-Hi.

I'm -Eric Ford for made here.

-Wait, what?

-From Boston based -filmmaker Sarah Fury -examines -the effects of weight -stigma and discrimination -in Massachusetts.

-The film profiles -the efforts in the state -to change legislation -protecting US residents -from discrimination -based on body size.

-You can watch -Weight, What?

-and other great -made here film -streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.

-Enjoy the film -and thanks for watching.

-To younger me.

-I wish you had the courage -to love your body -when others didn't.

-I wish you realized -there were more -important things -than being a size two, -5 or 10.

-I wish instead of looking -for imperfections, -you noticed your strength.

-I wish you knew -you were beautiful.

-We're going to start -seated.

-Looks like -we're all ready for there.

-Letting the -body just -slowly increase movement.

-Starting from the neck -and head.

-Inhale.

-Exhale.

Inhale -all the way up.

-Nice and tall.

-Hopefully -you feel a few inches -tall or some rough hands.

-Meet palms.

-Now let's take another -few rounds of sun breath -so we can connection -with the ground.

-Pressing down.

-Leaning back using -the slack of the rope.

-If you wanted to bend -the knee and play -with your figure -four on this side.

-I have suffered as others -have suffered -from trying -to fit into boxes.

-So for me, body acceptance -means being honest.

-And my work with yoga -and work with more to love -is really about broadening -what I mean by this sense -of being honest -with yourself.

-So when I think about body -positivity -and body acceptance, -I care more about us -as individuals.

-Learning to feel and sense -in our true bodies -in this moment.

-I'm ray of support -and I'm the creator -of more to love Yoga, -and I'm also -an entrepreneur -that prioritizes health -and well-being -for larger bodies.

-I've always loved -moving my body.

-My favorite thing -is actually to stretch.

-so when I went to a yoga -class for the first time, -I wish I could tell you -it was awesome.

-It was not.

-It was a terrible, -terrible experience.

-The teacher, -while lovely, was not -equipped for a larger body.

-so I kind of hidvv -in the back -like so many other -people's stories, -and then they turned -the heat on, and, like, -you're speaking -this different language, - and I just got overwhelmed.

- I had a panic attack in the -class, and I ran outside.

-Whenever a trade is in me.

-I tried another studio, -and I got into the habit -of practicing in the back, -and I also got into the -habit of closing my eyes -and then the deeper -I got into yoga -and the practice of body -acceptance and attunement, -I started to teach other -people what I was learning.

-and then eventually -I went to yoga school -specifically -for the intention -of bringing yoga -to larger bodies.

-and then now it's been -eight years of practically -every single week.

-There has been a more -to love yoga class.

-Entering -the more to love yoga -space has been -my first true experience in -being in a class -where it's geared towards -a larger body.

-prior to that, -I've just taken classes -at various different gyms.

-and kind of always felt -a little bit out of place.

-I haven't always been -heavier, like, -I used to be really thin -than I was more like -average size -and like -since -putting on more weight, -I have felt really like -self -conscious in dance classes.

-because like most of -the people around me are, -you know, a lot smaller.

-And I saw this and I was -like, this is perfect.

-Like, it's so exciting.

-I've been doing yoga -personally -since I was seven.

-I grew -up in a straight size body.

-I developed -an eating disorder -and healed -into a larger body.

-So this is a newer -experience for me.

-But I haven't done a yoga -class -in maybe over ten years -or so because of that -fear of being with thinner -or straight sized folks.

-And it has been so freeing -to be able -to come to a place -where your size does -not matter and to feel -that joy of a community -and to practice yoga again.

-According to a study -by the centers for Disease -Control and Prevention, -the percentage -of overweight adults -in the United States -has steadily been rising -despite our population -getting bigger.

-Our weight bias -is not getting smaller.

-A Harvard study of implicit -and explicit attitudes -over time -looked at attitudes -and disability, age, skin -tone, race, sexuality, -and body weight out of all -six groups.

-Explicit body weight -attitudes -showed the slowest change -toward attitude neutrality, -and implicit -bias on body weight -moved in the opposite -direction, -away from neutrality.

-I have been fat -my entire life.

-Born fat to a fat family.

-so it -has been something that I, -quote unquote, struggle -with my whole life.

-I think the biggest -frustration really, -for me is that -my size is the first thing -that you see -and the last thing -you remember.

-What you are thinking about -me is what you're going - to put on me forever.

- And I can't shake it.

- I can't get rid of it.

