Transpassing Prohibited Is SEPTA playing gender police?

[Shana A]

Transpassing Prohibited


Is SEPTA playing gender police?

By Daniel Denvir 
Posted Jun. 16, 2009

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/Transpassing-Prohibited.html

Verify correct date and gender sticker. So goes step one of SEPTA's guidelines for the correct use of a transpass. The ironically named pass, which requires riders to affix either an "M" or an "F," has led to many uncomfortable, humiliating and bizarre moments for transgender people, who are often challenged by drivers as to the veracity of their gender identity.

In 2007, trans-identified female 
Charlene Arcila was told she couldn't use her transpass as she boarded the SEPTA bus she regularly took to work as a counselor for people living with HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. It wasn't the first time the 46-year-old Mississippi native had this problem. Previously she'd been told she couldn't use the female transpass, so in desperation she got a male sticker. To no avail.


[Annwyn]

Nifty article and horrific grammar.

I suppose anyone can write an article now and get it published>.<

[tekla]

Spot on in the grammar deal, it was very bad writing.  Still, I'm not sure that people really get paid to write that either.  It's a weekly rag, full of ads, every big city has one or two, few have one that worth reading.

[Annwyn]

I wish I could sue for being asked to read that junk.  Seriously, any 8 year old nerd could have at least proof-read it.

[Britney_413]

She should sue. Besides, why do they need to know *anything* about you? Here in Arizona, you don't need to show ID or identify anything at all to get on a bus or a light rail train. Not even for the monthly pass unless there has been a change I'm not aware of. They treat those things like cash so if you lose it that's your problem. Therefore, there isn't anything anyone needs to "verify" about you getting on or off of a mass transit vehicle. I swear it is going to get to the point where you have to submit your DNA to order a sandwich, supply your SSN to go to the bathroom, or get permission prior to having sex with your spouse which will be obtained from your television set that will also be watching you. I hope this woman wins and gets rich in the process. It is not just the TG-discrimination that irks me, it is the fact that any of it is any of the government's/corporation's business.

[tekla]

Ummm, if you had read the article it did go into why they do this.  Passes are huge biz in places where they have real transit systems.

And the new permanent passes have RRF chips that can tell when you get on and off.

[Mister]

I've got a regional transit pass that's got my name and photo....  but no gender.  Having someone's gender on the pass is necessary doesn't make sense.

[V M]

When I was in San Diego they were checking folks passes closer. But it was because they were after a group of pick pockets, purse snatchers and muggers that were hitting the rail line. They even had police officers riding. They eventually caught most of the gang and things calmed down.

But denying a trans person based on gender is discrimination and should be challenged in court if necessary 

[Syne]

You mean SEPTA manages to not go on strike long enough to harass customers? Mind blowing. I could say a lot about SEPTA, none of it would be pleasant and possibly against the ToS.

Here is a link to a blog that also links a FB account looking to challenge SEPTA on this front:
http://septawatch.blogspot.com/2009/06/riders-challenge-septas-gender-police.html

[NicholeW.]

You mean SEPTA manages to not go on strike long enough to harass customers? Mind blowing. I could say a lot about SEPTA, none of it would be pleasant and possibly against the ToS.

Here is a link to a blog that also links a FB account looking to challenge SEPTA on this front:
http://septawatch.blogspot.com/2009/06/riders-challenge-septas-gender-police.html

This is actually reasonably old news around here. SEPTA started that monthly trans-pass deal last year and refused rides to a number of people -- more than one wasn't trans in any shape, form or fashion.

I think it's all prolly some genius way of raising money since the state cut funding two years ago! Ya know, make 'em buy tokens and get no discount so you can clear the extra $.50 everytime that happens?

Mostly I just have to agree with Syne, SEPTA has problems that go well beyond gender id on their monthly trans-passes. I honestly expect the trains to stop running out here by the next year or two. Which will be too bad. It's a good service and Philly does have a good public-transport framework. The will just doesn't seem to be there anymore to maintain and build it.

I think that we'd like to be a bit more like Phoenix and San Diego. Poor choice, too darned many suburbs already. 

N~

[Michelle.]

"You mean SEPTA manages to not go on strike long enough to harass customers?"

ROFLMAO

I was starting to miss Philly recently. Than I read this and started to remember the reasons why I left the area several years ago.

Then again its getting on hotter than heck here in SoFL. Hows the weather up there?

[Syne]

Eh hot and rainy for the most part and July is supposed to start off with more rain.

[Michelle.]

I'm starting to entertain this notion of global warming.

[Natasha]

Transgender Riders Take On TransPass

[Michelle.]

SEPTA, however, argues the stickers are necessary to stop people from sharing their passes and are not discriminatory in intent,


Couldn't they just produce a photo ID pass?