An unnamed woman says she was not permitted on a flight with American Airlines because the flight staff took offense to a shirt she was wearing at the time she boarded the plane. The shirt featured the following statement: “If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d f–k a senator.” This statement appeared originally on a sign at an Oklahoma rally back in February when Oklahoma Senator Judy McIntyre, a Democrat, posed with it and said, “I saw a sea of signs that caught my eye, but this one in particular — I loved its offensive language, because it’s just as offensive for Republicans of Oklahoma to do what they’re doing as it relates to women’s bodies. I don’t apologize for it.”
The woman involved in the incident has been identified as ‘O’ and was traveling from Washington DC. The woman said the following about the incident: “When I boarded the plane, I was one of the first groups to board (did not pass by many folks). I was wearing my shawl just loosely around my neck and upon sitting down in my seat the lady next to me, who was already seated, praised me for wearing the shirt.”
The woman then claims that a flight attendant approached her saying she needed to talk with the captain before she could make her connecting flight because of the offensive shirt she was wearing. When she spoke with the plane’s captain she was told that she should not have been permitted to board the plane and that if she wishes to fly she would need to change her shirt. The woman claims that the conversation with the pilot caused her to miss her flight and that the staff at the connecting gates was called and warned about her needing to change her shirt. The woman said that her baggage was already checked and on the plane so she was not going to pay to change her shirt.
A spokesperson for American Airlines, Tim Smith, told MSNBC the following: “The only reason she was asked to cover up her T-shirt was the appearance of the ‘F-word’ on the T-shirt. The [pro-choice] message is irrelevant to our policy…”
According to the website for American Airlines, the company’s condition of carriage says, “American may refuse to transport you, or may remove you from your flight at any point, for one or several reasons, including If you are clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers.”