Another quick one. Sorry guys, Horace was back in town for most of last week, though I think he finally packed his bags today. But even with his nonsense, I couldn’t wait to get online and thank all of you who donated a Solidarity Dollar (or more!) to the Billboard Project.

Because Ragen reports: “Exactly a week and a day after we started the Georgia Billboard campaign we have 1010 donors and $21,721.20. Enough to launch a good campaign in Atlanta.”

And as if that weren’t enough, Alan Guttmacher, MD, director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Child Health & Human Development issued a statement to Fierce Freethinking Fatty Shannon Russell, agreeing that Georgia’s Strong4Life ad campaign “carries a great risk of increasing stigma for those children who are overweight or obese which, in turn, can reinforce unhealthy behaviors.” And this was after NIH representatives told her that it was against the rules for any government spokesperson to comment on a specific private campaign.

As Shannon says: “This is an unprecedented condemnation by the NIH of a private healthcare organization’s public health campaign. When the NIH begins bending rules to send a message that you are harming children, it’s time to listen.”

Meanwhile more folks are submitting pictures like Kate’s and mine to the I Stand Against Weight Bullying Tumblr — because the more body positive images and messages we have out there for kids (and everyone!) to see, the better.

And — attention graphic designers and such! — Ragen is ready to accept design submissions for the Georgia Billboard Project, which will be using the money raised to develop an campaign to counteract the fat-shaming Strong4Life messages.

All in all, a fine week’s of grass-rooting. Good work everybody!

PS. While we’re celebrating things, a BIG hug to my girl Jackie, who is over on Eat The Damn Cake eating ice cream to celebrate two years of eating disorder recovery. Yay! (Backstory: Y’all might remember Jackie’s awesome writing from when she visited us here. She’s also kinda like my little sister, because when my real little sister went to a women’s college, I scored a whole bunch of extra and super amazing Smith Sisters. I’m pretty sure that they’re now going to take over the world.)