Here’s what venues can do to become fat-friendly spaces – and spare a lot of pain

I agree with all of this. I helped to spearhead documentation of seat sizes and alternative accomodations at the theatre I work at, and it's really amazing that we've come this far. When I was first hired a few years ago, I remember overhearing a pretty unpleasant discussion between my supervisors about a fat patron who inquired about using an accessible seating location, with the implication that the patron "did it to themselves", and thus isn't deserving of being able to attend until they lose weight. For a lot of people, the assumption that fat people should be functionally banned from doing things until they stop being fat is a baseline judgement, so it's very nice that more places are picking up on this kind of thing and hopefully it becomes normalized.

And if they advertise these spacious seats, won't thin people also want access to them?? I don't see how you can advertise that they are only for larger bodies. Who's going to verify? Will there be a scale at the theater?

Candidly speaking, as someone who has spent their ENTIRE life overweight and generally large (I'm 6'8 and 310lbs, though I was 420 at one point), theatre seats have always been a friggin' nightmare for me whether it be the leg room or because I have a wide frame (even weighing less, I'm still very hippy and broad) not being able to fit comfortably in the seat.

It took me many years before I could feel comfortable asking staff to help reseat me because I always had that internal shame that my size, some aspects of which I could not control, impeded me from enjoying theatre. Even when I learned I could request the accessible/companion seating (Thanks, SeatGeek!), I still feel extremely guilty because they stress that it's for patrons with disabilities or wheelchairs and threaten to kick you out if you are abusing such a purchase (since I assume some buy because of a lower price point). It even got to a point where I basically chronicled and memorized every theatre I was in and became familiar with their seats and locations so I know where I end up most comfortable or who I would need to talk to in order to get accomodated (which, again, is awkward in person because I look like an otherwise healthy 29 year old guy).

If I had this information, it would've made my life a little easier to some extent - but also since shows that do rush/lotto/TDF don't publicize the location, and that's usually the price point I pay, I end up having to roll the dice and pray for the best.

Sorry to dump all that, but this has been an issue for me and I felt important to share as someone who fervently supports Broadway and the arts.