Trans While Travelling - TSA Experience

[JMJW]

The correct answer to that question is "I am transgender", not "there is nothing."
They were assuming you to be a cis-female, who wouldn't have anything extra in their crotch area.
Yes they treated you horribly, but you needed to be upfront with them.
And NEVER argue with them. It will only escalate the problem.

Why would anyone assume  when they say you're hiding something under your clothes, that they're talking about a part of your body? Unless they already know how the TSA works? One isn't going to tell them they're transgender and that set off the alarm, in front of other travellers as that's mortifying. Clearly they were told once some basic privacy was granted but that wasn't enough,

Any argument with them should be done in court. Lawsuit. Compensation. At the least, this should make the newspapers.

Personally I wouldn't travel unless I had necessary business overseas that I can't do online.

[Claire_Sydney]

+1  I've travelled the world and found Heathrow to particularly civilized. You asked to be singled out.

I too have travelled the world Jentay.  I lived in London for several years and, on the whole, I like Heathrow too. 

How did I "ask to be singled out"?  What are you suggesting transgender passengers should do differently next time to ensure we are not subject to unnecessary invasive searches?

[jentay1367]

I too have travelled the world Jentay.  I lived in London for several years and, on the whole, I like Heathrow too. 

How did I "ask to be singled out"?  What are you suggesting transgender passengers should do differently next time to ensure we are not subject to unnecessary invasive searches?

Hey Hon, You need to accept the fact that this:

As I stepped out of the scanner, it buzzed and drew a big red 'alarm' circle over my genital area.  The lady repeatedly asked me what I was hiding under my clothes.  I kept telling her there was nothing.  Two more security staff turned up.

is not an acceptable way to handle this. You should have noted to them that you were Transgender when they Inquired. I believe it would have altered your experience. If it hadn't, your complaint would be legitimate. Those people are there to recognize things that are out of the ordinary. Regardless of how much we're in the public eye these days, we are still extraordinary and will bring extra scrutiny. Your being obtuse, set of their alarms. Be frank with these people in the future, it will probably mitigate your problems.

[SueNZ]

Claire, I am sorry for what you had to go through.
I am heading to USA soon and will not be underdressing. My really big fear is the scanners finding something and being asked to explain. If I was on my own it would be ok but my wife would have massive anxiety and so I will not put her in that situation. Security stations for me are an area in life I will not risk or push my boundaries. I guess I am lucky that I am not transitioning otherwise there would be no choice.
I know the questions that get asked can be interpreted in several ways and I don't think Claire that you did anything wrong. The system and its officious officers do not cater for all diversity of life.
Its very hard when your emotions are running high to think calmly and methodically.
Hugs
Sue.

[AlyssaJ]

There's not much that would get me to travel in the States these days. 

Please note that this incident occurred in the UK, NOT the United States.  The US TSA got a number of black eyes a few years back due to very poor treatment of transgender folks.  Since then however, they've spent a stack of taxpayer dollars defining policy, upgrading equipment and training their agents so this crap doesn't happen.  I few things you'll find in the US that would have helped in this situation:

1. Upgraded body scanners that have an improved algorithm for recognizing transgender features (i.e. if they mark you as a woman and it finds a penis, it understands and does not alert).
2. You will only be patted down by an agent of the gender you are presenting.  If there is any doubt, they will ask which agent you prefer.
3. If you're subjected to a "pat-down" you can request it be done in private and you can bring a witness with you.
4. Your bags will only be searched with you present.

I believe the HRC or someone has a comprehensive list of your rights when dealing with the US TSA that details these and other items.  Honestly, I travel all the time in the US for work and have done so multiple times presenting female (even with a passport and drivers license that show me as male).  If you plan ahead, follow the rules, respond honestly and don't argue with agents over things they can't control anyway, you'll almost always get through just fine.

In this situation from the OP, I would have told them flat out right away that it was my penis and that I was transgender.  I certainly wouldn't have started complaining to them about their equipment.  If they did anything that violated policy, I'd have done my best to get through non-confrontationally and then addressed the issues with a supervisor and filed a formal complaint.

[JMJW]

If public outing is necessary to avoid having to expose your genitals to a guard whos gender you cant even choose then the system is broken and the terrorists were fundamentally successful.

[Kendra]

> In this situation from the OP, I would have told them flat out right away that it was my penis and that I was transgender.  I certainly wouldn't have started complaining to them about their equipment.

I shouldn't make light of a serious situation, but... this did make me grin.    :-)
I suppose it would be unwise to complain about what's between a TSA employee's legs. 

[Julia1996]

The body scanners are that detailed that they detect a dick even if you're tucked well? That's like so depressing! I wonder if it can tell a transman is wearing a packer? Those things are like a major invasion of privacy. I would SO cancel my trip before I got naked for anyone!

[Devlyn]

> In this situation from the OP, I would have told them flat out right away that it was my penis and that I was transgender.  I certainly wouldn't have started complaining to them about their equipment.

I shouldn't make light of a serious situation, but... this did make me grin.    :-)
I suppose it would be unwise to complain about what's between a TSA employee's legs.

Badum tsss! 

