Because I was overweight, they tried to throw me off the plane: I have to hold those callous individuals accountable.
I’m sixty-three years old, and I’ve dedicated my entire life to learning to love and accept who I am. My metabolism was thrown off balance by an illness, and I didn’t choose to put on the weight. However, not everyone wants to comprehend that.
I’ve become accustomed to people staring at me and evaluating my physique as though it were on exhibit in a storefront. Dealing with this is particularly difficult on airplanes, when there is already limited space and everyone appears to feel entitled to measure you from head to toe.
As usual, I was flying that day. In order to avoid disturbing anyone, I had purchased my ticket in advance and selected a window seat. After carefully fastening my seatbelt and placing my bag behind the seat, I settled in and prepared for the journey.
However, a few minutes later, a young woman of around twenty-five years old showed up beside me. She was attractive, well-groomed, and dressed in a chic suit. She instantly pulled a face when she saw me.
Without even attempting to be courteous, she exclaimed, “Oh great.” Half the seat is occupied by another obese woman. This is not how I’m flying!
A stab of pain went through me. However, I initially said nothing. The young lady went on:
She yelled at me, “Fat people should stay at home and not fly.” “Are other people ever on your mind?”
She then gave the flight attendant a call. She pointed at me, her chin lifted haughtily:
“This woman is too occupying! I’ll sue your airline if you don’t remove her from the aircraft!
I carefully got to my feet, turned to face the young woman and the flight attendant, and spoke loudly enough for everyone in the cabin to hear:
“I’m perfectly entitled to be here. Fair and square, I paid for my ticket. Contrary to popular belief, my weight is not the product of gluttony or sloth, but rather of disease. Furthermore, I owe no one an explanation for my physique.
You can purchase two seats or find another location if there isn’t enough room. But it’s discriminatory to demand that I be thrown off. And I will sue the airline for violating my legally protected rights if they give in to you.
I stopped and fixed my unblinking gaze on the woman’s eyes:
“Your remarks degrade me as a person. I’m prepared to hold you responsible for your public insult. I’ll call the police right here if you don’t stop.
There was silence in the cabin. The young woman’s self-assured expression shifted when she abruptly sagged. With an embarrassed nod, the flight attendant muttered:
“Obviously, you have the right to fly, ma’am. I’ll take care of this traveler.
Eventually, the woman was seated farther away at a different seat. Many individuals gave me encouraging smiles after I remained in my window seat. Silently, one woman said:
“I appreciate your words. You showed a great deal of courage.
I was proud at the time. My body does not belong to me. Furthermore, nobody has the authority to make me an outsider.
