TSA - what they say!

[Virginia]

When SL and I arrived at the airport Thursday, it was not very busy at all.
After going through the security, I sought out the TSA "person in charge." Well turns out that there were two who claimed to be "in charge."

I got them off to the side and asked how they "handled" transgendered folk and/or cross-dressers and if they had a website to go to for questions about this. I also wanted to know if they had specific written directives as to how to handle such or did they individually have discretion.

Well they said that the TSA people at any given airport have individual discretion when dealing with this. Such things as the passport photo or driver's license or government issued photo does not "match" the person presenting it. Evidently what they look for, bottom line is, is the person presenting in order to fraudulently gain access to the plane. "Fraud" being the operative word. If you simply walk up to the first TSA person, who allows you access to the line to get screened, hand them your government issued picture ID and if it does not match how you are presenting, tell them, "I am transgendered." At the point it will be to them to decide if this is a fraudulent presentation. If you hand them the ID and say nothing, it would increase their suspicions substantially. If you choose to use the term "crossdresser" it seems to bring on an entirely different interpretation. Transgender, may warrant their inspection of the sex on your DL and if it show male, you may have to offer an explanation of why? Are you into transition or only thinking about it? OTOH A crossdresser is a crossdresser! They both sited several examples they had dealt with, one being a Dr. who dressed and often flew out of this particular airport with no problem.

So, my interpretation was this: If you dress to travel, act the part, be calm, cool and collected, in other words be a lady! Smile, hand them your ticket and ID and politely and discretely say, "I am transgendered/crossdresser." Then wait calmly for them to return you ID and ticket to you! Look the person straight in the eye, be proud, and SMILE!

Oh, the website they gave me: TSA.gov
TSA-contactcenter@dhs.gov

Travel on ladies - Smile and have fun!

Love ya,

Virginia

[Suzie Green]

I have 2 crossdresser friends from my local Tri-Ess chapter who fly en femme, and neither of them has experienced any problems with TSA. They both presented their drivers licenses, were briefly questioned "Is this you?" and when replying "Yes" were told to have a nice day and boarded the plane with no other issues. It probably is a good idea to simply state, when showing your ID, that "Yes, this is me...I am transgendered."

[Jan W]

Please excuse this question if it appears trite.

Are our sisters who are choosing to fly enfemme full time?

If they are then it is no different flying or walking down the street or grocery shopping.

If they are not then why put yourself and the airline through this?

I have heard of TG people flying or wishing to fly enfemme for years and have finally decided to ask - why is flying dressed is so important to us?

Sincerely,


Jan

[Virginia]

Hi Jan,

You raise an interesting point, however there is a big difference between just walking down the street or going shopping and having an "all powerful" entity like the TSA REQUIRE you to produce identification as to who you are and to have to be able to convince them that you are not attempting something fraudulent! They say that the TSA has the power to have you put on the "NO FLY LIST" and to get your name off of that little piece of paper can take a lifetime!!!! (and can you imagine if the reason show was "fraudulently cross dressed.")

The closest thing I can imagine is using the ladies restroom and getting "outted."

I don't think you would have to be full time to desire to travel "en femme." It is just who we are and it is still "mostly" a free country.

The bit of wisdom here is simply to let our sisters know that it is possible, it has been done, but to be prepared and to handle the situation "like a lady!"

Love,

Virginia

[JoAnnDallas]

The alternitive would be to have all your fem items in your carryon. Then once thru TSA, stop at a uni-sex bathroom and change.

[Lori A]

I don't think that would be a good idea Jo Ann, if you are outted for the wardrobe change they may think you are getting in disguise for some immoral purpose like terrorism. Better to be dressed en femme and be upfront about your alter ego. They do have Tranny Conventions in different parts of the country at different times through out the year when lots of us travel to them. IMOHO it would be better to stay in the mode of dress that you check in in.

[Kandis]

I have to agree with Lori A on this one JoAnn. A drastic change in appearance as going from Drab to FAB would most likely raise a serious red flag.

While you may not want to get a drivers license in your femme name, it is possible that you might be able to get a state issued identification card in that name. While the sex may be M instead of F, it would/could have the femme name and a picture which would be accepted and acceptable for going to clubs and the like while dressed as well as identification at TSA checkpoints.

[Anita]

Thanks, Virginia, for talking to them. I haven't had any occasion to fly as a woman yet. For some reason, it doesn't appeal to me to be dressed in a crowded airplane, but it may happen at a future time.

[Kendra Lynn]

Hello all: Since I am not 24/7 it would seem that flying "en femme" would just not be worth it-- dealing with security personnel, and the fact that it would probably be physically uncomfortable to be cross dressed in a crowded airplane.
But I have been dressed as "hippie cheerleader" on AMTRAK and experienced no problems.
I'll admit that I called UNION STATION first and probably paid over the phone, which meant that interaction with UNION STATION staff would be minimal.
Has anyone else gone on AMTRAK "en femme?"
Happy travelling!!
Peace'n'luv"-- Kendra Lynn ("hippie cheerleader")

[ChristineK]

I worked for TSA for a year and I can answer all your questions.

1. If it looks like a woman, it is a woman, no matter how bad or 5o'clock shadow they have.

2. bag search (are you kidding me) people are sick, I have seen it all. Nothing will even make a TSA employee even flinch due to you are so numbed by it all. I saw stuff you would never expect from people you would never expect. A man dressed as a women with a beard and a bag full of womans cloths is a breeze to TSA, no problems here folks.

The thing to do with TSA is listen to what they are telling you (most people hear what they are saying but don't really listen) people go threw the walk threw metal detector and there brain gets formatted. BUZZZ all I got is this (change, jewelry, belt buckle, shoes) divest all metal and try again, BUZZ oh maby its this cell phone. Then they get mad that they have to get EXTRA screening!!

The average IQ of an passenger going threw the walk threw metal detector is about 5.

Do not argue the shoe thing, we can see those a mile away, take them off.

Jewelry that cant be seen, nipple rings, cock rings, labial rings-- BIG ONE-- OK folks, people get pissed about this one a-lot, just in the paper recently. If you have a concealed metal item in an place considered OFF LIMITS and try to get threw airport security and get angry, only blame yourself!!!!

People always say "Do I look like a terrorist???" What does a terrorist look like?Answer: Everyone!!!

If metal cant be resolved the TSA cannot let you fly. I had a lady once pull her shirt clean up to show me her breast were pierced, another time a guy pulled off his pants to prove his cock ring was the problem, (he was arrested for indecent exposure)

I have seen it all there and have to side with TSA that most people just dont think. The CD issue at TSA is so minor they wont even bat an eye.

The next time you are at the airport say thanks to these guys because there job is about as good as garbage man. The garbage man is not looking our for your safety.

TOO ADD: The stewardesses were the worst for toys in bag.

[Virginia]

Thanks Christine,

First I know that it (TSA) is a thankless job, and there is probably no way to know how many lives they have saved simply by being and they are a "necessary evil" if you will!

However, I still feel threatened by anyone who holds that much power over me! Having one of them who is having a bad day, put me on the "NO Fly" list is probably as bad or worse than identity theft!!!! They can delay you to the point of missing your flight or the example that SL and I saw in Florida, here was this little old man 100 pounds and mid to late 70's pushing his invalid wife in a wheelchair and this TSA Amazon after extensive questioning actually forced, and I use the word with all its impartiality, forced this poor old lady to stand-up and with only her husband to help, stagger through the metal detector and they both nearly fell then to add insult to injury they actually "wanded" both of them. It was disgusting absolutely disgusting!!!!!! Surely they can do better than that??? The line behind this couple was extensive and everyone was "pissed" about the way this couple was treated!!!!!

Sorry, but it just was not right, at least to me and the 100+ other people who witnessed this!!!!

As for TSA not having a real problem with "us" as long as we do not come across as fraudulent that is good to know!!!!

And the stewardesses, they are mostly young, away from home for long periods of time and they probably need their "friends!"

Love ya,

Virginia

[ChristineK]

You are correct and some times some TSA people can be vile and act disrespectfully, this is not the general rule and isolated case. You can experience this type of disrespect in any profession, just don't expect it to be the norm because it is not condoned or supported in the grand scheme.

Travel on Sisters and know the people rummaging threw your bag have seen so much worse that nothing in your bag should make you feel uncomfortable if they have to search it.

If you get extra screening and present as a women you will have a lady pat you all over. Do not fret, they do it all day and could care less what sex you are.

They have a job to do and just want to do it just as you have a plane to catch and want to catch it. Be respectful and you should get treated the same no matter what you look like.

There is an backside in every crowd employee and passenger same.