I am looking to travel in the next few months this will be my first time after starting hrt and don't want the extra special pat down. Is there a point I need to let them know?

Sent from my SM-G920T1 using Tapatalk

Before you enter the x ray machine so they will be aware of the differences. Still that will not ensure you will avoid a pat down. I had one because my tummy was a little big and my shoulders were a little to broad. A woman just touched me a few times in those areas and that was all there was to it.

I am American with a female gender United States Passport. I have travelled internationally on 3 continents entering and leaving several different countries since becoming full-time Jennifer with my female passport. I have never encountered any problems with my gender -- i have even travelled as Jennifer to an Arab Muslim country, Morocco. I have never had any issues with immigration or customs or security checks in any of several countries I have entered and left. Just standard questions an procedures that any international traveller does.

I have always been called "ma'am" by airport security, ticket agents, and immigration officials. Meaning, the equivalent of "ma'am" in the language of the country I was in -- so this has included English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

I have not entered the United States for many years, so I haven't experienced the American TSA since Jennifer but I am a highly experienced international traveller and I have researched TSA so here are my feelings ---

My research shows that if you are a trans lady but don't have female gender "heavy" documents yet such as a driver's license or passport, then for United States domestic air travel you must buy your ticket under your male gender as shown on your government-issued ID.

If you have legally changed your name to female but you have not yet changed your gender to female (since gender change on official documents is usually harder to do than name change), then you must buy your ticket as shown on your government-issued ID = in this example, male gender and female name.

If your government-issued ID shows you as still male name and male gender, then you must buy your ticket as male name and gender, check in at the ticket counter using male name and male gender as shown on your government ID as this is current law in the United States. You may however dress fully female if you wish, and explain you are trans lady if you so desire.

When you get to initial TSA ID inspection point, my research shows that you must use your name and gender as shown on your ticket and government-issued ID. This might still be male, but you may dress however you wish as fully female if you wish.

If you have a secondary inspection or secondary pat-down, you have an absolute right under TSA rules to have a female officer do the pat-down if you are dressed and presenting s female even with male ID. It might help to have a doctor's or therapist's letter with you while you travel as additional support, indicating you are a trans lady undergoing gender transition to female. You should POLITELY ask to speak with a supervisor if you have problem. Never be rude yet stand your ground. There have been some nightmare TSA stories in newspapers so avoid problems be careful, polite, and insist on your rights.

Never accept a male officer to pat you down or touch your breasts when presenting as female, even if you still have male ID.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions about this subject, please feel free to ask me publicly or privately.

I will also attempt here to post a photo of myself in the dress I usually use for travel.

Jennifer xx

If you are currently seeing a therapist and your evaluation is going towards the therapist approving you for gender reassignment that they can write a letter (not all therapist can do this so ask) to your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) that will allow you to have your driver license to be updated with your female name and assign F for gender. Of course you would need to have your name changed first. This may not be enough lead time since you indicated travelling will be in the next several months as a name change takes (at least here in Oregon) about a month followed by one to two weeks for your driver license.

For some states you will need to change your Social Security information first but not Oregon. On the Oregon "Change of gender designation form" they start off with (after the general first/last name and address)
I, [fill in your name] wish to change the gender designation on my driver license or identification card to read [check-box] Male [check-box] Female.

I hereby certify under penalty of law that this request for gender designation change is for the purpose of ensuring my driver license / identification card accurately reflects my gender identity and is not for any fraudulent or other unlawful purpose.

The next section requires your to have therapist name, address and license number (mine put this on the document to present to DMV).

Next section has check-boxes that when looking at it appears the therapist must fill it out, this is not the case, at least with me. The DMV person filled it out for me from the letter provided to them from my therapist.

I am a,

• Primary Care Provider (PCP) (Physician, Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA))
• Clinical Social Worker, Surgeon, or a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
• Licensed Professional Counselor or Therapist
• Licensed Psychologist
• Social Service Case Specialist, Worker, or other Social Service Authority

Next section reads (with check-boxes)
In my professional opinion, the applicant's gender identity is (check one): Male Female
and can reasonably be expected to continue as such in the foreseeable future.

At the bottom, a place for the therapist signature and date. Again, in my case this was not filled in, I think (it's been a while) the person helping me stamped the form indicating only the therapist letter was needed, not a signature.

