Fat Gay Men: Girth, Mirth, and the Politics of Stigma (Intersections, 1) Paperback – July 25, 2014

Whitesel explores stigmatized body size within gay male society and the mainstream. His work uncovers the social injuries fat gay men suffer, how they manage to reimagine their positions in society, and their attempt to socially elevate themselves. Whitesel, as a thin man, delicately discusses the privileges, and lack there of, that come from different body shapes and sizes. Really fascinating book. Must read.

Overall this was a stimulating read. The author could of done a better job addressing the issues associated with values of being masculine vs femininity in the gay community. That said I really resonated with much of the content in the book.

A beautifully written book about the big men of the gay community. I loved it. I can relate and I learned so much. Great job!

Fat Gay Men by Jason Whitesel—A timely realistic exposéReviewed by Merâl G. Crane, M.A., L.P.C.C., I.M.F.T.Mental health clinician & sex therapist; founder and clinical director,Gender Program of Central OhioI am glad to see this book about fat gay pride available just now when the need for further appreciation of gay rights is, once again, in the news. To my knowledge, this is the first book-length treatment of the topic of fat gay men. As a mental health clinician and sex therapist since the early 70s, I worked first in Boston, and directed the Human Sexuality Center at the University of Massachusetts where I encountered many individuals struggling for acceptance. In 1973 while Harvey Milk was trailblazing in San Francisco, we witnessed the long-needed change in professional circles when the American Psychiatric Association finally acknowledged that being gay did not mean a gay person had mental illness. However, despite such progress, even today there are many gay individuals who live in fear of being discovered and losing their job or are still not comfortable to come out to their family. And as Whitesel makes clear in his book, this discomfort is further magnified when being fat leaves them feeling rejected by the gay community, as well. In my counseling in Columbus, Ohio since 1975, I have surely encountered gay individuals who belonged to the Girth & Mirth group or the Bear community and know of their understandable need and desire to be accepted and fit in.I applaud the author for caring to explore extensively and share with readers the world of the members of Girth & Mirth. I am impressed by Whitesel’s extraordinary care and sensitivity, letting us know of the life of Fat Gay Men who obviously deal with yet another layer of discomfort not only with societal rejection because of their sexuality, but also the stigma of their size. This is a potential problem for them not only in the straight community, but also among especially the gay male community, where being thin, young and in shape is so highly prized. Belonging to a group perpetuates attaining the basic human need for better self-acceptance. One of Whitesel’s strongpoints is that he obviously was thorough and respectful when interviewing the members of Girth & Mirth, and gives voice to them, perhaps for the first time in print, by quoting them directly. He has captured the voices of fat gay men who apparently make tremendous efforts at happiness and find the courage to live in “mirth” with the affirmation of other club members, despite the odds of societal acceptance against them. Many times, my clients’ primary need is to be heard and understood, and this book will make fat gay men feel the author heard them; and now we as readers can do so, as well.Finally, it is delightful to see how openly the Girth & Mirth members welcomed the curiosity of the author and apparently shared their colorful lives with gusto. My personal contact over time with individuals who belong to similar subgroups confirms Whitesel’s positive take: the healing power of belonging. The book can be of good value not only as a professional academic document in a variety of courses, but also as a testimonial that offers a glimpse into the private/group life of fat gay men and exposes the opportunity for them to be encouraged to seek others like themselves, or maybe even take charge and form their own groups to combat body shaming.Whitesel’s exposé of fat gay men’s resilience and joy despite the hard knocks they experience daily, however, is not to ghettoize the men purely within the realm of Girth & Mirth; but perhaps a fat gay man will feel he is not alone if he reads this book, similar to the way Girth & Mirthers feel they are not alone, when they feel they are part of the club’s nurturing society. In short, Whitesel’s Fat Gay Men affirms Girth & Mirthers as they affirm one another and themselves.

This is a wonderful book on a topic I had never put thought in. It offers great insight into a range of understudied social issues concerning the everyday lives of fat gay men, from anti-fat bias to romantic relationships. I especially liked the author's down to earth scholarly voice, which strikes an elegant balance with the many voices of the fat gay men included in the interviews. The topic is original, the research conducted is meticulous, and the writing is accessible. The book will not only enrich your library's LGBTQ+ section, but will also make you reconsider some of your prejudices about fat people in general. A must read!

After reading a review of 'Fat Gay Men' on Slate, I picked up the book. While I can understand the intended goal of the author: normalizing fat gay men-- I'd say he didn't succeed. The book is written as a thesis, but seems to try straddling between an academic paper and a casual read. It doesn't fare well as either.I'm also stumped as to why, after spending great lengths explaining the plights and victimization of fat gay men, the author made was never critical of his subject material. Why do these men, who feel so victimized, latch so strongly to the role of victim? Why do they not feel they can (or should) change? Is the gay community truly as unaccepting as these men feel? None of these issues, which would seem to me as relevant, are even addressed.If you're looking for a book that will enlighten you on a community you don't understand, I'm sorry to say this book isn't it.

Jason Whitesel's new book, Fat Gay Men: Girth, Mirth, and the Politics of Stigma, is an enlightening text on the subculture of fat gay men involved with Girth and Mirth community groups. While based on Whitesel's doctoral dissertation, this book is not overly academic at all; instead it is an incredibly accessible text for a wide range of readers interested in learning more about this severely under-researched community.Whitesel's book is based primarily in ethnography as he spent several years as a participant observer in an Ohio-based Girth and Mirth group. Whitesel relates the personal narratives and experiences of the men he spent time with to sociological theory in order to better understand the ways in which fat gay men have been oppressed and made invisible in mainstream heterosexist and fatphobic western culture as well as thin-obsessed gay male culture in the U.S.Whitesel explores the seemingly mundane community activities of men involved in Girth and Mirth as well as special weekend-long events focused on creating vibrant spaces for fat gay men to express themselves outside of dominant culture's oppressive attitudes. He looks at the ways sex and sexuality, class, fashion, and performance help inform and complicate these men's lives. Above all, Whitesel does the Girth and Mirth community justice by giving them a platform for voicing the pain and pleasure of being fat and gay in contemporary American culture.

I very much was looking forward to receiving this book, but was quite disappointed when I opened the envelope.It had a very sticky cardboard stretched across the front. That is not all right.