- Like my presence -is offensive -to a lot of people.

-Just my existence -brings offense.

-And it's it's so hard -now that I really think -and think about it.

-It's just really hard -to just be -because, like, you know, -you take up space, -but then you don't -want to take up space, -especially in this area -like Boston -where you're on the train, -right?

-And you're like, -and you know, you're taking -the space of two people, -but you don't want to.

-And then people -are looking at you -and then you -don't want to exist.

And -yeah, -people are quick to jump -to assumptions.

-just looking at somebody -in anybody.

-Right?

-We look at them -and we make assumptions and we have biases.

But I think for people, -larger bodies, people jump -to such abrasive -assumptions very quickly.

-But I've also kind of -learned to that -a lot of that comes from -how they feel -about their own body -and how they project -a lot of how they feel.

-Aren't you fear of fatness?

-It's this fear -that like one day -you could end up in a body -that society doesn't like -or you know -your partner doesn't like, -or the people on dating -apps don't like.

-It's just this -almost like disgust.

-Like, don't get it on me.

-Like, don't, don't -get your fatness on me.

-It's taking up -too much space.

-And with that comes -just like -hatred, -disrespect, disgust.

-Like it's all these, like, -really gross feelings and -really gross actions toward -fat people -in a 2006 study -of over 20,000 people -in larger bodies, -around 70% -said they have experienced -other people -making negative assumptions -about them.

-Other -stigmatizing situations -include negative comments -by children, -doctors, family and others.

-Fat people experience -a lack of options -or choices with how to show -up in the world, -whether that's -losing weight and -assimilating to society.

-What society -wants for them, or act out -by remaining fat, -wants for them, or act out -by remaining fat, -and especially being fat -and happy like, -oh, never be fat and happy.

-but as we go up the scale -of like small fat, mid fat, -large fat, super -fat and fat, that's fat, -like the fatter -you are, the harder -it is to assimilate, -the harder -it is to like -get along with your thin, -straight size companions -and not be against -the rules.

-Weight -stigma is everywhere.

-It is woven into the fabric -of our society.

-Whether it is over -and someone is literally, -you know, unfortunately, -maybe talking about someone -in a larger body -talking about themselves, -the message -that is being told -is that -being thin is superior -and there's -something wrong.

-If you are not fitting -some type of smaller body -ideal, -and I won't treat you -the same if you are not, -and you don't get -the same answers from me -if you are not, and that -should be your priority.

-If you are not, and it is -your fault if you are not.

-and that is the narrative -that is is pushed -and has been told -and sold to us.

-The evidence is clear -that weight stigma -and discrimination -impact on people's -lives in myriad ways.

-Their health for sure.

-ability to access -confident health care.

-but also there are -opportunities in schools, -in the workplace.

-We know that -in the workplace -there is rampant weight -discrimination.

-And it could be people -not being hired, -people being fired, -people being a docked pay -not getting promoted.

-All of these ways -that weight discrimination -is holding people back -and undermining people's -life chances.

-Many studies have shown -that a worker's weight -adversely -impacts their wages.

-In one study, -those in larger bodies -started -with identical wages -as their skinny colleagues, -but 17 years later, -we're making a dollar -and 20 less.

-The obesity wage -penalty is worse for women.

-One study suggests -that for every 6 pounds, -an average American woman -gains her hourly -pay drops 2%.

-The idea that, -somebody should be making -less of a living wage -because -they live in a larger body, -is outrageous to me.

-your body size doesn't -determine your ability to -function in the workplace.

-They'll have been -mistreated -and discriminated -against unfairly -for either a promotion or, -getting a position, -making a living wage -so that they can support -their family -and imagine -adding more stress on -because you cannot make -the amount of money -that you are -entitled to earn based -on your qualifications.

-Just earlier this year, -I was doing -a back of the envelope kind -of calculation -of what percent of the U.S. -population actually lives -in an area with protections - against wage -discrimination.

- And actually, my -my calculation -was pretty sobering.

-It was less than 10% -of the country -actually benefits -from protections against weight -discrimination.

They live in a place where -this has been outlawed.

-What that means -is more than 90% -of the country -lives in a place -where they have absolutely -no protection against -being fired at work, docked -pay, demoted.

-Most people don't realize - they could wake up -tomorrow.

- The boss tells them, -I don't like your weight.

-You're fired.

-And you would -have no way to fight that.

-There's sort of an age -old question of whether -law pushes society -or society pushes law.

