of your student record it does
the look of your student record it does
the look of your student record it does not appear that you have been in the
not appear that you have been in the
not appear that you have been in the office very often of course I have been
office very often of course I have been
office very often of course I have been but I’ve been helping the secretaries
but I’ve been helping the secretaries
but I’ve been helping the secretaries and delivering news letters
she asked me what happened I told her I
she asked me what happened I told her I swore at the teacher and the angry tears
swore at the teacher and the angry tears
swore at the teacher and the angry tears started again she said I lied I didn’t
started again she said I lied I didn’t
started again she said I lied I didn’t lie I tried so hard I told her I was
lie I tried so hard I told her I was
lie I tried so hard I told her I was gonna drop phys ed she said I actually
gonna drop phys ed she said I actually
gonna drop phys ed she said I actually couldn’t because you needed it to
couldn’t because you needed it to
couldn’t because you needed it to graduate high school she told me then
graduate high school she told me then
graduate high school she told me then that Patti’s gonna like this one she
that Patti’s gonna like this one she
that Patti’s gonna like this one she told me then that it was actually really
told me then that it was actually really
told me then that it was actually really good for mental health and well-being
good for mental health and well-being
good for mental health and well-being and had a profound impact on academic
and had a profound impact on academic
and had a profound impact on academic success this is like early eighties she
success this is like early eighties she
success this is like early eighties she was well ahead of her time she then told
was well ahead of her time she then told
was well ahead of her time she then told me that I shouldn’t have sworn at the
me that I shouldn’t have sworn at the
me that I shouldn’t have sworn at the teacher but she understood my anger
teacher but she understood my anger
teacher but she understood my anger she called my mom hello mrs. Donsky I
she called my mom hello mrs. Donsky I
she called my mom hello mrs. Donsky I have Debbie in the office yeah she’s
have Debbie in the office yeah she’s
have Debbie in the office yeah she’s fine she’s had a bit of a rough day
fine she’s had a bit of a rough day
fine she’s had a bit of a rough day wondering if you might want to come pick
wondering if you might want to come pick
wondering if you might want to come pick her up maybe take her out shopping to
her up maybe take her out shopping to
her up maybe take her out shopping to cheer her up
cheer her up
cheer her up I should have known I wasn’t in trouble
I should have known I wasn’t in trouble
I should have known I wasn’t in trouble at that point my mom was at the school
at that point my mom was at the school
at that point my mom was at the school within minutes we got in the car and
within minutes we got in the car and
within minutes we got in the car and started to drive home and the tears
started to drive home and the tears
started to drive home and the tears started again she wanted to go back into
started again she wanted to go back into
started again she wanted to go back into the school my mother is always the
the school my mother is always the
the school my mother is always the protector and I begged her not to I did
protector and I begged her not to I did
protector and I begged her not to I did not want to set foot back in that space
not want to set foot back in that space
not want to set foot back in that space the shame was palpable when I returned
the shame was palpable when I returned
the shame was palpable when I returned to the school in ninth grade that
to the school in ninth grade that
to the school in ninth grade that teacher was gone I took for that in
teacher was gone I took for that in
teacher was gone I took for that in grade 9 but dropped it as soon as I
grade 9 but dropped it as soon as I
grade 9 but dropped it as soon as I could and I gained more than 50 pounds
could and I gained more than 50 pounds
could and I gained more than 50 pounds by the time high school was over as I
by the time high school was over as I
by the time high school was over as I remind my mother of this story now a
remind my mother of this story now a
remind my mother of this story now a tiny woman who probably doesn’t weigh a
tiny woman who probably doesn’t weigh a
tiny woman who probably doesn’t weigh a hundred pounds she’s brought back to her
hundred pounds she’s brought back to her
hundred pounds she’s brought back to her own trauma as a chubby little girl and
own trauma as a chubby little girl and
own trauma as a chubby little girl and she tells me this story which I’ve heard
she tells me this story which I’ve heard
she tells me this story which I’ve heard at least a hundred times of at the time
at least a hundred times of at the time
at least a hundred times of at the time that her teacher told her to read the
that her teacher told her to read the
that her teacher told her to read the walrus’s portion of the walrus and the
walrus’s portion of the walrus and the
walrus’s portion of the walrus and the carpenter’ poem by Lewis Carroll because
carpenter’ poem by Lewis Carroll because
carpenter’ poem by Lewis Carroll because she was fat as a walrus
she was fat as a walrus
she was fat as a walrus while her classmates laughed along with
while her classmates laughed along with
while her classmates laughed along with the teacher the fact that my mother is
the teacher the fact that my mother is
the teacher the fact that my mother is petite now is irrelevant
petite now is irrelevant
petite now is irrelevant we do not
