Take the Last Bite

We take a bite out of Fat Con! In January 2024, Tristan and R.B. attended Fat Con in Seattle, a celebration of fat joy featuring keynotes, a fashion show, and brunch. These fattie baddies reminisce on their glorious time at the inaugural event and share their aspirations for a Midwest Fat Fest.

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Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of strategy and impact for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity

Cover art: Adrienne McCormick
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Creators & Guests

Host
R.B. Brooks
Director of Programs, Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
Producer
Justin Drwencke
Executive Director, Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity

What is Take the Last Bite?

Take the Last Bite is a direct counter to the Midwest Nice mentality— highlighting advocacy & activism by queer/trans communities in the Midwest region. Each episode unearths the often disregarded and unacknowledged contributions of queer & trans folks to social change through interviews, casual conversations and reflections on Midwest queer time, space, and place.

For questions, comments and feedback: lastbite@sgdinstitute.org

To support this podcast and the Institute, please visit sgdinstitute.org/giving

Host: R.B. Brooks, they/them, director of programs for the Midwest Institute for Sexuality & Gender Diversity

Cover Art: Adrienne McCormick

R.B.:

Hey. Hi. Hello, y'all. This is RB, your Midwest paleontologist digging up delightful stories of rad queer and trans folks in the region for Take the Last Bite, a show where we put Midwest nice on the Tilt A Whirl and spin it around until it pukes. On today's episode, my fellow fat friend Tristan and I journey back to January when we attended the inaugural fat Con Seattle for a weekend of fat fashion shows, big kid brunch and plus sized presentations.

R.B.:

The biggest story of the last few weeks, though, has been the mass crop up of Gaza solidarity encampments on college campuses across the country. Columbia has been a key focal point of the campus encampment movement due to the response from university administration resulting in 100 of arrests after the university president deployed the NYPD on students and their supporters. Since then, dozens of student liberated zones have developed, including encampments at Midwest institutions like University of Wisconsin Madison and Milwaukee, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Chicago, and University of Michigan. History shows us that when students activate around injustice, significant change is possible. In this moment of mass mobilization of young people who are calling for transparency and university investments, what role will you play in contributing to this change?

R.B.:

This question is particularly important for higher education practitioners, educators, and researchers for which no amount of student development theory could have prepared us for this moment. It's more important than ever to listen to impacted communities and reckon with the histories of higher education institutions that are founded on legacies of white supremacy, anti blackness, and settler colonialism. Will you protect policy, or will you protect people? Will you show up, or will you shy away? While some college students finished up final exams and bedazzled their mortar boards, That's the formal name of that graduation cap by the way.

R.B.:

Other students have made bold moves, put their bodies and lives on the line as they've come chest to chest with campus police and their municipal backup brutality power to call for an end to these colleges' complicity with an ongoing genocide. Regardless of your relationship or proximity to a college campus, we should all be paying attention to these actions and support these students through this challenge. You can do this by looking into localized bail and other aid funds for students and staff involved in encampments, checking out the resources and specific campaign efforts of the US campaign for Palestinian rights, and dedicating time to do self work around the occupation of Palestine by reading justice focused books through independent book stores like Haymarket Books and Pluto Press. Today, I'm joined by a dear friend who shares my vision of liberatory spaces on college campuses, a free Palestine, and indulging in a delicious meal at the end of a rough day doing social change work. We've attended many conferences both together and separately, and we know a great conference when we see 1.

R.B.:

In January, we had the pleasure of attending fat Con, a celebratory event centering fat joy, something else we know a whole lot about. We chat about our glorious time at this fabulous space and share our aspirations for a Midwest fat fest. Quiet down because the fatties are talking on this episode of Take the Last Bite. Why can't we be in space with 100 of other queer and trans folks and having these necessary conversations?

INTRODUCTION:

When it comes to dynamics around privilege and depression and around identity, well intentioned isn't actually good enough.

INTRODUCTION:

And how far is too far to drive for a drag show? I don't know. We're in Duluth right now. I would straight up go to Nebraska, probably.

INTRODUCTION:

If you are not vibing or something's not right or also, like, there's an irreparable rupture, you have absolutely every right to walk away.

INTRODUCTION:

Definitely gonna talk about Midwest Nice. And if that's if that's, as real as it wants to think it is.

INTRODUCTION:

Midwest Nice is white aggression. That's what it is.