[Claire_Sydney]

Hey Hon, You need to accept the fact that this:is not an acceptable way to handle this. You should have noted that you were Transgender when they Inquired.

I dont really agree with you.

I was not being obtuse. I chose not to disclose in front of the public. I told them immediately upon entering a private space. I was not being obtuse or obstructive. As far as I am aware, there is no obligation  to have a conversation in a public setting about your genitals, irrespective of whether you are trans or not.

I believe it is possible for officers to treat transgender passengers with dignity, decency and respect, irrespective of whether they disclose in public or private.

Disclosing earlier would not have altered the search process in any way. Officers have to clear the alarm either by machine or by physical inspection. Giving an explanation of 'ohh, I'm trans' and walking off is not possible.


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[jentay1367]

I dont really agree with you.

And that's your prerogative. But it doesn't change the fact that you'll keep revisiting the issue if this is how you handle these situations. Reality is what it is and your being indignant in the face of it won't change a thing. It reminds me of an old expression. If you keep doing what you've been doing, you're going to keep getting what you've been getting.
Be Well. 

[Claire_Sydney]

I believe the HRC or someone has a comprehensive list of your rights when dealing with the US TSA that details these and other items. 

If you plan ahead, follow the rules, respond honestly and don't argue with agents over things they can't control anyway, you'll almost always get through just fine.

The NCTE has a list of rights and responsibilities for transgender travellers dealing with airport security. Is that the one you are thinking of?

I plan ahead, respond honestly, and I get through fine almost always too. This time wasn't 'almost always'.

It was a flawed process, a bit of bad luck, and some insensitive officers. And possibly a tuck that wasn't tight enough?

Upgraded body scanners sounds promising. Have you found these to be any better at recognising and understanding gender diverse bodies?  Do you know if there a list of airports/terminals where they are installed so we can plan in advance?



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[Dena]

There have been posts about people informing the security staff before stepping into the scanner. If you do that, they set the scanner to expect the unexpected and you shouldn't need the pat down. If they have to guess at the setting, your going to get a pat down. If you don't want everybody to hear, make a card informing them of this and give it to the security personal before stepping into the scanner.

[AlyssaJ]

The NCTE has a list of rights and responsibilities for transgender travellers dealing with airport security. Is that the one you are thinking of?

I plan ahead, respond honestly, and I get through fine almost always too. This time wasn't 'almost always'.

It was a flawed process, a bit of bad luck, and some insensitive officers. And possibly a tuck that wasn't tight enough?

Upgraded body scanners sounds promising. Have you found these to be any better at recognising and understanding gender diverse bodies?  Do you know if there a list of airports/terminals where they are installed so we can plan in advance?

Yes, the NCTE article is the one I was thinking of. To be clear, my post wasn't directed at you and I wasn't suggesting you did anything going in that was wrong.  I think you could have reacted to a couple things better (maybe it would have helped maybe not) but my points were specific to US TSA.  IDK the policies in the UK but clearly they're not as well implemented as the latest TSA approach.

I can't speak from personal experience with body scanners.  I have TSA Pre-Check so I rarely have to go through them.  On the rare occasions I've had to go through a scanner I have let the agent know before I take my position and let them decide how to configure the machine.

[Sydney_NYC]

The body scanners are that detailed that they detect a dick even if you're tucked well? That's like so depressing! I wonder if it can tell a transman is wearing a packer? Those things are like a major invasion of privacy. I would SO cancel my trip before I got naked for anyone!

Since I've been full time and pass pretty well I've traveled about a dozen times when tucked and it's never gone off on me down there. My long hair has set it off in the back neck area and a female agent had to run her gloved hands through the back of my hair, but that's it.

The only other time I had an issue was well over 3½ years ago when I had just started HRT and had been using Finasteride for over 3 months and I was already developing breasts but still presented male. I was wearing a sports bra underneath my male clothing and my breasts has set it off. I told them I am trans and transitioning when the male TSA agent found the sports bra I was wearing. He just guided the back of his hand around the bra line and was professional and sent me on my way. I think he was more embarrassed than anything else with him not expecting to find feminine breasts.

[echo7]

Is there a program in the UK (similar to TSA PreCheck in the US) that will allow you to avoid body scanners most of the time?

[Claire_Sydney]

There have been posts about people informing the security staff before stepping into the scanner. If you do that, they set the scanner to expect the unexpected and you shouldn't need the pat down. If they have to guess at the setting, your going to get a pat down. If you don't want everybody to hear, make a card informing them of this and give it to the security personal before stepping into the scanner.

All the machines I have seen only have two buttons - male and female. Where have you seen AIT scanners that the operators can custom configure? Were these in Europe or North America?  I have never seen a configurable one at any airport?

I have also never seen the little blue cards anywhere outside of the USA.  When did you see these at Heathrow?


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[CatherineVeraGat]

I'm sorry about what happened. I really do think that they should just fix those machines so nobody has to go through problems like this.


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[JMJW]

If these machines are so sensitive then how do people of different weight go through without setting off the alarm? It will register a penis but won't pick up a beer gut?   

[KarynMcD]

It will register a penis but won't pick up a beer gut?   

They kind of expect everybody to have a stomach.
The density would also be similar.