Eddie Geller here.

I was a chubby kid.

I won't lie, growing up “fat” was hard. I’m about to tell you about my childhood struggle with my weight and how it impacts my politics — but first, could you please chip in $5?

I was always a bigger kid, John. One of my earliest memories from childhood is being told I was "big boned."

As you can probably imagine, school was not pleasant!

But you know what was actually worse than the teasing? Being made to feel ignored, othered, and unwanted.

My experience — and I know I'm not alone on this — is that the world will often treat you as less deserving of love, attention, and respect if your body does not conform to conventional standards.  It can be nearly impossible not to internalize that.

No matter what I look like and no matter what the scale says that identity as a "fat kid" will always be there.

My experience of having known that feeling of being ignored, discounted, and judged — of the injustice of being treated cruelly for no other reason than my weight — is absolutely central to my politics and the way that I treat other people every day of my life.

I want to be very clear, John: Being bullied for my weight was awful.

(Studies now actually show that “being fat” is THE MOST common reason kids bully other kids. And on top of that, it’s even harder for women and girls!)

But in a way that experience also made me who I am today. From my compassion for others, to my sense of humor, I can trace a lot of my core traits and values to painful childhood experiences around my size.

I’ve felt the pain of being ignored, discounted, and judged. I’ve known the injustice of being treated cruelly for no reason other than my appearance. But, instead of hardening me to the world, growing up as a “fat kid” imbued me with a deep passion for justice.

Everyone is deserving of love and respect, regardless of the color of their skin, their political party, or what the scale says. And as the next representative from Florida’s 15th District, I promise to fight for all those discounted and ignored because of who they are.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this really personal email, John. If you think we need more compassion and understanding in Washington D.C., can you please chip in $5 to help send this former “fat kid” to Congress?

Thank you so much.

Eddie Geller