I Sort Of Think Of Myself As

You Shouldn't Make Fun Of People Who Have Issues.

I Might As Well Be Gay. And Not Just Because I Love Rhinestones And Barbara Streisand. But Because Im A Sensitive Person Who Is Supportive Of Gay People The Same Way Im Sensitive To Grossly Obese People And Ugly People.

When I Talk To Kids Who Are Overweight, I See My Face On Their Bodies.

I'm 64, But I Act Like I'm Still 12. I Go To Schools. At Colleges, They Come Out In Droves, They Almost Scare Me. I Think It's Just To See If I'm Still Alive. After I Work Them Out - And It's Not Easy - I Sit Them Down And We Have A Serious Talk. Are They Eating? Working On Their Body? I Can Say Things Parents Won't Say. No Matter Where I Go, I Talk To Each One Individually After I Teach. They Tell Me Things Like, 'i'm Starving, Guys Like Girls Thinner.' I Give Them Concrete Advice About Self-image And Self-worth.

Stop Trying To Find Something In Food That Will Make You Feel Better. I Used To Have Eating Disorders; I'd Binge And Purge All The Time: Fried Oysters, Po' Boys, Muffulettas, Beignets, Coffee And Doughnuts. I Tried To Medicate Myself With Food When People Made Fun Of Me Or Hit Me With A Bat In School. I'd Always Turn To Food.