R.B.:

So you and I are having a weird Friday, but we're gonna make this work, and we're gonna have a conversation that we've been wanting to have for a while. But in typical queer time fashion, we're doing it months later. So why don't we start with you're not new to the podcast necessarily, and you are part of the team, but why don't we start with a quick bit of intros. Who are you part of the team, but why don't we start with a quick bit of intros? Who are you, friend?

Tristan:

Hi, how am I doing? Hi. I'm doing alright. I'm Tristan Martin.

Tristan:

My pronouns are ze, zir, and zirs. The the first time I did this podcast, I didn't have a role. And now true. I have I have a role because I'm back from what you call my sabbatical. Here's the whole Yes.

Tristan:

I am the director of community and accountability for the Midwest Institute For Gender and Sexuality, gender.

R.B.:

And I'm so very happy to have you back, not just for the podcast, but back on the team, cause we missed you. I missed you happy to have you. Yes. Which I feel like segues nicely into kind of how we ended up in this magical place called fat con, because you joined us, rejoined us, at Mumble Tech 2023, in Lexington. And on Sunday of that conference weekend, when we were absolutely exhausted and having just like body double parallel play rot time in the hotel suite.

R.B.:

Like, there was no conversation. We were like all just like coexisting, but we weren't really mentally there. I looked at you and I was like, hey, have you heard of this thing called fat con? And you said, no, I don't think so. And I said, there's a scholarship application.

R.B.:

We should totally fill it out. And then we did that and then we waited for a while and the time that we thought we were going to get the email passed. And so we thought we didn't get it. And we were like, okay, cool. And then within a week or so of what was supposed to be the original deadline, and this is no shade to those folks because shit happens just as a concept, you know, life.

Tristan:

We

R.B.:

did get that email and it said, hey. Hi. Hello. Please come to Fat Con on a scholarship, as long as you get yourself here. And so off to Seattle, we went for for Fatcon, the first Fatcon in Seattle that these folks, hosted.

R.B.:

So we're here to talk about that and how just majestic and magical it was. So I don't really know how to, like, totally tuck us in. But, that's a lie. Let's set the scene, I think.

Tristan:

Does that seem like a great, like, start?

R.B.:

Yeah. We have to set

Tristan:

the scene and we have to be like, what is fat con? Like, we have we need to tell people what fat con is.

R.B.:

Yes. Do you have a good boilerplate way to explain fatcon?

Tristan:

Oh my god. It I'm so glad that you asked because I'm currently on the website.

R.B.:

Perfect.

Tristan:

So we found out about fat Con just, like, randomly. Like, you what was it? You saw, like, an Instagram post or something?

R.B.:

Socials. Yeah. Like, it just Yeah. The algorithm algorithm didn't popped on my socials. Absolutely.

Tristan:

Yeah. So we found out that Batcon is an entirely volunteer led team that wanted to create a conference by fat people for fat people.

R.B.:

Absolutely.

Tristan:

And I think that is very important in name. And to be even more intentional, the conference was primarily run by fat, black, and brown, queer, and trans performers, which I think is even the more beautiful lens. So we found out about it. I found out about it through you and while we were, you know, doing our collective conference rots

R.B.:

Mhmm.

Tristan:

In the in the hotel in Lexington. And we were like, yeah. Let's fill this out. And so we did, and then we were told with, about a month's notice, come to back on. And we're like, okay.

Tristan:

And I think something important with the scholarship was that not only did they cover our registration, which registration was, like, about, like, $200, but they covered our hotel room, which was huge. Mhmm. So we literally only had to pay to get there. Mhmm. And that was major.

Tristan:

That majorly cut down, like, 100 of dollars for us to be able to go. As far as I know, few Midwestern folks there was several sets of Midwestern folks there, which, like, was a pleasant surprise. Mhmm. But we were one of the folks that came the furthest. 1 purse there's a group of contingent folks that came from, like, Philadelphia, but, like, most of the folks came from, like, the West Coast.

Tristan:

Like, we were like, yeah. Like, let's see what this conference is about. We've never been to a conference that was, like, truly centering an identity that, like, we don't talk about a lot. It's very visible, but we don't talk about it a lot, which is, like, our fatness. And so I was like, okay.

Tristan:

We were apprehensive. We're a bit skeptical.

