Heya!
Ive been thinking and I really want to go travelling in a couple of years time :)
However im abit worried because it might be abit mote difficult being trans :/
Obviously I will be researching every country that I visit :) and wont go to any nations that arnt accepting of lgbt people!
I was just wondering whether any of u had been traveling, and if u encountered any problems along the way!
Some tipa would be much appreciated :)
Xx
I've traveled in several EU countries since getting my new passport with Female gender marker. No problems at all but then I haven't been to any countries that have issues with TS people. The only question I got was when I was pulled aside in Frankfurt for extra screening after I set off the metal detectors and scanned with some device and asked "is there any chance you might be pregnant?"..... Nope!
I'm traveling in the summer and my therapist advised me that since I don't have name and gender marker changed that I should travel presenting male or androgynous for the TSA and immigration. Leaving isn't going to be an issue its coming back.
But if you change your name and gender marker it should not really be an issue.
Oh and she is giving me a letter as well.
Quote from: CB on March 08, 2015, 10:12:17 PM
I've traveled in several EU countries since getting my new passport with Female gender marker. No problems at all but then I haven't been to any countries that have issues with TS people. The only question I got was when I was pulled aside in Frankfurt for extra screening after I set off the metal detectors and scanned with some device and asked "is there any chance you might be pregnant?"..... Nope!
Lol, when did that happen? I did set metal detector in Frankfurt as well and it was the first time in my life when a female security officer approached me for extra patdown - and I have to admit that female officers are less invasive and more gentle when doing that.
I've lived in the US(2 years), Italy(14 years), Netherlands (2 years), and travelled to UK (3 times), Canada, and France. In Italy I also visited several diff. cities, and in UK too.
Italy can be very transphobic but if you are passing why would have any problem anywhere? Yeah the document issue is really important, I would advice a document change if you do present as a woman full time.
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on March 09, 2015, 04:47:01 AM
Lol, when did that happen? I did set metal detector in Frankfurt as well and it was the first time in my life when a female security officer approached me for extra patdown - and I have to admit that female officers are less invasive and more gentle when doing that.
It was back in September. The metal detectors must be really sensitive in Frankfurt because we were changing planes there and then we got stuck overnight so had several passes through security and each time it I set them off. I don't know what it was, maybe my earrings? but it didn't happen anywhere else. Being directed to the female security officer was the first pass of the test and felt good. After scanning she patted me down really thoroughly getting ever closer to between my legs (she'd already apologised about feeling around my breasts) and I was thinking "OK what's she going to do about this?" but she avoided it completely.
Quote from: Serena ♡ on March 09, 2015, 05:47:58 AM
I've lived in the US(2 years), Italy(14 years), Netherlands (2 years), and travelled to UK (3 times), Canada, and France. In Italy I also visited several diff. cities, and in UK too.
Italy can be very transphobic but if you are passing why would have any problem anywhere? Yeah the document issue is really important, I would advice a document change if you do present as a woman full time.
Yes if you have the documents it's unlikely to be an issue as any transphobic attitudes in society are unlikely to play out in security/immigration. If they did you'd have grounds for a serious complaint at least within the EU (and probably US?). There are some countries though I'm inclined to avoid e.g the Gulf States, Malaysia and a few African Countries but I'm not planning on going there anytime soon anyway.
I just went to Mexico for New Years, the only Issue I had was actually just getting a new passport. Had to get a temporary one with right gender marker for me. Other than that, no issues. My entire family ended up getting searched except for me, which was pretty amusing to me.
There is a pdf called gay travel index .
It lists most countries.
hugs
I would have thaught the biggest issue was making sure you had all the correct documents for the "drugs" you're carrying and having to produce docs certificates/ prescriptions at particular countries?
Hi!
I'm from EU and I don't have documents changed. So I try to travel as androgynous.
Traveling within Spain hasn't been a problem at all.
I've also went to Netherlands, Germany and Canada. So far only the german hostess made strange looks while looking at my passport.
I also did trigger the german metal detector on and a female security officer approached me for some "hugs" and a "pat down"...but nothing happened.
Hugs!
Isabel
Quote from: Isabel on March 18, 2015, 07:06:48 AM
I also did trigger the german metal detector on and a female security officer approached me for some "hugs" and a "pat down"...but nothing happened.
Hugs!
Isabel
Was that the underwire in your bra?
Quote from: Kristyn74 on March 18, 2015, 07:09:34 AM
Was that the underwire in your bra?
Possible I suppose but I travel through German airports a lot and it just seems the threshold for the metal detectors is set much lower than other places.
QuoteWas that the underwire in your bra?
hahaha :)
maybe, who knows...Back then I thought they were my orthodontic brackets (!)
