Goodbye, 'Anomaly' —  TSA's New Word for Trans Bodies Is 'Alarm'

http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2015/12/23/goodbye-anomaly-tsas-new-word-trans-bodies-alarm

The Advocate/By Dawn Ennis December 23 2015 7:20 PM EST

"On the eve of the Christmas getaway, the Transportation Security Administration tells The Advocate it has chosen a new word for its airport screening agents to use whenever their imaging machines encounter a transgender traveler whose anatomy does't match the standard binary. "

I'd rather be a beep

"Alarm" is hardly an improvement on "anomaly"... this humiliating process is one of the main reasons I have no plans to visit the U.S. anytime soon. 

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 24, 2015, 02:27:14 AM
"Alarm" is hardly an improvement on "anomaly"... this humiliating process is one of the main reasons I have no plans to visit the U.S. anytime soon. 

I know this is petty, but OK I won't trigger the thingy, but other transwomen will. So I'm not going to the USA. I've been asked to go to Europe in mid 2026 and will go to the UK. I was hoping to visit the USA but it seems so phobic why should I bother? Can't even go for a pee.

I will miss out on meeting people I would love to meet. The country misses out on my money.

The USA is becoming isolated and I'm fearful of that.

Quote from: Cindy on December 24, 2015, 02:38:10 AM
The USA is becoming isolated and I'm fearful of that.

You're fearful? We're stuck here!

To be honest I just had my vfs there and I felt welcome and save. I even was invited from an US citizen to relocate to the US, she did knew that I am transgender because we just talked before about my vfs. I live in Germany and traveled there only for surgery and I was alone without voice after surgery.

But I also traveled to China and other countries without having any issues. My work requires lots of international travel. My passport says I am female. But our shareholders also know that I am transgender as also my employees (I am managing director of a start-up company).

It may be that my passing is good (I do not believe it). I also had GRS in the beginning of my transition. After I knew I am a woman I had FFS and GRS within six months.

From the article:

Quote"You may also undergo a pat-down procedure if you alarm the screening equipment and/or at random," says the [TSA's]site.

I'm reminded of those signs that say "This door is alarmed."  I always wonder "What scared it?"

"The TSA's website explains that when agents encounter an "alarm" or, in other words, a discrepancy that requires additional screening, they'll follow the same procedures as before:"

In general that's not unreasonable given that they are looking for weapons.  But what is the point of changing the trigger word.  It's not the word that was the problem before but rather the way the pat down was handled.


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When I flew this summer, it flagged both my abdomen and my back but nothing else. I guess it was because of the extra 15 pounds I was carrying at the time and the fact I can't alter my broad shoulders. I have lost additional weight so I don't know if my abdomen would pass now but at the time I was within the healthy weight range for my hight. Maybe the government is getting a carried away on the health guidelines.

I can see how articles such as this could lead someone to think that US airports discriminate against trans people. But, keep in mind, this same exact procedure happens all the time to everyone. I travel frequently, and I see it.

Basically, it's like this: you get to the airport, get your bags and so forth situated at the desk, then you get in a very long line. You go through one or two clerks who check your ticket and ID. Then, the line splits off into one of several screening machines. As you get close to one, you empty your pockets, remove your shoes and your carry-on, and place them in plastic bins on the conveyor belt. When it's your turn, you step into the scanner machine, and it spins around you quickly. If you don't want the scan, the agents will instead do a quick pat down similar to what cops do. If there are issues with anything (by this time, someone else is already in the scanner), they ask you to follow them into a small room maybe 20 feet from the scanners. There are several rooms, and people are constantly in and out of them. I was taken to a room because they found "trace residue" on my hands (I had to do a random-pick hand scan). When in the room, there are maybe three agents in there with you. At this point, it would be good to say that you are transgender , since they do another pat down. They ask a few questions like where are you heading and where are you from. None of it is a big deal at all, since they do it all day every day to hundreds of people. It's not like they alert the whole crowd by saying HEY EVERYBODY, LOOK AT THIS!! After the very brief time in the room, they thank you for your patience, and have a great day. You then grab your things and go on your way. The whole things takes maybe ten minutes.

I'm not posting this to dismiss any issues anyone has had to face. I'm only doing it to say that all is not always what people claim.