R.B.:

I was gonna say, yeah, because it was yeah. We didn't know, and we had

Tristan:

some questions.

R.B.:

Yeah. We had a lot of questions. Was gonna be. Yeah.

Tristan:

Our biggest questions was, would this just be a conference full of of that says white women? And That was the question. And, was it truly gonna center thatness in a multitude of experiences was, like, I think our biggest question. And the answer to that was, yes. It did not center cis white straight women at all.

Tristan:

Mhmm. And it was one of the queerest spaces I have ever been in Agreed. And how intentional it was with everybody that was there. I think I think we both said this, that this is the first and only conference that we had not been misgendered at. We have been misgendered at our own conference that we plan.

R.B.:

True.

Tristan:

But even back on, like, that nobody misgendered us. Like, people didn't people might not have known our pronouns, but they never misgendered us. They there there was a whole bunch of formations since we've been print. But that's just a little bit. But that, like, paints the scene of it.

R.B.:

It does. It does. Absolutely. When I think about fat cunt, right, like, there was that trepidation because, you know, it's not

Tristan:

like it's rooted in just you

R.B.:

and I being queer and trans people who are perpetually taking inventory of the spaces we're in. But when I think about, like, who is pedestalized to talk about fatness, it does tend to be cishet white women. Mhmm. And that's a starting point, but, like, that is not the totality of the conversation. That's not the totality of the experience.

R.B.:

And if we're just centralizing and focusing on those narratives, then we're missing a whole, whole lot. So I think going into that space, and knowing that that was not the, like, centralization of it, was really nice. And then, like, entering into the physical space, I think, was also just really inviting and kind of gave the vibe right away. There was, like, an interactive art exhibit happening where folks could come use, like, print stamping. That's probably not the phrase, but print stamp to make these, signs that then were posted on one of the conference walls around the phrase, like, my body is blank, and I have a video of that, you know, archived forever.

R.B.:

Right? Like, this just can only happen in this moment type art installation, and then you enter into this, like, kind of open foyer area on this floor of the

R.B.:

hotel where all of the, like, vendors and makers are, and there's, tattoo artist, and there's a photographer, and there's all of these, like, fun but also interactive spaces where you can touch and feel things that you might be looking at online, but not know if you wanna purchase. Where you can get a Polaroid taken for, like, a quick $15 that's a keepsake forever that can only happen in that space. And so I feel like from start to finish, like entering into fat con, there was so much intention about how to create a space that was, like, luscious and luxurious and comfortable, and that was completely ours. Like, the attendance numbers probably were somewhere in, like, the 300 to 400 range, if I had to guess. Yeah.

R.B.:

Right?

Tristan:

It it yeah. It was small. It was small because it was their first time, and I think it was, like, a beautiful number to have.

R.B.:

Yes. But, like, yeah, at no point in time did it feel overwhelming, but it also at no point in time did it feel like, wow. No one's here. Like, it was a really comfortable number of people, the space that we were using in this really, like, boutique y kitschy cute hotel also. Like, there was just some features of it that just were so nice.

R.B.:

And there was just attention to detail, I think, that just made it so comfortable. Like, I wanted for nothing when I was there. There was this really nice coffee tea bar setup that was available the entire time that was made available by a cosponsorship. And so I just think from, like, a conference planning perspective, which is hard not to fall into because we are conference planners, just the level of attention to detail of ensuring that, like, this will be a space that fat folks will feel appropriately held in as much as possible. Intentional distance between chairs in the conference rooms was another detail.

R.B.:

Right? Like, you weren't smashed up against someone unless you wanted to be. The chairs were not locked together, which is a pitfall that we find at, other conferences. Just, again, attention to detail was such a thematic piece of just like, wow. You went through this really robust thought process of making sure that the folks you were inviting in, which is a, like, representation of who you are as conference planners also, are as comfortable as possible.

Tristan:

Yeah. And it shows that the the con director there are a lot of directors, so, like Mhmm. I don't want to, like, get excuse the work of, like, all of the directors and managers, like, on the team, but specifically mix plucked plucks pucks of plenty. Plenty.

R.B.:

Yes.

Tristan:

It was their idea, and a lot of it came to life because of their vision and leadership and assembling an amazing team of folks who really were able to shine in their various skill sets. One of, like, the one of my favorite things that we ended up finding out later on was the their, what was it? It was the fat con lanyard that they had. For 1, that is the most beautiful lanyard I've seen, and then we found out each sponsor sponsored something different Mhmm. At the conference.