Quote
Possible I suppose but I travel through German airports a lot and it just seems the threshold for the metal detectors is set much lower than other places.
Yes, I've been thinking the same while reading this thread! It was the german detector the only one that was triggered...
Quote from: Serena ♡ on March 09, 2015, 05:47:58 AM
Italy can be very transphobic but if you are passing why would have any problem anywhere? Yeah the document issue is really important, I would advice a document change if you do present as a woman full time.
Not always possible. My birth country will NEVER recognize me as a Female unless they change the law and the religious establishment is adamant about keeping it that way. I can use my US passport but this means I pay tourist prices.
I am a MTF post-op who presents mostly female / androgynous (no skirts but women's clothes in general, makeup and nail polish and such), and I live in Italy and travel all over the EU. For the most part, I pass when I want to pass, although I'm quite tall and so always get interested looks. As far as Italy goes, it can be divided into 2 parts: north of Rome and south. North, especially in Florence, Milan, and Bologna, there is a thriving LGBT scene and you won't have any problems. Let's just say I haven't gone south of Naples in a long time, however, and Sicily is off my travel map for good. Other places in the EU shouldn't give you any problems, although I'd watch it in Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia... generally the more east you go. Overall, so what if you're traveling with an M on your passport? I do, but my photo is with make up... as long as you match the photo, you'll be fine. It isn't anyone's business at immigration why a "male" chooses to look like a woman, so long as the name and photo match. In Russia, I wear men's clothing and go butch, so the immigration there actually gave me an issue, but it was more curiosity than anything else. As anywhere, late nights in big cities at mixed bars can get people like us into trouble, but as a regular tourist, you'll be fine.
TSA doesn't care what your wear. Your ID and travel reservations must match.
If you travel dressed as a woman with male ID, you won't be the first the TSA agent has seen. It's a regular occurrence for them.
"Pat-downs are conducted by an officer of the same gender as presented by the individual at the checkpoint"
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers
Quote from: ImagineKate on March 09, 2015, 04:39:48 AM
I'm traveling in the summer and my therapist advised me that since I don't have name and gender marker changed that I should travel presenting male or androgynous for the TSA and immigration.
Quote from: Randi on March 18, 2015, 11:07:44 AM
TSA doesn't care what your wear. Your ID and travel reservations must match.
If you travel dressed as a woman with male ID, you won't be the first the TSA agent has seen. It's a regular occurrence for them. If a patdown is required, it will be done by an agent matching your presentation.
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers
Good to know.
International travel may be a bit different as I have to deal with foreign authorities though.
I've been through US/Canada Customs and Immigration several times since I went full time, always on my old passport, M gender marker, old photo and never had an issue, some stares and shocks but they have never given me any trouble.
Quote from: Randi on March 18, 2015, 11:07:44 AM
TSA doesn't care what your wear. Your ID and travel reservations must match.
That right. the crucial thing is that the photo in your passport must match the person travelling. Beyond that it's no ones business what clothes someone wears. While this is the case in western countries i wouldn't want to try in in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait. Malaysia which have strict laws about "impersonating the opposite gender".
The only weird thing I remember was being in Japan and leaving the country. All of the women were made to stand on these 2 crates with our legs apart so they could look up our skirts. I'm not making this up, they did it to me. Who knows what they were looking for that day I don't know, I just got on the plane and left for the US
Quote from: antonia on March 18, 2015, 02:33:49 PM
I've been through US/Canada Customs and Immigration several times since I went full time, always on my old passport, M gender marker, old photo and never had an issue, some stares and shocks but they have never given me any trouble.
I second that. The gender marker on my passport still says M and I have never once had anyone care (or notice, perhaps).
At least for travelling in the U. S., it doesn't seem to matter much if you haven't changed your name/gender markers--though that depends to a degree on the individual TSA agent you get. I've only travelled once while presenting as female, and my passport still has both my male name and M gender marker. My first TSA agent got really confused--she let me go with a "have a good day, Ms., I mean Mr., I mean Ms. etc." In Atlanta, I had a slight issue where a TSA agent took a long, long look at my passport and then at me and back to the passport repeatedly--much longer than normal for me. She then let me pass without any gendering, but it was akward.
Each time I was 'scanned' by someone after going through the metal detector, they chose a woman. I simply didn't speak while she tapped parts of my body. I assume they didn't realise I was trans* at all at that point. If your voice isn't passable, as mine isn't really, and you get a female TSA agent to scan you, not speaking might be the safest thing to do unless they have to ask you a specific question. Even though the TSA is supposed to be more accommodating to transgender travellers, you can't be sure individual agents will know what to do, so not drawing attention to yourself, if it can be avoided, is the safest option overall.