V's Version

Fat Activist Community and friends gathered to remember and commit to keep Heather MacAllister's spirit alive. Gavin Newsom (Mayor of SF) proclaimed the day officially Heather MacAllister Day for her amazing work in the GLBT and Fat Communities as well as with Muslim sexual minorities. It was a throroughly sad and bittersweet day - to see in a pagan ritual the gate between the world opened, to say goodbye for one last time, to see the gate closed. It was so profound to stand there with Parker in front of me and Dani behind me, feeling the full impact that this funeral could have been mine.

The wake at El Rio (where Dani and I attended without Parker) was a fitting tribute with the mic open to all - close companions, co-workers and admirers from all walks. There were beautiful flowers and plenty of chocolate. The Heather MacAllister Fund for Fat Fashion (see below) was introduced and we gave generously. I performed Fat Girl Thoughts (found here) to the most understanding and perceptive audience that has ever received it. What an honor to be among people who TOTALLY got it.

The photograph above is on the front cover of Section B of the San Francisco Chronicle today and is by Katy Raddatz. The full article is here.

And for those of you who are closer friends and want to be connected across the miles, here is a link to the whole afternoon, graciously documented by Dante.

Please support Heather's dream of the Fat Fashion College Scholarship Fund. Heather wanted very much to start a scholarship fund to provide small scholarships for fat college students to buy clothing that would make them look and feel fabulous. Checks can be made to Cullum Law Heather MacAllister College Scholarship Fund (or Cullum Law
Scholarship), and mail to Carole Cullum, 1390 Market St., Suite 818, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-863-94102