Tristan:

So, like, several businesses and organizations sponsored, the lanyards being that way. Someone sponsored an an org or several orgs sponsored, all of the water. That was all the water, coffee, and tea that was available throughout the conference. 1 sponsor sponsored the mimosas at the brunch. We had a brunch That part.

Tristan:

Every brunch

R.B.:

Yes.

Tristan:

That had a fashion show Yes. On the last day, which was, again, amazing. We had so many gifts. We found out that someone was getting a free mattress.

R.B.:

Mhmm.

Tristan:

Like, Big Fig mattress. Shout out to Big Fig. Big Fig, I hope you could sponsor us one day.

R.B.:

Let's go.

Tristan:

I loved, like, the vision and everything, and we were going in. Like, we literally are just like, we just don't know what this is gonna turn up, and we we would go. I know my big concern was, like, is it gonna be queer enough? And that was not to or trans enough. It was not

R.B.:

at all.

Tristan:

That was not at all. So I think that was, like, really good in knowing the, like, the true diversity of folks that were there, not just, like, in size, ethnicity. It still leaned pretty white, but to be expected. But it was really of the level of content that was also a part of the coverage, which which I loved. I know that we were both excited about a specific queer and trans, like, I think they were, like, faculty or they were, like, in public

R.B.:

health. Mhmm.

Tristan:

But, like, they were going to be at the conference to get, like, that the queer and trans lens perspective. They, unfortunately, like, got sick and, you know, weren't able to attend, and so we were really bummed about that. Even through that, we were able to find more subs at the conference that, like, we genuinely liked. And I would say for me, one of them I really loved, and it made me feel, like especially for it's like was like a topic that, like, I never even thought about, and we got so many incentives. Mhmm.

Tristan:

Like discounts, coupons. Mhmm. I never saw I've never seen this many discounts on a conference

R.B.:

conference planner and as someone who's gone to a lot of conferences, which is the case for both of us. Right? Like, we're not just sitting here being like, oh my god. This conference was so cute. We are comparing it to a wide variety of conference experiences, primarily professional conferences.

R.B.:

This just felt on another level. Like, it was fun, but also programmatically. Right? There were these workshop sessions built in that catered to a wide variety of areas, especially around, like, media and entertainment,

R.B.:

so focusing, space

R.B.:

where fat people could move, And so focusing, space where fat people could move, in ways that are comfortable, and and affirming for their bodies. Right? Like, I don't think I ended up attending any of those sessions, but just knowing it existed, right, I was like, this makes so much sense. There was a chiropractor.

Tristan:

They Yeah. They are the bone witch. Yes. They are chiropractic. Yeah.

Tristan:

They are chiropractor.

R.B.:

Yeah. Just like all of these really thoughtful things that I think speak you know, without saying it out loud necessarily were considerations around creating access to things that I'm health care services because because obviously. But then on top of just, like, kind of your standard workshop template, like, you kind of already mentioned, there was a fashion show that was entirely fat folks, entirely wearing apparel and items create and designed by fat people. Right? We had folks from the plus bus, who have these really amazing vintage wears and are based in Cali.

R.B.:

We had Chubb Rub Clothing. Candice is a majestic fat femme who originally we learned is from Michigan, but is now based in Portland or at least

Tristan:

I think it's Portland.

R.B.:

With these amazing, like, cross body, like, lingerie esque tops. There was the I can't remember the name of the swimsuit company, but they had these, like, really like, they were 1 piece, but they looked like 2 piece, like, swimsuit. I Oh my god.

Tristan:

They were, yeah.

R.B.:

They were, like, brand new. They were, like, we kinda just came out of beta, and now we're, like, going to things like this and trying to get in front of our target audience.

Tristan:

Yeah. It's a strong suit.

R.B.:

Strong suit. There it is. So I just feel like I learned so much just by, like, existing in this space. And then you went, and I, like a big dummy, didn't go to, the evening entertainment portion, which was the fat lesque shows. You went to one of the evenings.

R.B.:

So can you talk about that portion a little bit since I was a dummy and didn't go?

