They wanted to kick me off the plane because of my excess weight: I had to put those heartless people in their place 

I am 63 years old, and I have spent my whole life learning to love and accept myself as I am. An illness disrupted my metabolism, and the weight gain was not my choice. But people don’t always want to understand that.

I have gotten used to sideways looks, to strangers judging my body as if it were on display in a shop window. It is especially hard to deal with this on a plane, where space is already tight and everyone seems to think they have the right to measure you from head to toe.

That day, I was flying as usual. I had bought my ticket in advance and chosen a window seat so I wouldn’t disturb anyone. I sat down, fastened my seatbelt carefully, put my bag under the seat, and got ready for the flight.

But a few minutes later, a young woman about 25 years old appeared next to me — beautiful, well-groomed, wearing a stylish suit. She looked at me and immediately made a face.

“Oh great,” she said loudly, not even trying to be polite. “Another fat woman taking up half the seat. I’m not flying like this!”

I felt a sharp pain inside. But at first, I stayed silent. The young woman continued:

“Fat people should stay at home and not fly,” she snapped at me. “Do you ever think about others?”

Then she called the flight attendant. With her chin arrogantly raised, she pointed at me:

“This woman takes up too much space! Throw her off the plane, or I will sue your airline!”

People began to turn around. The flight attendant looked at me as if she didn’t know how to ask me to leave the plane. I felt myself blushing from humiliation. But at that moment I realized I had to defend my rights, and did something I absolutely do not regret  Continuation in the first comment 

I stood up slowly, turned to the flight attendant and the young woman, and said loudly, for the whole cabin to hear:

“I have every right to be here. I paid for my ticket fair and square. My weight is the result of illness, not laziness or gluttony, as you’d like to think. And I do not owe anyone an explanation for my body.

If you don’t have enough space, you can buy two seats or move elsewhere. But demanding that I be thrown off is discrimination. And if the airline gives in to you, I will sue them — for violating my legally protected rights.”

I paused and looked straight into the woman’s eyes without blinking:

“Your words humiliate me as a human being. You have publicly insulted me, and I am ready to hold you accountable. If you do not stop, I will call the police right here.”

The cabin went silent. The young woman suddenly slumped, her confident face changed. The flight attendant nodded awkwardly and mumbled:

“Ma’am, of course you have the right to fly. I will deal with this passenger.”

In the end, the woman was moved to another seat, further away. I stayed in my window seat, and many passengers smiled at me supportively afterward. One woman quietly said:

“Thank you for those words. You were very brave.”

At that moment I felt proud. I am not to blame for my body. And no one has the right to turn me into an outcast.