Fat Positive Summer Festival

Virgie Tovar Reading

The Berkeley Public Library is proud to present the Fat Positive Summer Festival, a free, 3-event series to smash self hate and celebrate body diversity!

The Fat Positive Summer Festival has been developed with the help of author and activist Virgie Tovar, one of the nation's leading experts on fat discrimination and body image, the editor of the book Hot and Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love, and Fashion, and the founder of Babecamp, an online course designed to help women “break-up with diet culture” and love their own bodies.

Why "fat positive?" In Tovar's words, "'fat positive’ is a phrase that celebrates big bodies and sees fatness as part of the beauty of body diversity. Fat positivity is a bold political gesture that recognizes that the fear of weight gain and negative attitudes toward fat people are forms of bigotry that harm all people, regardless of size. Finally, to be fat positive is to activate the right that every person has to a life free from bigotry, shame and discrimination no matter their weight.”

Celebrate body diversity with us at the following, fabulous events!

Lose Hate Not Weight: A Critical Examination of Diet Culture @Claremont

Wednesday June 22nd, 6:30pm-7:30pm

In this 60 minute lecture Virgie Tovar – author, expert and lecturer – offers a primer on the history and sociopolitical realities of our cultural obsession with weight loss. The story of modern day “Diet Culture” didn’t begin with juicing or cleanses, but rather over 200 years ago with the inventor of the graham cracker.

***Due to limited space, we are asking that you RSVP for this event at this page.  We will be offering an additional lecture from Virgie Tovar very soon!***

 

Fat Positive Shorts @ THP South

Thursday June 30th, 7:00pm-8:30pm

Virgie Tovar presents a selection of short films designed to challenge our understanding of fatness:

  • Aquaporko! - Aquaporko! is the story of Melbourne’s fat synchronized swim team. We follow fat activist and filmmaker Kelli Jean Drinkwater as she meets the team and uncovers a world of sisterhood, queer community and radical body politics. 22 minutes
  • Fatty Cakes & the Puff Pastries music video – This Fresno-based all-girl band follows the tradition of riot grrrl, performing unapologetic songs about pizza, patriarchy and hating their jobs at the mall. 2 minutes
  • Heft - In this short comedy filmed in Oakland, a fat, queer, Black woman draws a bevy of suitors and scoundrels. Screened at the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project Festival in 2014. 10 minutes
  • Life Long Weight Gaining - A video of an installation by Vienna-based fat performance artist Veronika Merklein. 8 minutes
  • The Fat Body (In)visible - Body acceptance activists Keena and Jessica’s stories detail the intricacies of identity and the intersections of race and gender with fatness; the women themselves find new and inventive ways to be proudly visible subjects through the strategic use of fashion and social media. 24 minutes

 

Freedom from Fat Shame! A Reading + Discussion @North

Saturday July 2nd, 7:00pm-9:00pm

Virgie Tovar has assembled a group of incisive writers and activists for an evening of body liberation with readings and personal stories. Let their words smash your feelings of fat-shame and help you foster acceptance in yourself and celebrate diversity your community!  Featuring Casey Gilly, Caleb Luna, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Irene McCalphin, and Dr. Kjerstin Gruys, author of Mirror, Mirror off the Wall.

 

**Encore Presentation** Lose Hate Not Weight: A Lecture by Virgie Tovar @North

Wednesday July 6th, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Due to overwhelming demand, we are adding a SECOND presentation of Virgie Tovar's talk "Lose Hate Not Weight" at the Berkeley Public Library North Branch!

In this 60 minute lecture Virgie Tovar – author, expert and lecturer – offers a primer on the history and sociopolitical realities of our cultural obsession with weight loss. The story of modern day “Diet Culture” didn’t begin with juicing or cleanses, but rather over 200 years ago with the inventor of the graham cracker.