Tristan:

Yeah. So the conference organizers decided to have the conference at the same time as fat less, which is what it exactly is. It is a fat people only burlesque show, and it was 3 nights. And they brought performers from not only all over the US, but from around the world. Mhmm.

Tristan:

So tickets immediately sold out. Right? Yes. Yes. We didn't plan ahead.

Tristan:

We didn't buy ticket. We didn't know we were gonna go at the time, but shout out to my friend, Tiffany, who was able to score me a ticket. So I was able to go on the 3rd night, and we found out that one of the conference attendees I think a couple, but one conference attendee that I strongly appreciated, miss Tea Cakez Yes. Was one of the performers on night 3. But it's it's what it is.

Tristan:

They had a series of about 15 10 to 15 burlesque performers, from all over the world that performed. They did one number, as well as they had not just, like, newer folks, but, like, very seasoned veterans in in the burlesque community as well as, like, some legends not performed. Like, 11 person had been doing burlesque for, like, 45 years or, like, something like it was a long time. But it was like that was a moment. They not only have, like, the show, but they had a little maker's market during intermission.

Tristan:

Mhmm. And at the beginning of the show, which reminds me that I have contact information of folks, that I should contact. I'm gonna be like, hi. It's been, like, 4 months. I'm so sorry.

Tristan:

But they had pasties, accessories, like, burlesque clothing that they were selling. There are artists that are selling jewelry. The pieces were great. I was like, I want all of these. I tried on this beautiful, like, leather hats.

Tristan:

Not a Spanish leather hat. I wanna be a little more specific. I think it was, like, a leather beret, and I wanted it so ad. But yeah. But the show was, like, amazing.

Tristan:

It was so good, and the venue was a theater that also had a full kitchen. So I wish I didn't eat dinner beforehand because I coulda just said dinner there. But I had dinner. It was good. But it was so it was so good.

Tristan:

There there were so many acts that were so memorable. 1, that, like, I remember specifically this woman who is this, queer. I believe she identifies as, like, bisexual, so I'm going to use that. But she identifies as bisexual, and she's from Poland. It was her first time performing in the US.

Tristan:

It was also her first time performing out of Europe. So it was, like, an amaze it was an amazing moment. We I learned that there is basically, like, a a burlesque world's competition.

R.B.:

Oh, wow.

Tristan:

And so there was a trio of Latine women, I believe, that won the 2023 slash 2024, like, burlesque world and performed the same show at Fat Last. And I was like, this is amazing. It was great. I loved it. I had so much fun.

Tristan:

I lived meticulously through

R.B.:

the Instagram story, but I I should've went. I think it's quite a feat because it was 3 consecutive nights of Fat Fest. Right? And my understanding was that each evening was a different set list of performers. So imagine being in Pux in all of their, you know, all of their infinite wisdom and all of their, dreaming and scheming to coordinate with this volunteer team, this full on conference with programming and vendors and makers markets and panels.

R.B.:

And then also 3 consecutive nights of fat less with different people and coordinating getting them there and just, like, I just kudos to Pucks, quite frankly. Like like you said, the whole damn team, but, like, what was really obvious too that I wouldn't really have known is just how robust the burlesque scene is in Seattle or in the PNW in general. And so I think that really fueled, in a lot of ways kind of the approach that those folks took with their fat con. And we had this really awesome opportunity. And I think one of the most, like, meaningful sessions that we both went to was the tale of 2 fat cots that brought together folks from the Seattle fat con team with folks from the Philadelphia fat con team, which were which in our kind of independent existing but complementary spaces on complete opposite sides of this country.

R.B.:

And those folks came together to kind of talk about origin story, learning curves, opportunities, conversations. And it was a really sobering but also really powerful moment kind of hearing the behind the scenes pieces, especially as conference planners who know that, like, there's a lot of fires that we put up behind the scenes that the average attendee would have no idea is happening. Mhmm. Yeah. To learn things like how many hotels the Seattle crew tried to reach out to before they had a group that said, yes.

R.B.:

We'd be happy to host your fat event.

Tristan:

Yeah.

