- British singer Sam Smith’s single I’m Not Here To Make Friends sparked fatphobic and homophobic bullying online.
- Studies show that such negative attitudes within the LGBTQIA+ community correlated with high scores of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
Sam Smith’s new music video of I’m Not Here To Make Friends recently sparked a huge controversy. Many dismissed the song’s racy picturization as a blatant expression of “degenerate Hollywood culture”, hypersexuality, and wokeism.
However, much of the vitriol was directed at the famous singer’s changing appearance, even from within the homosexual community of which Smith is a prominent member and staunch advocate.
While trolling a celebrity for the merest of reasons is not uncommon, the ruthless criticism filled with fatphobic and homophobic comments has raised eyebrows and left experts warning of the long-term consequences of fatphobia in the LGBTQIA+ community.
What Is Fatphobia?
Fatphobia or anti-fat is popularly defined as a pathological fear and hatred of fatness and fat bodies. It comprises bias and weight stigma directed at overweight and obese individuals, because of their weight.
Being Fat Affects Mental Health!
The social bias toward overweight adults creates negative stereotypes about fat people and they are often ridiculed and dismissed as unhealthy individuals. Fatphobia is strongly associated with a number of mental health conditions, including:
- Body dissatisfaction
- Depression
- Social anxiety and isolation
- Stress
- Poor self-esteem
- Body dysmorphia
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm tendencies
Fatphobia And Homophobia
Recently, research highlighted the rampant prevalence of fatphobia in the LGBTQAI+ community. Experiences of homophobia, childhood abuse, and low-self esteem have fuelled disordered eating and obesity in people with homosexuality.
Much similar to Sam Smith’s case, these attitudes and beliefs have served to make many members of the LGBTQAI+ community feel excluded and ostracized within the group itself.
Fatphobia in the gay community is also a product of toxic masculinity and misogyny, fuelled by the ridicule and criticism surrounding gender nonconformity. Studies show that negative experiences associated with fatphobia have fuelled a mental health crisis in the community, including severe mental health conditions like anorexia, substance use disorder (SUD), etc.
Addressing Homophobic Fatphobia In Mental Health Care
Consider the following measures to help in reducing the weight stigma on mental health in the LGBTQIA+ community:
- Educate yourself on fatphobia and homophobia. Challenge your own negative beliefs and approaches.
- Read about diet culture and how it influences the social stigma of weight and obesity.
- Challenge the fatphobic attitudes of others outside and within your community.
- Correct people when they refer to their fatphobic prejudices as “preferences” or “caution”.
- Avoid self-criticism and toxic body talk. Learn to appreciate and celebrate your own body no matter what.
- Avoid using judgmental and shaming language related to food or someone’s weight and eating habits.
- Participate in initiatives and awareness campaigns that address fatphobic attitudes and homophobia and strive to make the LGBTQIA+ community more inclusive.
Fatphobia, laced with homophobia can be extremely crippling. Akin to racism, it is a social problem and stands as a serious violation of human values and mental health. Its effects are damaging and long-drawn, and so it should be effectively addressed to make the world a better place.