what we are I remember the first time my
what we are I remember the first time my daughter Rachel thought that there was
daughter Rachel thought that there was
daughter Rachel thought that there was something wrong with her body I taken
something wrong with her body I taken
something wrong with her body I taken her swimming with a bunch of kids from
her swimming with a bunch of kids from
her swimming with a bunch of kids from the neighborhood and she had this big
the neighborhood and she had this big
the neighborhood and she had this big news to share of course she didn’t tell
news to share of course she didn’t tell
news to share of course she didn’t tell me about it
me about it
me about it had I known I would have done anything
had I known I would have done anything
had I known I would have done anything to try to dissuade her from sharing this
to try to dissuade her from sharing this
to try to dissuade her from sharing this story to avoid the impending shame so we
story to avoid the impending shame so we
story to avoid the impending shame so we get to the pool and she announces to all
get to the pool and she announces to all
get to the pool and she announces to all her friends guess what I weigh 80 pounds
her friends guess what I weigh 80 pounds
her friends guess what I weigh 80 pounds and I don’t have to sit in a booster and
and I don’t have to sit in a booster and
and I don’t have to sit in a booster and I can even sit in the front seat of the
I can even sit in the front seat of the
I can even sit in the front seat of the car I didn’t know what she thinks I was
car I didn’t know what she thinks I was
car I didn’t know what she thinks I was 40 feet away but she said something a
40 feet away but she said something a
40 feet away but she said something a few of the girls giggled and then one
few of the girls giggled and then one
few of the girls giggled and then one girl spoke and then I saw it the look of
girl spoke and then I saw it the look of
girl spoke and then I saw it the look of shame humiliation brokenhearted
shame humiliation brokenhearted
shame humiliation brokenhearted shoulders slumped head down I asked her
shoulders slumped head down I asked her
shoulders slumped head down I asked her afterwards what happened and she told me
afterwards what happened and she told me
afterwards what happened and she told me what she said and that the older girl
what she said and that the older girl
what she said and that the older girl said it I weighed 30 pounds less than
said it I weighed 30 pounds less than
said it I weighed 30 pounds less than you this is the first time Rach
you this is the first time Rach
you this is the first time Rach experienced insecurity as a result of
experienced insecurity as a result of
experienced insecurity as a result of somebody’s opinion about her weight up
somebody’s opinion about her weight up
somebody’s opinion about her weight up until then she saw it as a thing of
until then she saw it as a thing of
until then she saw it as a thing of pride she was growing she was big she
pride she was growing she was big she
pride she was growing she was big she was strong you know it’s ironic that
was strong you know it’s ironic that
was strong you know it’s ironic that while we’re told as fat people that we
while we’re told as fat people that we
while we’re told as fat people that we take up far too much space we are also
take up far too much space we are also
take up far too much space we are also not seen we are looked past and we are
not seen we are looked past and we are
not seen we are looked past and we are not considered Lindy West an
not considered Lindy West an
not considered Lindy West an unapologetic fat woman social rights
unapologetic fat woman social rights
unapologetic fat woman social rights activist and writer tells us that being
activist and writer tells us that being
activist and writer tells us that being fat is seen as a constant state of
fat is seen as a constant state of
fat is seen as a constant state of failure and that we all silently agree
failure and that we all silently agree
failure and that we all silently agree that one day this fat person won’t be
that one day this fat person won’t be
that one day this fat person won’t be fat so it’s better not to speak about it
fat so it’s better not to speak about it
fat so it’s better not to speak about it because it’s shameful and impolite to do
because it’s shameful and impolite to do
because it’s shameful and impolite to do so her response to this was to come out
so her response to this was to come out
so her response to this was to come out as a fat person and claimed that
as a fat person and claimed that
as a fat person and claimed that identity you know each time people would
identity you know each time people would
identity you know each time people would say to me what you’re talk about I’d say
say to me what you’re talk about I’d say
say to me what you’re talk about I’d say fat and I’d wait for that sort of
fat and I’d wait for that sort of
fat and I’d wait for that sort of shocked look and they talked their head
shocked look and they talked their head
shocked look and they talked their head and they’d have nothing to say or you
and they’d have nothing to say or you
and they’d have nothing to say or you know the people who love me but say oh
know the people who love me but say oh
know the people who love me but say oh Debbie you have to stop saying that but
Debbie you have to stop saying that but
Debbie you have to stop saying that but the thing is I can’t stop saying it it’s
the thing is I can’t stop saying it it’s
the thing is I can’t stop saying it it’s Who I am
Who I am
Who I am it’s how I see myself and it’s the part
it’s how I see myself and it’s the part
it’s how I see myself and it’s the part of me that I have to negotiate in all