R.B.:

And that was a that put in perspective, right, that just, like, fatness fat phobia is still one of the, like, most acceptable forms of discrimination. And then learning about the Philadelphia origin story that, like, there were these this kind of ecosystem of women who've been hosting clothing swaps, fat fat plus size clothing swaps, and those have been hugely, pun intended, hugely successful, of of selling out tickets and having hundreds of people come to this giant clothing swap, which started the conversation around what does it look like to expand this into a more multifaceted piece of programming. And so bring seeing those folks in conversation together to talk about what does it mean circa 2024 to be hosting fat programming was quite fascinating, and really informative and something that I don't think folks, especially skinny folks, would think about of just like, oh, like, you should just be able to host a fat on. Well, unfortunately, it's not that simple. And even in the scenarios in which these hotel spaces or these convention center spaces are saying yes, do they have the means, and are they going to listen willingly to fat folks saying, we need x y z to make this space accessible, affirming, and accommodating for fat people because when we go to conferences, regular conferences, we struggle.

Tristan:

Yeah. And to, like, I think something important is that Philly Fatcon and Fatcon Seattle both came about organically on their own.

R.B.:

Mhmm. Yeah.

Tristan:

And they just organically found out about each other.

R.B.:

Mhmm.

Tristan:

Like, they were both planning this on opposite side of the country, had no idea that each other was doing it. And so which I also loved was that Billy back on invited Seattle back on to their conference, to their gathering so that they could, like, be in solidarity with one another, and they could also experience it. And then back on in Seattle, return the favor for those folks to be able to go or, like, was able to cover enough to get them 3 fourths of the way there. Because I'm up that's a 6 hour flight. That was not an easy flight, but I I love that, like, so intentionally too.

Tristan:

And that at the end of the day, even when we were in that session, we talked about, like, hey. Like, we're from the Midwest. Like, we wanna do one one too. We sure do. But, like, we were really inspired in about, like, the way that they organized it, the work ethic, like, knowing that it was a volunteer team that nobody got paid for.

Tristan:

Mhmm. They really did a lot to be able to create this confidence, and I think they did it was really, really well attended. And that's what a lot of the vendors said too was because they didn't want the vendors are really concerned about losing revenue for this, like, by coming to this, and they made the organizers made specific incentives so that they could be able to make money, like, that weekend. I forget, like, exactly what it was, like, they paid, I think, a certain amount of vendors to be there. Like, in I think I think that's what it was, like, intentionally.

Tristan:

But, like, hey. Like, we want you to come. Like, this is, like, what we're able to offer you. And several folks specifically, like, Plus Plus was like, yes. Like, thank you so much for doing this because, like, we, like, we that was a big concern because, yeah, as a business, like, unfortunately, capitalism makes a war go run, and they gotta make some money.

Tristan:

And so I I did say I did get a cute little piece from the Plus Plus.

R.B.:

You did. There was a tie convince you that you were on a budget.

Tristan:

I I was on a budget. I was on a strict strict budget to, like, move on the budget.

R.B.:

So it

Tristan:

was you really needed to. Yeah. It was a lot

R.B.:

of people there, Diane. That

R.B.:

you needed to.

Tristan:

Yeah. It was good. It was good. But, yeah, I loved it, and I think that's something I also loved. Like, there was a heaviness on entertainment solely because that was the main organizer's, like, realm, like, fields, which is totally fine.

Tristan:

But one of the sessions that I loved was about bat folks in nature and, like, hiking. And so I met one of the organizers of a that hike. I believe they're in Albany. No. Raw Albany or Rochester, New York.

Tristan:

So they're in upstate New York, and they talked about how that people can hype and, like, it's doable and, like, and, like, you can be outdoorsy, but, like, don't think of, like, the the definition of, like, what outdoorsy truly is. And we found out that, like, she organized a fat hype up, I believe, Kilimanjaro, or that was the first one that she went to and with this organization, and she loved it so much that she wanted to lead other hikes. She's going to Peru to to do a hike there this year, and I'm like, that's amazing. And then we found, like, 4 like, 3 2 or 3 people that owned outdoor clothing brands, stole the 4 fat people, and then gave us discounts at the session. And I was like, this is the coolest thing I've ever seen.

Tristan:

And we've been to, like, a lot of conferences over the last, like, 10 years of, like, our careers. Yes. And I've never seen anything like it even when I went to a national conference for, like, our field that I got an award at in Mhmm. March, and we didn't get a single discount on anything. So I got some chestnuts and

R.B.:

an umbrella, but no discounts.

Tristan:

I got a I got a crappy fan. I got but not gonna lie. That that 2024 swag for Long Beach was really good. I'm not gonna lie. It was really nice.

