Happy Fat Liberation Month!

This marks the 6th year of Fat Liberation Month, which was started by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) in 2021. Here's an introduction to this important, month-long celebration, what it means, and how you can show up!

What is Fat Liberation Month?

Fat Liberation Month was started by NAAFA after writer Clark Beltran wrote an essay for its Community Voices Blog stating his desire for a Fat Pride Month.

Celebrated every August, Fat Liberation Month highlights fat folks around the world and throughout history, while also bringing awareness to social campaigns and legislation aimed at protecting fat people and our rights.

Why celebrate?

After years of noticeable progress in media representation, social destigmatization, and even access to healthcare, anti-fatness has once again reared its head in the so-called “Ozempic era.” As publishers and producers move away from fat stories, clothing suppliers reduce sizing options, MAHA pundits target “obesity,” and influencers hawk ultra-thinness, the fight for fat liberation is more important than ever.

Like with other liberation work, that means time to party is important, too.

What's Fat Forward doing?

This month’s book club pick is a foundational fat liberation text: Belly of the Beast by Da’Shaun L. Harrison.

In addition to discussing Harrison’s book, Fat Forward Books will share other educational reading recommendations, resources, and tools. We’ll highlight creators, businesses, and organizations we love. We’ll continue fulfilling our mission of highlighting books by fat authors, featuring fat characters, and exploring fat experiences for all age groups, across all genres.

How can I show up?

Showing up for Fat Liberation Month can be as simple as being visible, taking pride in your body, and continuing to take up space. It can also be learning to call out anti-fatness online or in-person with friends, loved ones, and co-workers. It can be following more fat creators on social media, highlighting their work (not just this month, but always), and unfollowing creators who make anti-fat or pro-diet content. It can be joining a NAAFA virtual event, coming to Fat Forward Book Club, or going to a local event.

Please follow Fat Forward Books on Bindery!

If you aren’t already, please follow Fat Forward Books on Bindery Books by clicking the "Join" button in the upper right corner! It takes just a few seconds.

Every follower (free or paid) helps us get closer to our goal of creating a fat-forward publishing imprint to get more fat voices in the book industry, at every level—both on the shelf and behind the scenes!

Also check out...

While you’re here, be sure to follow unabridgedbodies and leftunreadbooks.

Then be sure to check out:

• National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)

• Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)

• Fat Haven Directory

• The Fat Museum

+ more to come!