As stated up front, you may not have time to do this and if that is the case you might consider this for any future travel. If travelling abroad then you need to look at getting a passport which if you are planning on this I will tell you the only kink with my application was they rejected my birth certificate as it did not match their requirements but had another one, one was state issues, one by the hospital. I gave them the hospital one, they wanted the state issues one. After that was sent they approved my passport.

Personally, I was not all that excited about obtaining my driver license but was more so with my passport.

Hopefully the above is of assistance and safe travels.

I travel a bit for work and for some reason almost always get either chemical tested on my carry on, hands and cloths ( Acela train) , delayed with questions (reentry into the USA from Canada), or pat down ( last time I traveled). My old driver license photo and how I look now is very different and my genitalia is not typical male .

Since ( last two weeks) then I have changed my name and drivers license (with gender correction). I will be flying 11/13/2016 so I think with my corrected license I should not have a problem. I am sure the TSA will see the F and may inquire. When I was patted down ( last time I flew 2 months ago) a guy patted my genital area which is a violation. It happened so quickly after I walked out of the scanner. If it happens in November I will say stop and request a female.

Quote from: Rachel Lynn on June 19, 2016, 07:52:38 AM
I travel a bit for work and for some reason almost always get either chemical tested on my carry on, hands and cloths ( Acela train) , delayed with questions (reentry into the USA from Canada), or pat down ( last time I traveled). My old driver license photo and how I look now is very different and my genitalia is not typical male .

Since ( last two weeks) then I have changed my name and drivers license (with gender correction). I will be flying 11/13/2016 so I think with my corrected license I should not have a problem. I am sure the TSA will see the F and may inquire. When I was patted down ( last time I flew 2 months ago) a guy patted my genital area which is a violation. It happened so quickly after I walked out of the scanner. If it happens in November I will say stop and request a female.

Honey darn straight that was a violation against you under TSA's own rules. I would have wriggled away politely and requested a female officer. No male cop or male security officer is going to lay a hand on my breasts or my private parts. If they had tried to give me problems over that I would have politely asked to speak with a supervisor. TSA has to obey the law and obey their own rules.

Even with male ID if you are a genuine transgender lady presenting as female and especially with doctor or therapist letter as proof they have to provide a FEMALE OFFICER to handle your secondary pat-downs or physically touching your body.

Yeah even easier to prove now that you have female gender ID.

Stand up for your rights. Never let a male cop or male security officer touch your private parts again.

Jennifer xx

During my flight out of philly, I didn't tell them first, so they just pushed the button for male. When I got out, they asked if I was wearing a belt. I said no, so they asked if they could give me a crotch pat down. In the middle of them feeling up my crotch, I said "I'm trans, if that helps" and the agent stood straight up and told me to have a good flight. On my flight out of San Juan back to philly, my mom told the TSA agent checking our boarding passes ahead of time. She also went before me in the scanner and told the TSA agent that was running the scanner. So when it was my turn, the agent told me to pull my pants up as far as they'll go, and I guess still pushed male and I was okay to go. 

Hi, I'm non passing and have travelled domestically through airport security on at least four occasions at SEA, SLC, BOS, and JFK and have encountered no problems. This includes me traveling through the "raise your hands" machine many many times. I find that TSA agents are nearly always respectful of gender and literally couldn't care less. I would say you don't need to say anything unless your scan turns up something awkward in the crotch...then you might want to explain--but it should never go that far


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: purplewuggybird on June 20, 2016, 10:13:00 AM
Hi, I'm non passing and have travelled domestically through airport security on at least four occasions at SEA, SLC, BOS, and JFK and have encountered no problems. This includes me traveling through the "raise your hands" machine many many times. I find that TSA agents are nearly always respectful of gender and literally couldn't care less. I would say you don't need to say anything unless your scan turns up something awkward in the crotch...then you might want to explain--but it should never go that far

Similar experience here.  SEA and LAX, both no problems. Have done both the old school metal detector and the new hands up scanner.  My passport has my male name, picture with a beard, and an M, not an F.  I never brought it up, and no one batted an eye.  Got patted down once very quickly by a female TSA agent.

The simple form of Jennifer's guidance is to use the same name and gender designation as the government issued ID you plan to present to the TSA.

All my ID is of the wrong gender but it never matters


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk