Testimony by Jody Abrams, Activism Chair for NAAFA

House Bill 2857

May 26, 1999

"My name is Jody Abrams. I am a proud, fat entrepreneur and social worker. I am also the Activism Chair for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), a human/civil rights organization which has been in existence for thirty years. NAAFA does not promote being fat. The organization promotes size acceptance and fights discrimination through education, advocacy and social support. Currently, 65% of the population in this country is considered fat."

"At the height of the civil rights movement, there were about 22 African Americans. When Harvey Milk was elected as a supervisor in San Francisco in the 1970's, there were about 150,000 gays and lesbians living in the city. When the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed by congress, there were 49 million fat people in the United States. There are 97 million fat Americans, and we are all vilified simply for appearance's sake and because there is a great deal of monetary gain from doing so. Sizeism is akin to ageism, racism and sexism." (FAT!SO? Marilyn Wann)

"One only has to look at Channel 5's Healthbeat Project commercial to see the correlation. The commercial features "Ordinary Joe", a fat African American male. Given that some ethnic groups are predisposed to being fatter than their white counterparts, it would seem that "Ordinary Joe" already has one strike against him, by virtue of genetics. The music in the background is clown-like with an oaf quality to it, suggesting that "Ordinary Joe" is lazy and stupid. The music, married with the visual of "Ordinary Joe" dressed in sloppy clothes, laying about the house, dreaming of food instead of exercising, is a good example of how ingrained these stereotypes are, as they are accepted as fact. I wonder how outraged the public would be if "Ordinary Joe" was depicted dreaming of fried chicken and watermelon, instead of chocolate and a sandwich. "

"Many of you are giving me the once-over as I testify, probably thinking to yourself: "why doesn't this woman just go on a diet? Size rights!" I grew up as a fat child. In the 5th grade, I was teased by my classmates. So as to prevent further disruption, my desk was placed out in the hallway so my teacher could go back to teaching. The lessons of tolerance and diversity were not on his agenda. Being fat is a complicated issue. For most of us, fat is not a choice. At NAAFA, we say, "fat by nature. Proud by choice." I am sure that some of you are looking at me and thinking that if I had willpower or were more disciplined in my lifestyle choices, I would be thin. I don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, swim three times a week, eat reasonably, and run my own business, averaging a 90-hour workweek, but I can guarantee that others, maybe even one of you, will look upon me and think: she is lazy."

"I have heard the argument from some legislators that they are reluctant to pass this bill because they equate it with condoning an unhealthy lifestyle and they fear unknown costs. Michigan leads the way in having passed size rights legislation, which has been in effect for several years now. The ombudsman to the Michigan Human Rights Commission reports that since the inception of the law, there has been no cost to government or to businesses. Size rights legislation currently exists in Washington DC, Santa Cruz, California and will soon be passed in San Francisco."

"In terms of fostering an unhealthy lifestyle, there has been a great deal of rhetoric being thrown at the public about health issues related to being fat. The media is fond of broadcasting that 300,000 deaths a year are fat-related. The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit group of scientists, called the study "classic junk science" and "a misuse of statistics". The New England Journal of Medicine agreed. Despite this, folks like Dr. C. Everett Koop of our own Channel 5's Healthbeat project continue to broadcast this statistic whenever the opportunity exists. Dr. Koop, who started Shape Up America, received funds from diet companies like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, along with moneys from Wyatt Ayerst, the makers of Fen-Phen, which was so lethal a diet drug it is now off the market-having been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people." (FAT!SO? Marilyn Wann)

"Regarding diet companies, in 1994, the National Institutes of Health concluded that, no matter what the method, ALL commercial weight loss programs fail. They have a 97% failure rate and were ordered to include in their literature a disclaimer stating that weight loss results were atypical. It makes you wonder how businesses with a 3% success rate stay in business. They stay in business by giving money to doctors like C. Everett Koop to give them credibility and they continue to reinforce the stereotypes that befall fat people like me, to the tune of $50 billion dollars per year, preying on a society that has become obsessed with thinness."

"The New England Journal of Medicine wrote that fat people should be thought of as "ordinary people who happen to be heavier than average, probably from some mix of nature, nurture and choice." Educating the public with fact s the only weapon we have in fighting any type of bigotry. 1989 was the last time Massachusetts passed civil rights legislation. It was only through education that we learned that being gay was not a choice." (FAT!SO? Marilyn Wann)

"There is a great deal of practiced discrimination veiled as encouragement. One only has to look as far as the insurance companies to see it. Insurance companies offer commercial weight loss program memberships as "wellness benefits", which is tantamount to being given a free cruise on the Titanic. The consumer can't keep the weight off because the diet doesn't work, and the insurance company blames the consumer for being fat, which is a means of denying coverage."

In March of this year, a California-based fitness club posted a billboard in San Francisco, which featured an alien on it. The caption read, "When they come, they'll eat the fat ones first." The fitness company stated that this was their campaign to get fat people to exercise. The insensitivity of the billboard sparked national outrage and prompted the size rights legislation currently under consideration in that city.

"In 1997, in an effort to provide size-positive health resources to its members, the New England Chapter of NAAFA sent out a questionnaire to every major fitness facility in Boston and the Greater Boston area. Out of 56 questionnaires sent out to raise the issue of accommodating fat clientele, NAAFA received back only one survey."

"In closing, I would like to leave you with two thoughts in deciding the fate of this bill. First, if any of you have ever been to Symphony Hall or Tanglewood, you know these treasures are home to civilized music. You also know that the seating in these two structures was built in an era when no one knew how much money could be made by exploiting fat people. The seats are still the same, but the treatment of fat people has changed."

"Second, you need to know that Dennis Flowers of Delaware died this past year. He wasn't a celebrity or a politician. He was an ordinary man who had the misfortune of being fat in today's culture. Non ambulatory, Dennis required transport to the hospital. The state's contracted ambulance service refused to provide Dennis with transportation, stating that it was a health risk to their staff to do so. With advocacy from NAAFA and an understanding ambulance service, Dennis got his ride. While it was too late for Dennis, his last days were filled with knowing that he was a viable human being, worthy of everything life had to offer. He died knowing that there were people who would care about him, regardless of size."

"I never got to meet Dennis Flowers, but you all need to know that at any time in the Commonwealth, any of your constituents could be Dennis…a fat person deserving of dignity, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and equity under the law. Please pass House Bill 2857. The life you enhance may be your own."

Jody Abrams