Well, I guess I knew it was going to happen sometime... unfortunately, it finally did happen last week.

I was passing through security at the departure gates at London Heathrow Terminal 5. I was wearing a knee length dress and calf boots, having come straight from a business meeting.

Security had shut off the arch-type metal detectors and were using full body scanners only.  The scanners always make me nervous because of all the trans horror stories, but I've been through a dozen or so without any issue.  I was confident it would be ok, but actually I was about to experience one of those horror stories first hand.

As I stepped out of the scanner, it buzzed and drew a big red 'alarm' circle over my genital area.  The lady repeatedly asked me what I was hiding under my clothes.  I kept telling her there was nothing.  Two more security staff turned up.  They confiscated my belongings and escorted me away to the other end of the terminal building where I was made to wait 20 minutes.  I was separated from my passport, my phone, and even my shoes.

More people turned up and I was asked to remove my clothes, made to spread my legs, and had to submit to a security guard touching my genitals.  I wasn't offered any preference for the gender of the guard performing the search.

I gave them fairly blunt feedback about the need to fix the deficiencies in their scanner so it can tell the difference between a human body and a security threat.  I told them it's humiliating, undignified, and only about one step away from a mandatory sexual assault.  It's not like there is anything the passenger can do to avoid, prevent or fix the issue. 

They didn't appreciate the feedback and reacted quite badly.  We got in a heated argument.  After about ten minutes arguing, suddenly one of the guards just came around and said 'I can see your point.'  I tried to help her understand how the process unfairly targets transgender people for invasive searches, and how that puts us in a position of being highly vulnerable.  I asked her to put herself in my shoes. I think she finally got it.

We walked all the way back to the security station, where another guard had searched all my carry-on luggage in my absence (great). Apparently Heathrow has a requirement that if you set off the alarm on the scanner, they must manually search all of your bags... thanks BSA.  I put all my belonging, clothes, toiletries and underwear back in my bag and left.

I went to the lounge and cried my eyes out.  Then I rang my friend back home in Australia (where it was 3am) and cried some more over the phone.

Someone needs to fix these machines.

Wow, interesting to hear how much worse the British are than even the US.  I mean had this happened in the US they'd have been in violation of a number of TSA policies and you'd have grounds for a pretty hefty lawsuit.  Either way, I super sorry to hear of your experience.  I'm traveling right now and flew here and will be returning home tomorrow fully presenting as my authentic self (I'm only in my male costume while on the client site).  I have TSA Pre-Check so as long as there isn't a problem with the metal detectors like you experienced, I should be able to avoid body scanners.  All I can do is wait and see and hope for the best.

Chin up dear, I know this was an awful and humiliating experience, but you're strong and you will get through.  Hopefully more airports will get the latest scanner technology that is properly able to handle transgender people and not alert erroneously.

What a sad story and hope i never have that experience.(although I have not gone out in public yet) I know you were very embarrassed and humiliated.  That should not happen to anyone like that.

The UK is horrible with the way they treat trans people!  Im sorry that happened to you.

Can you find a civil right group willing to file a complaint on your behalf? There must be some violations in what they did (not offering a choice of an officer sex, searching your bag in your absence, not properly putting everything back, making you wait, shouting at you - whatever, some policy was ignored)...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry that you had such a traumatic experience.

The agent performing the pat-down is suppose to be the same gender as your presentation (I don't believe there is a "choice"), and if there is any confusion on your presentation they are suppose to ask you discreetly.   Unfortunately the software in the scanners is written to show anomalies compared to generic body images and we are in a grey area of that image.  I'm not sure there is anything that can be done to make this go smoother and still be safe.  There are so many combinations and permutations of trans people that the process would be more confusing if there was a "trans" button on the gender choice and "passing" people would still cause problems.  Never ideal, but my feeling is that we can either bypass the scanner and request a pat-down or take our chances with the scanner....what other choice is there?  Regardless, the agents should be professional and respectful.

