TSA Experiences

Lana · Post by **Lana** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:09 am

py ever since.
While flying totally underdressed, I never had a problem with the TSA, just the usual metal detector and once had my carry on screened, thats it.

Bernice · Post by **Bernice** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 12:18 am

"She gave an example of a TSA employee at an airport whose background [sic] forced the trans person to identify as the birth gender when patting down people in the terminal."

For more info read the entire link...

http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=14703

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Hugs,

Bernice

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:58 am

This would seem to be a variant on the bathroom quandary. If it is a birth male transitioning to female then gg's might feel uncomfortable being patted down by this person, fearful that she is a man in stealth mode. I suppose part of the answer would have to do with just where in the transition process the TSA worker is.

The unfortunate thing is that transwomen are still lumped with men in terms of potential sexual agression. It's part of a larger issue of men generally being held to account for the activities of a predatory minority.

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:14 pm

I KNOW!!
I got It!!!
Just brand a large "T" on the employee's forehead and then everyone could tell at a glance. It would have the advantage of telling the employee who he really was everytime he saw himself in the mirror, and his coworkers would know if they had a TS among them, and
any cisgendered woman would know immediately if she was being
searched by a TS. So Simple, ya' know?

OK, so I don't do irony well.

Carolynn

Kimberly Kael · Post by **Kimberly Kael** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:18 pm

Bernice wrote:"She gave an example of a TSA employee at an airport whose background [sic] forced the trans person to identify as the birth gender when patting down people in the terminal."

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

As the quote makes clear this is a TSA employee, not a passenger, so it's a fairly different if still regrettable situation. Their actions are consistent with trying not to upset passengers who might have legal recourse against the TSA. Hopefully our society is on a path to a little more enlightenment about gender but it's clearly a long, slow process.

As for the whole "it doesn't mean it doesn't happen" mindset? Sure, you could live your focused on the low-probability risks but you'd never get into a car for fear of accidents, never go on a date for fear of being assaulted, never swim for fear of sharks. Why make your life miserable by focusing on the potential negatives?

Paula G · Post by **Paula G** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:16 am

Yesterday I came into Britain from France, by ferry, I was en femme, but my passport shows male and in the photo I have a beard, all of the British and French passport control, and customs staff were friendly polite, oh yes and called me madam even after looking at the passport.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:11 pm

Paula

That is great. I have not had the opportunity but I am really glad it went that way for you.

Well done Madam!

Post by **DonnaT** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:27 pm

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/366507[quote]Cairo airport authorities denied two Arab post-operative transgender passengers access to Egypt on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said a state of confusion prevailed at the airport when customs officials discovered a male passenger and a female passenger both carrying passports stating their previous genders.

Officials noticed a 22-year-old passenger of "outstanding beauty" embarking from a plane coming from the Jordanian capital Amman, holding a passport under the name Ahmed. The passenger said she had undergone a gender reassignment operation and become a female six weeks ago, but hadn’t yet been able to modify her passport data.

Arriving on the same plane, a 19-year-old male passenger held a passport with the female name Israa. He said he had undergone surgery to became male, but also wasn’t able to update his passport.

The passengers were then examined, and their accounts proved to be correct. However, customs authorities banned them from entering Egypt and put them on the same plane back to Jordan.
[/quote]

Ralitsa · Post by **Ralitsa** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:37 pm

so I wonder if these two were Egyptian citizens? It seems pretty crazy that they would deny them from returning to their own country, if they are. But, I suppose it could have been a lot worse, most of those countries aren't very nice about such things.

Crossdressers-Haven.com

TSA Experiences

TSA

Egypt weighs in