-and this is one of those -moments where -there's a much better, -more robust, -more compassionate -and understanding, -appreciation of different -body sizes of health, -at a variety of sizes -and at a lack -of healthiness -at a variety of sizes.

-And I think there's also -a general -understanding that body -shaming at any size -is not a helpful thing, -just period.

-Though senate 1108 -is an act to prohibit -body size discrimination.

-it applies -to both height and weight, -and it literally does -exactly what the title says.

It would prohibit -discrimination -on the basis of body size, -in a variety of contexts, -including education, health -care, employment, -basic government -services, etc.

-bills -can take a very long time -to become a law -if they even do.

-Way back in 2015, -Byron Rushing, -then a Massachusetts state -representative, -petitioned an act -making discrimination -on the basis of height -and weight.

-Unlawful year after year.

-The bill was moving -through the process -and being reviewed -by committees, -but never made its way -to the floor for a vote.

-So I came in in 2019, -along with my friend -and colleague -representative -and the two of us picked up -the bill in our first term.

-And I'm very proud -that in that term, -for the first time ever -in the history -of Massachusetts, -the bill did garner a -favorable committee report.

-However, they still did not -get the bill to the floor -for a vote.

-Two years later, -they had another hearing.

-So on November 23rd, -I virtually spoke -to the Joint committee -in support of this anti -weight discrimination bill.

-And one of the things -that I said in there, -which is true, -is that -when I was diagnosed -with Covid in March 2020, -I put off going to -the hospital for days -because I was afraid -that they were going -to make a big deal -about my weight.

-That is because -of the trauma -that is because of the -lived -and learned experience -going into some settings -on a larger -body, -you're not taken seriously.

-So I made sure to speak -about that experience -to the joint committee -because one, it's -not just happening -to me, it's happening -to so many people.

-And the sense that weight -shame prevents us -from engaging in society.

-Unfortunately, again, -the bill did not -go to the floor for a vote.

-So what's happened -since that hearing is that -the bill was reintroduced.

-So we met with Senator -Rausch and Representative -Quinn a few months ago -and have just been staying -in touch with their offices -since then.

-We always want to be in -touch with the legislators -about the strength -of the bill, -but also to offer -our support in coordinating -the community -around the bill.

-So with only a few days -notice -for the hearing -in Massachusetts, -we sort of teamed up -with bigger bodies.

-Boston, -the local organizing group -that does a lot of social -and, community -support things for larger -bodied folks -to get the word out -on social media -to encourage -people to testify.

-And we put together -some resources -to support people -in testifying.

-and then, of course, -I and my colleague -from Claire both testified -in support of the bill.

-This week, -I am Tigress Osborne, -executive director of Nafa, -the National Association -to Advance Fat Acceptance.

-So 54 years Nafa has fought -for the rights of fat -people with a mission -of changing perceptions -of fat -and ending size -discrimination.

-Earlier this week was a -joint committee meeting.

-It was the House -and the Senate hearing -combined into one.

-There were a total of 13 -testimonies, -including the senator, -and there were only two -in opposition.

-And the testimony -in support of the bill.

-We're really powerful.

-So I feel really good -about it this time around.

-And I think -that Massachusetts -has a real opportunity here -to, you know, -to follow Michigan -in setting an example, -but to be a much -more modern example.

-And so that will have -different -ripple effects as well.

-So what will happen -next is we'll need around -our constituent influence -to let -the speaker of the House -and the Senate chair -know that, like these -are bills we want to see -get on the docket -for a vote.

-You know, -we have people contacting -their own representatives -to say like, -hey, what's up with that -bill Senator -Rausch and Representative -Nolan are doing?

-You signed on to that, -right?

-Are you going to co-sponsor -that right.

-You're going to call -for a vote on that, right?

-It is kind of, -situation of, -sometimes the -squeaky wheel gets the oil.

-And so we -just got to squeak louder -than we've -ever squeaked in the past.

-That's what it is.

-You know, -we just got to get louder -than we've ever been -in the past.

-So I think we're more ready -than we've ever been -at both now, -as an organization -and fat activist, -fat liberation community -as a whole, -I think -just putting this in place, -I don't think it's going -to solve everything, -of course, -but I think it's a step -in the right direction -where we talk -about these things -a little bit more.

-I truly believe that -body love is contagious -just like any other, -you know, social disease -or triumph.

-Humans are wired to connect -and we mimic -and we follow one another.

