Any advice for dealing with TSA/International travel?

[Vincent E.S.]

So, there's good, bad, and a need for advice.

Good: I got my carry letter and it specifically mentions my binder so that any possible TSA hassles might not be quite as awkward.

Bad: I have serious issues with TSA and airport screening as it is, and this new terror of being taken aside for additional screening because of my binder showing up just makes it worse. This will be the first time I've travelled anywhere since coming out, and I'm flying internationally going through a total of seven airports (not through the security of most of those, though, I don't think). I'm leaving in three days, so I figured I should pop in here for a bit and hopefully get some of my anxiety eased a bit.

There's no way I can survive this without wearing my binder. I can ignore my genitals easily so I don't pack, but I have really intense dysphoria related to my chest. I've heard that chest binders show up on the scanners TSA uses and I know that while not all transguys get pulled aside and questioned about it, those that do tend to not exactly have good experiences.

So, what should I do?
Should I just immediately opt out of the scanners and ask for a patdown?
Should I go through the scanners awkwardly holding my carry letter (in its envelope) over my head and hope they don't start questioning me about that immediately?
Should I just walk up and hand the letter to the person before being scanned whatsoever?
Any other tips/general advice related to this? I'm going from US to UK and back and I don't remember how they handle airport security over there.

[Robert Scott]

You know ... I flew internationally about a year ago and wore my binder --- I got no questions or patting down.  I also traveled under my female passport.   On the scanner it looks like clothing.  I really haven't heard any ftm's having any problems.  I have a friend who travels all the time for work and he has only been asked once about his packer and he said it was his prothesis --- and was let right through.  Being transgender especially ftm is totally off the radar for most folks.  I really wouldn't worry about it.  Shoot I was at urgent care the doctor made me take my shirt off so she could check my breathing --- I left my binder on -- she said nothing and didn't even seem to notice I had a big chest for a guy

[smittyFTM]

I haven't flown internationally but have had encounters with TSA here in the States.
Once, pre top surgery and with my F  passport. I wore a binder, got the pat-down, went through no problem.

Later, post chest surgery with my M passport. I had the erm, intimate pat down ( hands aaaall the way up my thighs into crotch... ) and I was NOT packing--I was freaking out a little inside; it was so freakin hot (Ft. Lauderdale in June) and decided not to pack. No problem; I just went through. Before the guy patted me down (felt me up), he radioed in "blah blah blah Male blah blah" then did it--so he knew I was male; he must have thought I had a very small wanker lol.


Anyway, don't worry. No one puts near as much thought into our appearance / binders / clothing etc as we do ourselves!

*EDIT: though I was traveling within the states, my passport is my preferred ID. Ever since I went car-free, my driver license has been collecting dust in my safe lol

[Vincent E.S.]

  ha.. That's a bit of a relief. My main concern comes from the fact that even though the city I live in is a nice little oasis with regard to LGBT stuff (compared to the surrounding area of hell, we have some resources), it's still an exceptionally conservative place. I'm mostly worried that I'll end up getting flagged by just the wrong agent.

Should I fold up my carry letter small and stick it inside my passport just in case?
And should I just opt for the patdown?

[smittyFTM]

I'd carry your letter just in case--but that's just me; I like to be ridiculously prepared at all times lol.
As for opting for the pat down, eh, that's your call....

[Konnor]

I've had mixed experiences with airports. I'm pre-T but pass decently, all my ID's and stuff say F still. My binder almost always gets me stopped when they use those body scanner things where you have to put your arms up in the air. I almost always come up on the "female" sillhouette as well (some of the scanners have one unisex sillhouette that the "flagged areas" come up on, and some have a male and female one) I always get patted down, but have had mixed reactions with gendering. Sometimes they call me sir even after they've patted my chest down, sometimes a guy calls a girl over and has her pat me down/calls me ma'am. So I think it really depends on you, and the TSA officers present. Some of them might be aware of trans issues, some may see you as completely male, and some may see you as a butch woman. I have no idea what you look like, so I dunno how much this applies to you. I guess YMMV. But this is what I've experienced thus far. I hope things go well for you, man. I know it's a really nerve-wracking experience!!

[skakid]

I traveled recently (not internationally) and my ID still says female. I only had to go through the scanner on the flight home and I wasn't questioned about my binder or patted down on either flight.