That's terrible! My new passport arrived yesterday (yay),  but as I live in the UK this really puts me off ever traveling by air again.

Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

Quote from: Claire_Sydney on June 22, 2017, 09:48:53 AM
As I stepped out of the scanner, it buzzed and drew a big red 'alarm' circle over my genital area.  The lady repeatedly asked me what I was hiding under my clothes.  I kept telling her there was nothing. 

The correct answer to that question is "I am transgender", not "there is nothing."
They were assuming you to be a cis-female, who wouldn't have anything extra in their crotch area.
Yes they treated you horribly, but you needed to be upfront with them.
And NEVER argue with them. It will only escalate the problem.

Exactly, Karyn.We have to use common sense.

I present male and the airport scanners always pick up my breasts. I tell them I'm transgender and never had any real issues. I always get a pat down. I'm not bothered by it, but as far as I recall they usually offer to get a women to do it. I've seen them a bit taken aback and feel awkward a few times, but mostly they just seem busy.

Its not worth making a fuss at the airport. They have all the power and can make life very difficult for you, and there's almost nothing you can do about it. Its not fair, but such is life.

I won't travel or transit to a large number of countries anymore, but I never wanted to visit them before either so its no hardship.

I would not submit to that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Gertrude on June 22, 2017, 02:50:56 PM
I would not submit to that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds "heroic"...but you have absolutely zero choice in the matter unless you wish to not travel.... and if you've put up some stink to that point you probably wouldn't even have that as an easy out option.

Quote from: Gertrude on June 22, 2017, 02:50:56 PM
I would not submit to that

You'll get arrested and it will only get worse. You may have difficulty traveling after that.

There's not much that would get me to travel in the States these days.  Maybe a family member on life support in a hospital. 

If that were to happen, because I present female, the security agents will press the pink button and the machine will flag my genitals as an anomaly.  No big deal.  I'll just tell them I am trans, that it has flagged my male plumbing, and that I'd prefer to be patted down by a female agent.

Yes, it's a bit embarrassing, having to out myself, but it's not like I am stealth.  I am sure most people can tell I'm trans without the machine.  Cooperating with the system is the least painful approach.

I guess when traveling in male mode, security screeners should be aware of Gynecomastia. Still may mean a pad down.

The bigger issue is that not all countries use the same rules and standards than the US TSA does. I have traveled a lot in and through Europe and in some countries the security checks are more thorough than what we are used in the US. Also they may not have the same policies and procedures. And there are no programs like TSA Pre or even Clear. (at least TSA Pre is something I would recommend for travel in the US. No guarantee, but it does cut down on a lot of the trouble).

Internationally will be interesting. I have my first big international trip coming in August since I am on HRT. Had to re-plan since I do not want a Doha layover. Now it is a Paris layover. Will be interesting..

The very unfortunate issue is that they have all the power. Resisting or fighting them will just make your live complicated in the long run. It is embarrassing and often hurtful to us. The only hope is that with greater acceptance and knowledge thing may change in the far future.

Quote from: Claire_Sydney on June 22, 2017, 09:48:53 AM
Well, I guess I knew it was going to happen sometime... unfortunately, it finally did happen last week.

I was passing through security at the departure gates at London Heathrow Terminal 5. I was wearing a knee length dress and calf boots, having come straight from a business meeting.

Security had shut off the arch-type metal detectors and were using full body scanners only.  The scanners always make me nervous because of all the trans horror stories, but I've been through a dozen or so without any issue.  I was confident it would be ok, but actually I was about to experience one of those horror stories first hand.

As I stepped out of the scanner, it buzzed and drew a big red 'alarm' circle over my genital area.  The lady repeatedly asked me what I was hiding under my clothes.  I kept telling her there was nothing.  Two more security staff turned up.  They confiscated my belongings and escorted me away to the other end of the terminal building where I was made to wait 20 minutes.  I was separated from my passport, my phone, and even my shoes.