-So if you want something -different in the world, -you got to do it -on yourself first.

-And it's the self work -that is the most important -for this.

-So learning -how you actually talk -and treat yourself, -your own views, taking time -to maybe question -or challenge things -that you just assumed -or have always carried -with you.

-That is ultimately -the first step -in self-compassion -and can be -a really integral piece -in terms of like -finding a peaceful -relationship with your body -because you're not always -going to feel good -about your body.

-That's just kind of the, -you know, that's real.

-At the end of the day, -you're going to have days -where you're like, yes, -this is me, -and I'm doing well, -and you're going to -have days when you're like, -well, -I just need to exist today.

-and that's okay, -because it is about kind -of being able to be -at peace with yourself -and like also allowing -that attitude -to kind of like -permeate the existence.

-It starts with -just like talking -about experiences -and listening -to other people's -experiences -with anything that I've -been unsure of or judged.

-If I learn more about it, -I'm like, oh wait, may -I see this -in a whole new light?

-And to also -not only -respect our differences, -but to like, celebrate -and embrace them, -I think is an even further -step, right?

-Like the first step -is neutrality.

-The next step would be like -truly embracing -and celebrating it.

-We need to create safe -spaces for folks -in larger bodies -by, you know, -learning and unlearning -some of these things -that we have been taught -throughout our lives.

-We see a lot of things -through the weight -normative lens, -the weight focused lens, -and so really expanding -our reading and expanding -our media consumption, -to things -that are more inclusive, -maybe body accepting, body -positive social media -these days is -is essentially a cesspool -of fat shaming, of weight -stigma, of predatory diet -industry companies -and influencers -trying to make a buck off -of discrimination -and stigma.

-I mean, more and more -comes out every day -about how these companies, -the social media platforms, -keep allowing -these kinds of predatory -influencers and companies -and other kinds of hate -speech really -to proliferate online.

-I highly recommend -that you just start -unfollowing the accounts -that make you feel icky, -especially about your body.

-Are you following -a bunch of influencers -who are like drinking flat -tummy tea, or is there -a lot of plastic surgery -popping up on your page?

-and if that's the case, -you know, maybe unfollow -and there are settings -that you can put -in your social media -to, to not see these things -anymore.

-You can say, don't -show me things like this.

-and maybe seeking out -those more -inclusive resources -on a social media feed.

-So then now your -algorithm might change.

-Bestie, we have -to stop comparing ourselves -to other people.

-Yeah, flowers are pretty, -but so are sunsets.

-And they look nothing -alike.

But.

-I think that we think -a lot of times -that if we don't have like -100,000 followers -on Instagram, like -we can't make a difference.

-But even if you have, -like a thousand followers, -if you have 100 followers, -you're making a difference -just by sharing -other people's voices -who are doing the work.

-of breaking down -body based oppression.

-It's time to stop taking -shots against our own team.

-Yeah, I said it.

-It's time for us to gather -all our players -over to our side and stop -hating on ourselves.

-Stop being so mean -to ourselves.

-Stop not being afraid -to ourselves.

-Stop not being a fan -of ourself - and a fan of our team.

- Okay?

-Advocating for fat people, -you know, in the real -world is just as important -as sharing -any sort of content online.

-for me, -when I have friends who ask -if there is accessible -seating -or they just think ahead -and that makes me feel -so much more -wanted there and -so much more comfortable.

-I remember -I went to my friend's -wedding year two ago and, -these chairs -looked like they were -made out of toothpicks, -and I was terrified.

-And I was like, -I don't want to bug her.

-It's her wedding day.

-But like, I was like, -if I fall through this -chair on our wedding day, -this is going to be -awkward, too.

-So I went over to her -and I was like, hey, -these chairs look like, -really not sturdy.

-And she was like, oh -my God, I already saw them.

-Like.

And I talk to them.

-They're rated for like, -x pounds, like, -is that like, okay.

-And I was like, -oh my gosh.

Yes.

-Like thank you -for like Ross.

-And she was like, -I was so concerned you -because they looked like -they would just -like fall apart -and like -the fact that she made it -comfortable -for other people as well -just was like ten -out of ten, 15 out of ten.

-I think people of any -size can employ some things -to make the world better -for fat people.

-One of those things -is just looking around -you and noticing -how the world is set up -in ways -that do not accommodate -fat people.

-You don't -have to be a fat person -to be the person -who says to your office, -hey, we should have -some armless chairs -around here -because bigger people -come into this space, -right?