of me that I have to negotiate in all
of me that I have to negotiate in all settings
lately I’ve taken to drawing images of
lately I’ve taken to drawing images of fat women in unlikely spaces the sensual
fat women in unlikely spaces the sensual
fat women in unlikely spaces the sensual woman the woman comfortable in her
woman the woman comfortable in her
woman the woman comfortable in her nakedness the yogi and my personal
nakedness the yogi and my personal
nakedness the yogi and my personal favorite the ballerina as my pencil
favorite the ballerina as my pencil
favorite the ballerina as my pencil embraces each line each fold each role
embraces each line each fold each role
embraces each line each fold each role it does so in the most loving way and I
it does so in the most loving way and I
it does so in the most loving way and I can see these women in their beauty
can see these women in their beauty
can see these women in their beauty their strength and if you can imagine
their strength and if you can imagine
their strength and if you can imagine their grace Newbern Abram tells us that
their grace Newbern Abram tells us that
their grace Newbern Abram tells us that empathy is the antidote to shame
empathy is the antidote to shame
empathy is the antidote to shame I thought losing weight was the antidote
I thought losing weight was the antidote
I thought losing weight was the antidote I thought that if I lost weight
I thought that if I lost weight
I thought that if I lost weight everything I wanted would come true I
everything I wanted would come true I
everything I wanted would come true I would become the person I was meant to
would become the person I was meant to
would become the person I was meant to be but the thing is these experiences
be but the thing is these experiences
be but the thing is these experiences have made me the person I’m meant to be
have made me the person I’m meant to be
have made me the person I’m meant to be an advocate empathetic an educator who
an advocate empathetic an educator who
an advocate empathetic an educator who believes in each person’s possibility
believes in each person’s possibility
believes in each person’s possibility and not their limits someone who is
and not their limits someone who is
and not their limits someone who is going to fight from not only my own
going to fight from not only my own
going to fight from not only my own acceptance but for an equitable school
acceptance but for an equitable school
acceptance but for an equitable school system that is the foundation of an
system that is the foundation of an
system that is the foundation of an equitable Society you know there are so
equitable Society you know there are so
equitable Society you know there are so many moments of insidious traumas or
many moments of insidious traumas or
many moments of insidious traumas or microaggressions where we come to
microaggressions where we come to
microaggressions where we come to internalize the things that people say
internalize the things that people say
internalize the things that people say about us we are lazy
about us we are lazy
about us we are lazy we are gluttonous we are sloppy we are
we are gluttonous we are sloppy we are
we are gluttonous we are sloppy we are fat we are stupid we internalize these
fat we are stupid we internalize these
fat we are stupid we internalize these comments as children do you remember a
comments as children do you remember a
comments as children do you remember a time when you just were before
time when you just were before
time when you just were before somebody’s comments were stuck in your
somebody’s comments were stuck in your
somebody’s comments were stuck in your head telling you that you weren’t enough
head telling you that you weren’t enough
head telling you that you weren’t enough like Rachel before the car seat my mom
like Rachel before the car seat my mom
like Rachel before the car seat my mom before the walrus and the carpenter’
before the walrus and the carpenter’
before the walrus and the carpenter’ army before a teacher told me that being
army before a teacher told me that being
army before a teacher told me that being fat erased any other aspect of who or
fat erased any other aspect of who or
fat erased any other aspect of who or what I was we hate to disrupt those
what I was we hate to disrupt those
what I was we hate to disrupt those spaces those voices those limits and
spaces those voices those limits and
spaces those voices those limits and know that not only do we have a right to
know that not only do we have a right to
know that not only do we have a right to be here but we have a right to be here
be here but we have a right to be here
be here but we have a right to be here out loud and in-your-face without
out loud and in-your-face without
out loud and in-your-face without apology
and as we reclaim those spaces we make
and as we reclaim those spaces we make the commitment to not make assumptions
the commitment to not make assumptions
the commitment to not make assumptions about somebody’s likes dislikes
about somebody’s likes dislikes
about somebody’s likes dislikes abilities or personality because of the
abilities or personality because of the
abilities or personality because of the body that holds them but to see them as
body that holds them but to see them as
body that holds them but to see them as whole people with aspirations and
whole people with aspirations and
whole people with aspirations and impossible dreams for which they no
impossible dreams for which they no
impossible dreams for which they no longer need to ask permission to pursue
longer need to ask permission to pursue
longer need to ask permission to pursue thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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