Plus-Size Parties Make Living Large Comfortable

June 26, 2005— -- At a recent, weekend-long, "plus-size party" in Connecticut, one reveler wore a T-shirt that read: "Skinny girls are evil."

As women in bikinis and men in swim trunks lounged near the pool, others danced to music with lyrics like, "You a big girl, baby, strut your stuff for the fellows like me who can't get enough."

The message at this party was clear: Big is beautiful.

Thirty percent of adults in America -- that's about 59 million people -- are now considered obese. As the nation's waistline grows, so do the number of plus-size parties, where large men and women confidently show off their curves.

Guests at the party in Connecticut said these plus-size parties allow them a place to feel comfortable with themselves and with each other.

"We can dress up any way we want to, and we are looked at as sexy," said partygoer Raqui Hernandez.

Kelly, a male party attendee, said, "People here are attracted to people of size."

The word is spreading about these gatherings through Internet chat rooms, Web sites and magazines like Figure, which celebrate "people of size." Even cable access is getting in on the action with programs such as "The Big Girls Show."

A mother and daughter from suburban Washington attended a recent dance in Rockville, Md., hosted by the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.

"For every fat woman that's going to a dance tonight, there's 50,000 of them in Middle America that don't have a dance to go to," said mom Cathy Grinels.

The Maryland partiers came from miles around to keep the momentum of this movement going.

At these parties, B.H.M. -- big, handsome men -- and B.B.W. -- big, beautiful women -- as they're called, are looking for more than just sex in the city, they're looking for acceptance.

Meg Rock, another Maryland partygoer, says that gatherings like this one offer welcome relief from the judgmental looks and comments many overweight people say they are frequently subjected to.