This happened on the DART Green Line from Pearl Station heading toward Buckner last Thursday evening. Rush hour, train was packed.
I was sitting in a regular seat (not a priority seat — those were full). I have rheumatoid arthritis. Standing for extended periods causes significant pain in my joints, especially my knees and ankles. You cannot see my condition. I look like a healthy 30-year-old man.
A visibly pregnant woman boarded at Cityplace. She was standing near me. After a couple of minutes, she made eye contact and pointedly looked at my seat. I smiled but did not get up.
Another minute passes. She says loudly enough for people around us to hear: "I cannot believe not a single person will give up their seat for a pregnant woman."
A man across from me said "Hey man, let her sit." I said "I have a medical condition that makes it painful to stand." He said "You look fine to me."
The pregnant woman said "Unbelievable" and shook her head. Two other passengers gave me dirty looks. Nobody else offered their seat.
I felt humiliated. I also felt pain in my knees just from the standing I did getting to my seat.
I DO believe pregnant women deserve seats on public transit. If I were healthy, I would have been the first person to stand. But I am not healthy. My disability is real even though you cannot see it.
I did not explain my condition further because I should not have to justify my medical history to strangers on a train. The initial statement should have been sufficient.
Am I wrong for not giving up my seat?
Not wrong. I have Crohn's disease and face this constantly on DART. I sit in a regular seat because standing triggers my symptoms. The judgment from other passengers is exhausting. We should not have to disclose our conditions.