SEPTA policing gender, drag show held in protest

[Shana A]

SEPTA policing gender, drag show held in protest

In print | Published April 1, 2010

http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2010/04/01/opinions/septapolicing-gender-drag-show-held-in-protest

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, is not known for its modernity or outstanding customer relations, but a recent protest on Tuesday has called special attention to the company's discriminatory treatment of transgender and queer persons. On the monthly SEPTA transportation passes known as "transpasses" or "trailpasses," the company places stickers with the letter "M" or the letter "F" to indicate the gender of the cardholder. This policy, a weak attempt to reduce prohibited sharing of passes, unfairly forces transgender and gender-non-conforming riders to identify as either male or female. It also compels SEPTA conductors to act as "gender police" as they are responsible for judging whether or not cardholders' gender matches the category indicated on their pass, resulting in many a situation in which a rider whose gender is misperceived by the conductor may be denied the card discount if not denied access to SEPTA transportation entirely.