-You don't have to leave -that for your fat -colleague to do.

-and that goes -across the board to all kinds of things.

It goes everything from -you're getting married.

-Are your bridesmaids -gowns being purchased -from a place that has -larger size clothing, -or does that bridesmaid -have to pay -100,000 extra dollars -for a custom gown?

-You're going shopping with -your friend who's larger.

-Don't only go to a place -that has a tiny plus size -section in the back -dark corner of the store, -like all of those kinds -of advocacy -things -you can do all the time, -just just turning on -that lens to think about.

-If you haven't -thought about it, why?

-Why don't more fat -people work at your job?

-Is it -because they just don't -happen -to like your industry?

-Or is it -because there's gatekeeping -in your industry -that keeps people out, -like all of those -kinds of things?

-Would -you turn that lens on?

-You can be a good advocate -for fat people -as a fat person, -advocating for yourself, -or as a good member -of the community advocating -for accessibility -for other people.

-I had often told -other people, -you should just tell -the doctor you're -not going to be weighed.

Just tell them you're -not going to be weighed.

-But I hadn't done it myself -then.

-It was -about five years ago.

-I realized, -you know, -that's -kind of -uncomfortable to do, -but if I'm going to tell -other people to do it, -I need to do it myself.

-So I did.

-About five years ago, -I started saying, -I don't get weight, -I don't do that.

-And this is the reason why -that didn't stop them -from asking me -the next time, -the next time -and the next time.

-But eventually, -I think they wrote it -in my chart -because they did -stop asking about it.

-But what was most -instructive for me -is that I needed to live -that experience of what -it's like and and realize -that my doing -that would be so important, -so that in that office, -anyone else who came in -and maybe was afraid -to say something, -that it would help -create the space for others -to be able to do that, to -also just making -fat friends -wherever you are, -whether that's online -or in person or at work -or at school, -everyone deserves friends.

-Everyone wants friends.

-I believe that it's -one of the hardest things -to make friends -as an adult, -especially as a fat person -like you already think -that no one -wants to like, engage with -you because you're fat like -make friends -with fat people.

-The people watching this -and you, yourself -and every resident of this -Commonwealth -has a voice.

-And every single person -in this Commonwealth -is part of this -democratic process.

-Small d democracy -necessitates involvement of -you and everyone watching -and then some.

-If you want to move a bill, -it's not going to move -because I want it to move -or because Representative -Wynn wants it to move -or because of, -you know, any small -handful of legislators.

-It only moves when, -majority and oftentimes -a supermajority -want it to move.

-And the way you get -a supermajority -of legislators -to want something to move -and to elevate it -to a position -where it needs to move, -is by all of you -reaching out -to your own personal state -representatives -and senators, -asking them -to sign on to the bill, -reaching out to legislators -who are in key leadership -positions.

-The chairs of the Judiciary -Committee -saying, please schedule -this bill for a hearing.

-Here's why this bill -is so important to me.

-Reaching out to the Senate -President -and the speaker -of the House, -and people -in other positions -of leadership -in both chambers to say, -please move this bill -to the floor.

-Body size -discrimination -is one of the last -remaining legal bastions -of outright abject -discrimination -in this in the nation.

-And we can fix that here -in Massachusetts, -there's not a bill on Earth -that can prevent people -from having -discriminatory attitudes -or from engaging -in discriminatory actions.

-What it can do is, it can -incentivize institutions -not to discriminate.

-You know, -the threat of punishment -for discrimination -is quite an incentive.

-We shouldn't need that.

-People should do -the right thing -in the first place.

-But that is not -how the world works.

-So it can provide -some incentive -and it can provide -some recourse to you.

-If you have been -discriminated against.

-But just the fact of that, -the fact of knowing -that your -person, your identity -is, is now -it is now -indicated to the community -that it is illegal to -discriminate against you.

-It's symbolically huge.

-It also just -creates a shift -in the cultural narrative -with the government -sanctions -sends a message to people, -and what it disallows -sends a message to people.

-Let's rub the hands -in front of the heart.

-Opening up the eyes, -take a look around -your fellow lovelies, -extending this kindness, -loving kindness -out to one another.

-That's all -we need to do in the world.

-Anything bonus is -just nice to have.

-Bring it back -unto yourself.

-Big breath in.

-Let it go.

-Vermont public, -partnering -with local filmmakers -to bring you -stories made here.

-For more, -visit Vermont public.org.