More people turned up and I was asked to remove my clothes, made to spread my legs, and had to submit to a security guard touching my genitals.  I wasn't offered any preference for the gender of the guard performing the search.

I gave them fairly blunt feedback about the need to fix the deficiencies in their scanner so it can tell the difference between a human body and a security threat.  I told them it's humiliating, undignified, and only about one step away from a mandatory sexual assault.  It's not like there is anything the passenger can do to avoid, prevent or fix the issue. 

They didn't appreciate the feedback and reacted quite badly.  We got in a heated argument.  After about ten minutes arguing, suddenly one of the guards just came around and said 'I can see your point.'  I tried to help her understand how the process unfairly targets transgender people for invasive searches, and how that puts us in a position of being highly vulnerable.  I asked her to put herself in my shoes. I think she finally got it.

We walked all the way back to the security station, where another guard had searched all my carry-on luggage in my absence (great). Apparently Heathrow has a requirement that if you set off the alarm on the scanner, they must manually search all of your bags... thanks BSA.  I put all my belonging, clothes, toiletries and underwear back in my bag and left.

I went to the lounge and cried my eyes out.  Then I rang my friend back home in Australia (where it was 3am) and cried some more over the phone.

Someone needs to fix these machines.

I read through your posts, you have recurring problems with the  TSA. I  hope you get it worked out.

Hugs, Devlyn

There is something in me which makes me chuckle. They now have to touch your genitals with the back of their hand. Little bit of payback.

Quote from: KathyLauren on June 22, 2017, 03:13:45 PM
I'll just tell them I am trans, that it has flagged my male plumbing, and that I'd prefer to be patted down by a female agent.

Quote from: KarynMcD on June 22, 2017, 01:04:15 PM
The correct answer to that question is "I am transgender", not "there is nothing."
They were assuming you to be a cis-female, who wouldn't have anything extra in their crotch area.
Yes they treated you horribly, but you needed to be upfront with them.
And NEVER argue with them. It will only escalate the problem.

+1  I've travelled the world and found Heathrow to particularly civilized. You asked to be singled out.

In the US - although the US TSA had several negative incidents with gender identity in the past, more recently I think they have made great improvements on this topic.  Last month at SeaTac airport I was pleasantly surprised to notice a visibly MTF transgender TSA employee working in the security line next to mine.

Quote from: KarynMcD on June 22, 2017, 01:04:15 PM
The correct answer to that question is "I am transgender", not "there is nothing." ...you needed to be upfront with them.
And NEVER argue with them. It will only escalate the problem.

Actually no, Karyn.

1.  I pass and I believe the officer understood me to be a cisgender female.  Regardless, officers should be trained to be aware that transgender people exist and that they should avoid making cisnormative assumptions about the bodies of passengers. There is no onus or obligation on anyone to discuss details about their genital shape or transgender status with strangers in a crowded public area.  I choose not to discuss my genitals in front of crowds of people anymore.

2.  It would have made no difference.  The TSA are required to search an area that triggers an alarm.  You can't talk your way out of a physical search by giving an explanation for the alarm.  The whole of a person's body must be cleared, either by machine or by physical search.  It would not have made any difference if I had disclosed in front of everyone.

3.  I disclosed my transgender status immediately upon entering the privacy of an empty room, before the physical search commenced.

4.  You might not be bothered by having to submit to strangers touching your genitals.  I am. You might be happy to live with a deficient process that unnecessarily targets transgender passengers for invasive searches.  I am not.  The machine needs to be fixed so that it can identify the difference between a human body and a foreign object.  TSA officers should treat all passengers with dignity and respect.  I was respectful and complied with all of their instructions.  I was also mindful not to argue until the TSA officers had completed their search.  But there is still a basic problem with the process that singles out trans passengers.   That issue needs addressing and there are times when (respectful) arguing is necessary to preserve our basic rights and bodily autonomy.

Your post reads a little bit like hegemonic victim blaming.  As if all TSA officers are lovely people and everyone should be delighted with the process.