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culture
'Every Day Is a Revolution
Women of size rally and celebrate
c
by Julie Stegall
ailing all voluptuous, plus-sized, big
boned women and those who love them!
Stacy Bias is back with her celebrated
Fat Girl Speaks, a show designed to “uplift
and celebrate women of size and our allies."
Absent for the past two years, the event
returns to the Portland State University campus
with a diverse selection of groups, from belly
dancing and burlesque to live musical performances
and cheerleading. “This year we tried to get a little of
everything,” says Olivia McClelland, Fat Girl Speaks
planning coordinator.
She has been on the planning committee for
Fat Girl Speaks since seeing a flier for the event in
2003. From its inception, the group has been an
, avenue for the size acceptance community to cele
brate themselves in a world that is critical of them.
According to McClelland, the first event was
more political, focusing on education and visibility
of Portland’s “big beautiful women community.” She
admits, “We only expected 100 to 150 or so to show
up.” It was a huge success, having turned those same
numbers away after selling out. Performers were
invited to the next year’s event, and word quickly
spread throughout the community.
After the first few years, the planning commit
tee burned out, and the production was shelved.
Last year, during the initial stages of planning, the
committee decided to resurrect Fat Girl Speaks and
placed its energies into creating an event that is
scaled back from what was originally anticipated.
This year’s theme is “Every Day Is a Revolution!”
which speaks to the statement women of size make
every day in a hypocritical society that expects indul
gence while fitting into a size zero. Though the event
will feature more entertainment than politics, the
message is clear.
“Living in the world as a person of size is a revo
lutionary act,” says Bias, who describes herself as
a “Swiss Army dyke." She has a number of projects
dedicated to fat activism, including a Fat Girl Speaks
book that she is researching. Additionally, she is an
entrepreneur, the operator of DykeTees.com and the
manufacturer of Pussy Pucker Pots.
Bias’ focus, though, is people. “I want people to
be happy,” she says as the reason for her fat
activism. “There are so many lies being sold to us
each and every day—so manv ways that the media
and big industry seek to tell us we are lesser-than,
and then to sell us products that promise falsely to
make us better than everyone else, or at least bet
ter than we are.”
McClelland has become the point person for this
year’s event as plans are finalized. Her philosophy
toward body politics is: “Its my body, so let me be.”
Though having tremendous support from the
lesbian community, Fat Girl Speaks aims to address
all communities.
The event will kick oft with a fashion show,
featuring focal independent designers who are
committed to pushing the envelope when it comes
to the industry and catering to big grrls, bois,
ONE SHOW ONLY!
Peacemakers (pes ma kers)
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
persons, groups or nations
that tn to make peace
Bob Mensel, Artistic Director
Michael Barnes, Principal Accompanist
The Peacemakers.
the final concert of the
Portland Gay Men's Chorus
27th Season, will present
the world premiere of
BraveSouls and Dreamers,
a bold and timely new work
about the devastating realities
of war, its consequences
on families, and the
ongoing pursuit of peace.
Artistic Director
Bob Mensel describes
BraveSouls and Dreamers as
“compelling, the music rich,
and the words - often - strident
and provoking." The concert
will be hosted by Governor
Barbara Roberts and will
also include compelling and
memorable works previously
written for PGMC. A portion
of the ticket sales will be
donated to Mercy Corps.
femmes, hutches
and transgender
people alike.
Dressing
a diverse group
of women from
XL to 6X, the
designs run the
Clockwise from top left, Shawn Mathis, Jenny Braso, Sossity Chiricuzio,
gamut from
Amithyst Fist, Domi Shoemaker, Olivia McClelland and Stacy Bias plan
casual to fetish
subversive fun for the Fat Giri Speaks event June 9.
wear. The show
will include lingerie, swimwear, casual and formal
therapist, chiropractic services and a practitioner
wear, focusing on couture, an element not normally
providing in-home feminine care services.
ascribed to full-figured women.
Performers include Nedra Johnson, FatAssPDX
“We want the models to feel good and the people
Cheerleaders, Sahara Dunes and Fatty and the
to feel good," says Sossity Chiricuzio, coordinator of
Hamslappers.
the fashion show and owner of the clothing line
The event is financed in part hy proceeds from
Diesel Femme, which will he featured in the show.
the Cupcake dances held on the third Sunday of
Outfitting the models in designs of local inde every month at Holocene.
pendent artisans such as Size Queen, Hips and
Curves and Fashion Overdose, her goal is to
F at G irl S peaks takes place from 6 to 10 p.m.
encourage and empower women to wear what feels June 9 at Portland State University’s Smith Memorial
Student Union Ballroom, 1825 S.W. Broadway.
good to them, without someone else’s labels and
definitions of what fat women should wear.
The fashion show starts at 7. Tickets are $16.50
from Ticketmaster. For more information visit
Tit Totes and Sock Dreams will join Diesel
Femme as vendors during the event, providing
www. fatgirlspeaks .com.
a number of items seen on the runway for immedi
ate purchase.
JULIE S tegall divides her time between work, school
Additionally, members of the naturopathic com and family. Her passions include writing and
dancing. Contact her with comments at
munity will be on hand to promote size acceptance.
asima8l7@aol.com.
A self-care information booth will include a massage
PEACEMAKERS
PROFILE THEATRE S TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON 2006-2007
"Serious issues and serious people can
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be quite funny. ”
THIRD
By Wendy Wasserstein
B rave
S ouls
© D reamers
by
Seeley and
Espindola
Robert
Exploring the human cost of war and hoping for the joy of peace.
Saturday, June 16, 2007 • 7:30pm
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Tickets $30, $25 and $20
A
and Others
By Wendy Wasserstein
Low Price Previews:
May 16-18
June 3 - 6 e
7 p.m.
June 9 • 2 p.m.
profile
Our 27th Season Sponsors
RFC ; . a : A
Staged Reading
Thurs. - Sat. @ 8 p.m., Sundays @ 2 p.m.
Student discount with id 1/2 hour prior
to curtain. Order tickets now at
www pdxgmc.org or call the PGMC
office at 503-226-2588 Tickets also
available at PCPA Box Office, and
additional charges may apply.
__MtlLLAMEIXE.
i/VEEK
•» I
Uncommon
¿ Women
MercyCorps
Featuring the World Premiere of
—Wendy Wasserstein
i
May 19 - June 17
Robert
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noun
Presents
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Theatre
Hill
Tiff MN'MAN. fOflNOATIOV
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Order online at www.proflletheatre.org
or call 503.242.0080
Theater! Theatre!
3430 SE Belmont Street
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