Hi everybody :)
Sorry if there is already a thread about this somewhere.
I will be traveling to Arizona this month from California, and will also be traveling to Mexico. I currently present as female (I am ma'amed 95% of the time), but my government ID and US passport still show my birth gender (male). Obviously my concern is airport screening and security.. What would I do in my situation?
I had a talk with my therapist about this and she seemed unempathetic, and even told me to "suck it up," pull my hair back, wear no makeup, and travel presenting as male. Does TSA usually give you a hard time if you look nothing like your passport photo and gender? Anyone here have any experience dealing with a situation similar to mine?
It is pretty easy to change your DL and you don't need the passport to go between states.
Hi, Roni,
WOW! If I sound incredulous about what your therapist told you, it's not because I think you're not telling the truth. It's just that I kind of see the role of a gender therapist as more supportive of our needs. But, I am reminded that, though I love my therapist, I sometimes think she is mistaken too.
Here's what the TSA has to say about traveling and being transgender:
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers
For additional comfort, I would recommend that you ask your therapist to write you a letter, saying that _______ [the person in the ID] is under his or her care and has undergone gender transition. That therapist should include his or her license number and issuing state. They should not ask for such a letter, but you will have it if they do.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on June 02, 2014, 05:23:42 AM
Hi, Roni,
WOW! If I sound incredulous about what your therapist told you, it's not because I think you're not telling the truth. It's just that I kind of see the role of a gender therapist as more supportive of our needs. But, I am reminded that, though I love my therapist, I sometimes think she is mistaken too.
Here's what the TSA has to say about traveling and being transgender:
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers
For additional comfort, I would recommend that you ask your therapist to write you a letter, saying that _______ [the person in the ID] is under his or her care and has undergone gender transition. That therapist should include his or her license number and issuing state. They should not ask for such a letter, but you will have it if they do.
Thanks for this. I'll probably bring the letter my therapist wrote diagnosing me of gender dysphoria then. I just hope they don't give me a hard time when I tell them I'm trans.
Quote from: LordKAT on June 02, 2014, 04:26:33 AM
It is pretty easy to change your DL and you don't need the passport to go between states.
For personal reasons I am not able to change my license til a few months from now. And I will need my passport to travel to Mexico. :(
OOps, sorry, I missed the Mexico part somehow.
Hey I went to Mexico (Cancun) back in April. I traveled in full feminine mode, wearing a dress, etc. My passport still says Male, but I had no real problem. The only small bump was going thru the body x-ray machine at the Philly airport ( the one where you put your hands over your head). When I came out of the enclosure the TSA person (female) stopped me and had me go back and redo it. When I came out again she had a puzzled look on her face. I turned around and looked back at the machine and at about mid-height were two little stick figure displays, one male and one female. The female one was illuminated and it showed a red x or circle - i don't remember - in the groin area. 'Aha' me thinks, I turned to the TSA agent and said "I'm transgender". Her eyes immediately glazed over, and waved me on, focused on the next traveler. And that was it.
All the airline counters, TSA agents, customs, Mexican immigration, etc. nobody cared.
My therapist pretty much told me to just pull out my formal letter if I run into any trouble when traveling ~ my current ID is a picture of me when i was 18, and even though most people don't even look twice ~ lately when i go to bars or clubs, they have to look back and forth because they don't believe its me. While my letter doesn't say anything in regards to TSA, it still says "The holder of this letter is transgender and currently under my care. She is undergoing gender transition and that means that female facilities are to be used and female presentation is to be expected. I expect that you will treat Ms. Garcia with the respect you would treat any other customer or individual."
To be honest though.. i havent had to use it yet >_< and it bothers me... I'm still waiting to get pulled over by a cop or travel and have them no believe my ID... it would give me a sort of peace of mind -_-
A couple years ago I had to fly to Seattle for family stuff, when I flew out of my local airport I was in boy mode except for a cute lace bra and cami top and lace undies underneath it all, the TSA guy looked at me funny after I went thru the scanner so he pulled me aside for a moment and gave me a quick pat down, he looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said thanx and nodded me on my way.
I highly doubt that was a first for him ;)
Me? Fly? HAHAHAHAHAHA. Not going to happen any time soon. I probably have to do that in a couple of years, but all my papers and junk will be in order by then. Note to self: call new therapist.
Thanks for the replies everybody! I guess I shouldn't have to worry so much then.
Thanks to original poster for this thread. I've got a plane flight coming up soon. I plan to present male at the time due to the fact I should have just started my hrt so no passing as male problems yet. But I will be presenting female for pretty much the entire vacation so my luggage will all be girl clothes and a pair of bra inserts. Which could get embarising if they pull it out for the world to see. I'm also just nervous about doing the whole process alone in general. Still good advice in this thread. So thanks ^_^