Transgender Travelers and New TSA Policies
by: jonpincus
Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 18:51:18 PM EST
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18055/transgender-travelers-and-new-tsa-policiesNote from Autumn: The National Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE) has come out with a resource discussing TSA procedures relating to trans people. I've had a personal experience with a the policy on the way back to San Diego from the GetEQUAL direct actions in Washington DC.
On my return flights from DC to San Diego, I was subject to a full body scan by a full body scanner, and the a full body pat down. NCTE: What transgender people need to know about TSA's proceduresI didn't tell the female TSA officer who searched me that I was transgender because I didn't want to be searched by a male, and I didn't know the policy for the search of trans people. Basically, I was waiting for her fingers to probe my crotch and find a 'package' of a different sort, but that didn't happen. Having had federal officers of the law previously refer to me as an 'impersonator,' 'it' and a 'shim,' I actually expected that if an officer found my 'package' of a different sort, I would have been subject to unwanted, unprofessional behavior. The officer didn't find my 'package,' and didn't subject me to verbal harassment -- this time.