Tristan:

I I like I like the majority of it. And then you get, like, a boujee key chain, like, and stuff like that. But, like, it really shows how the team was intentional from, like, conception to, like, execution and, like, all of that, which I think is amazing.

R.B.:

So you mentioned, right, when we were hanging out in the, session called tale of 2 fatcons where the Philly fat con folks and the Seattle fat con folks were talking about all their infinite wisdom that they have gained from coordinating their respective conferences. That there was this really powerful moment too where Pucks, had said that, you know, they wanna be clear that they want folks to kind of saunter out into their areas of influence or their geographical regions and crop up many more spaces like FATCON for fat people, by fat people. And so that's when we chimed in like, hey. Hi. Hello.

R.B.:

We would like to do that. We have backgrounds and conference planning, and we're really motivated to do this. And in the room, there was a a smattering of Midwest folks, and we made connections with quite a few Midwest folks over the course of the weekend where it really is clear that there's an appetite, also pun intended. I just am full of the dad jokes today, apparently. I love it.

R.B.:

For hosting some kind of large scale space. Right? And as as I've done more kind of research and homework of kind of looking at what exists in the Midwest, right, there's definitely spaces. I'm finding a lot of, like, fat camps that are that are relatively small. Right?

R.B.:

There's a significant limit on who can show up to those spaces. Some of them are kind of expensive for those types of experience. I'm glad they exist. I've learned a lot. But I'm still really motivated around the idea of having, what was what was the name I I tried to to beta?

R.B.:

Midwest Fat Fest.

Tristan:

Yes.

R.B.:

Because we love, we love a wordplay. We love a a nice roll off the tongue moment. It's right. Yes. When you think about pie in the sky dreaming of a Midwest fat fest, as we start thinking about what does it look like for us as queer and trans fat people to conceptualize and maybe start to hint, hint, nudge, nudge, pull folks together around this idea of a Midwest fat fest?

R.B.:

What are you dreaming about? What are you hoping?

Tristan:

Oh my god. I I feel like I want I dream about doing a lot of similar things that that Seattle Fat Con has done Mhmm. And being able to blend kind of, like, my own, like, interest because I think, like, the big thing with dotcom that was not necessarily hard for me. It's just a different perspective is that I'm not in the entertainment world.

R.B.:

Yeah.

Tristan:

Yep. And so a lot of things focused on entertainment, which is totally fine. Like, that wasn't the issue. I think I would love to be able to have more black and brown, like, vendors specifically, because those are the vendors who are white. 2 were, not white.

Tristan:

But, also, I think about more intentional, like, queer and trans, like, content

R.B.:

Mhmm.

Tristan:

And doing it in a city that, like, people wouldn't normally go to. We know that, like, the West Coast and the East Coast, even though they are big, they're easier to navigate per se. Yeah. The Midwest alone is, like, 20 states. She big.

Tristan:

Is she real big? And most people are like, well, go to Chicago. Go to Kansas City. Because those are, like, the most popular let's be honest. It's Chicago.

Tristan:

It's just everyone's like, go to Chicago because that's the most popular and the most populous, like, town and city in the Midwest. But what I want is, like, a fat con in, like, Detroit, a fat con in Minneapolis, a fat con in Milwaukee. I want to be in cities that people don't go to regularly that are so underhyped, and they're overhyped with, like, crime and racism. Because I'm like, racism's everywhere, baby, even in Seattle, especially in Seattle. And so for me, I want more love to cities that don't get to have the same love.

Tristan:

My fiance, who is also another fellow, that, like, trans nonbinary person, is from Milwaukee, and I have the perception of, like, Milwaukee. Like, most people, like, it's dangerous. I knew it's the most segregated city in the country. Like, so I know a lot of this stuff. Well, when I was there, I fell in love with it.

Tristan:

Like, it did. I fell in love with it, like, from the jump. Like, I went to, like, the blackity black, like, holiday market, and that was, like, the 2nd year that they've done it. And there was, like, over 40 vendors there, and one of them was, like, a nonprofit that that teaches people how to roller skate. And I was like, that's the coolest thing.

Tristan:

K. Right? And, like, the food city, like, the food there. Like, there's so there's so much potential in cities, but people are always just like, well, let's just go to Chicago because it's easier. Let's go to a place that we're familiar with and, like, not actually try to invest and be in other cities that, like, people don't normally go to.