Quote from: Nema on December 24, 2015, 09:29:41 AM
I can see how articles such as this could lead someone to think that US airports discriminate against trans people. But, keep in mind, this same exact procedure happens all the time to everyone. I travel frequently, and I see it.

Basically, it's like this: you get to the airport, get your bags and so forth situated at the desk, then you get in a very long line. You go through one or two clerks who check your ticket and ID. Then, the line splits off into one of several screening machines. As you get close to one, you empty your pockets, remove your shoes and your carry-on, and place them in plastic bins on the conveyor belt. When it's your turn, you step into the scanner machine, and it spins around you quickly. If you don't want the scan, the agents will instead do a quick pat down similar to what cops do. If there are issues with anything (by this time, someone else is already in the scanner), they ask you to follow them into a small room maybe 20 feet from the scanners. There are several rooms, and people are constantly in and out of them. I was taken to a room because they found "trace residue" on my hands (I had to do a random-pick hand scan). When in the room, there are maybe three agents in there with you. At this point, it would be good to say that you are transgender , since they do another pat down. They ask a few questions like where are you heading and where are you from. None of it is a big deal at all, since they do it all day every day to hundreds of people. It's not like they alert the whole crowd by saying HEY EVERYBODY, LOOK AT THIS!! After the very brief time in the room, they thank you for your patience, and have a great day. You then grab your things and go on your way. The whole things takes maybe ten minutes.

I'm not posting this to dismiss any issues anyone has had to face. I'm only doing it to say that all is not always what people claim.

I give this post a your name backwards: Amen! 

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 24, 2015, 02:27:14 AM
"Alarm" is hardly an improvement on "anomaly"... this humiliating process is one of the main reasons I have no plans to visit the U.S. anytime soon. 

I had more trouble in south Korea than here. Really it's fine.

Quote from: Cindy on December 24, 2015, 02:38:10 AM
I know this is petty, but OK I won't trigger the thingy, but other transwomen will. So I'm not going to the USA. I've been asked to go to Europe in mid 2026 and will go to the UK. I was hoping to visit the USA but it seems so phobic why should I bother? Can't even go for a pee.

I will miss out on meeting people I would love to meet. The country misses out on my money.

The USA is becoming isolated and I'm fearful of that.

Don't believe everything you hear in the news. It's fine here. Really.

Quote from: iKate on December 24, 2015, 01:05:40 PM
Don't believe everything you hear in the news. It's fine here. Really.

That's true.  Most of the nastiness you read from Americans on the Internet is from people without the spine to actually confront a living human being.  Most people are pretty nice if you are nice to them, especially TSA agents.


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That's true. And I have global entry now so I skip the line

I had no problems with US security when I traveled to Great Britain this fall. I was careful to have everything as specified -- toiletries were in a plastic bag, prescription drugs in another one, and I told the agent about the drugs -- then I waltzed through the scanner and picked up my stuff.

The very thorough pat-down at Heathrow (no scanners there) on the return trip was a bit disconcerting, but the guy who did it was entirely professional. If he noticed something was "missing" between my legs, he had the good taste not to mention it, nor did he appear "alarmed."

Quote from: iKate on December 24, 2015, 01:05:40 PM
Don't believe everything you hear in the news. It's fine here. Really.

It really is fine here. I've flown several times in the last year and went through the scanner with a good tuck and only my  long hair was flagged where a female TSA agent just need to check my hair in the back. Took 5 seconds and that was it. No different than a cis woman would go through.

Anomaly = "out of the ordinary".  Still not a nice thing to be called.
Alarm = "possible danger".  Even worse.   I am not a threat to anyone.

Can we just get rid of the TSA? 

There is really nothing better to call it.  The machine uses either a male or female algorithm when someone goes through.  So if you show up presenting female they simply accept that and push the female button.  All good.  When one walks through it compares the female model in the algorithm to what the machine detects and if something doesn't match it indicates that to the operator.  It doesn't show them a picture.  It could be contraband in there, explosives, a weapon, or you know what.  But they have no way of knowing which it is until they do a search.  They are not targeting trans people.  They are simply doing the best they can to respect privacy while ensuring safety with technology as it exists today


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I refuse to put up with the tsa and I don't travel en femme.  It's a liberty issue for me. Israel doesn't do this, but we do...if I can't drive or ride my motorbike I'm not going.


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