Tristan:

And so I'm like, I want it in Detroit because Detroit gets such a bad rep. Shout out to, I don't like being I don't like sports like that, but, like, the NFL draft, it was the largest draft in history with almost a 1000000 people, 700,000 people Mhmm. Which is amazing for the city of Detroit. But, also, at the same time, I'm like, there's so much on top in these cities that we're not utilizing because of people's own misconceptions of not wanting to leave their little bubbles. And so that's, like, my dream.

Tristan:

And also, I would love to have, like, a in in the Midwest, which probably already exists. But as not a performer, I don't know if I wanna perform, but I just wanna go to more roulette things. So yeah. When I think

R.B.:

about a Midwest bat fest, right, I really I really think that there is some kind of, like you're saying, untapped potential in general, but specifically around, like, capturing and then disseminating fat, queer, and trans narratives especially. As an avid reader and as a writer, right, like, I do not see enough narratives, like documented narrative story or oral history conversations for fat queer and trans people. There's a really excellent book and anthology that I read a few years ago called Fat and Queer, and it's so good. But I have not seen anything, in that time. Right?

R.B.:

Like, there should be significant amounts of information out there because that is how we're going to shift culture. That's how we're going to bring better attention to the needs of fat people. And I think that prioritizing and focusing on the narratives of, you know, fat, queer, and trans people is what's gonna elevate and enhance the lived experiences of all fat people, and all queer and trans people because that nexus of being fat, queer, and trans is just so necessary. I think back to when he and I had a really great conversation with, doctor John Paul Higgins, and Shane Stinson. What did we call trans fat.

R.B.:

Right? Lessons from, large folks. Right? We talked about

Tristan:

Mhmm.

R.B.:

All of these arenas in which we are not being served. There is still so much to dig into. And now that we are at this phase of pandemic living, I think that the nature of conversations around health and wellness and existence and, right, what does it look like to live in liberated spaces, is gonna be so essential. So how do we center storytelling and narrative building and those kinds of pieces into a space where we have all these people together? And I think about Adrienne Maree Brown, principles of emergent strategy, talking about, like, there's a conversation in the room that only the people in this room at this time could have.

R.B.:

Find it, and I will find what that conversation is. So I'm really motivated. I know you're really motivated. We don't really have a road map just yet, but I think if we talk it into existence enough, like, this thing is gonna happen. And I feel like we got the blessing of, like, the Seattle fat con folks, just based in that conversation in that room at that time to say, we need more.

R.B.:

You know? Not out of a place of just sheer growth to say we have it, but, like, truly giving these outlets and these spaces for fat people to exist and understand what it feels like when things are built for us, by us, and we we know a thing or 2 about that. So I was I was grateful to go. I have so much admiration for the folks who pulled it off. There's already been quite a bit of promotion.

R.B.:

I know that FATcon Seattle is recruiting folks for their volunteer board right now and some additional positions because they they learned that their capacity is oh, so limited and precious, and so they're already pulling more folks into the fold. And we were just talking before I hit record about Philly Fat Con, pushing out promotional information about their their, conference coming up in October. So all of information about both those spaces will be in the show notes. But as we as we put a little bow on this, what are your what are your fine parting thoughts that you wanna share about either fatcon or just kind of looking to the future of fat spaces? Or what what are some, parting words that you would like to to close us out with, friend?

Tristan:

Go to fat con. Go to no fat cons. Start your own fat con. Tell both fat cons that you're starting your own fat con so that they can go and support your own fat con. Because one thing that I loved and learned so much about that conference is how intentional that community truly is.

Tristan:

And one thing that we didn't even talk about was how the select how the the programs and the sessions were handpicked to come and present and not leave it to chance of, like, how the content is going to go. Go to Fat Con. Go to Fat Con. I'm gonna try to go back to Seattle only I can bring the the fiancee soon to be wife slash husband. So, hopefully, we can go to Fat Con in January.

Tristan:

I would love to go. I'm waiting to hear more information. I wanna go back. I wanna go back to that dim sum place. I wanna go back to Fat Less.

Tristan:

Go to fatcons. Make more fatcons.

R.B.:

Make more fatcons. That that's a word. The end. I got nothing nothing else that I need to

Tristan:

add. Let's go.

R.B.:

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R.B.:

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