Male Failing With Airport Security

[AmandaDanielle]

If it hadn't happened to me I wouldn't believe that it could, but that was the case today while flying home.

To say I travel a lot for work would be a gross understatement. This time I happened to be returning from a trip home to see my parents. This would be the first time my parent have ever seen me as Amanda (I'll leave that for another post!!)

The security line was stacked all the way back to the check in desks and it looked like we were going to stand in line for a while. Fortunately I am A-List so I was able to skip the line. I was in guy mode so I figured I shouldn't have any issue passing through security. I handed the TSA agent my ID and my boarding pass and he checked it off and cleared me to pass. Here's where it all gets interesting.  I stepped up to the scanner as usual and stepped inside. The machine scanned me and as I stepped outside I glanced at the screen. I could see the male outline with square markers indicating something dense on my chest as well as a box indicating my nether region. Nothing really out of the norm, as I have been blossoming in the chest area and this was not the first time I'd seen these indicators and have been patted down.

As I stepped forward to the receiving agent outside the scanner, she mutters something to the agent standing close by. "I really have now idea... I can't tell the difference either way", she said. I heard her clearly. She followed the first statement with, "I don't know what to do..."

I figured my watch was an issue as it always is and stretched out my wrists for her to examine. Just then she flagged me off and said those are fine and took a deep gulp. "I have to ask you a very unusual question and check you lower abdominal region." She stumbled for the words as she said... "are you mmmale... or..." I thought for certain I was made and would have to out myself. The agent behind interrupted her before she cpuld finish the sentence and flagged me back to the scanner. As i passed by i observed him hit a few buttons on the machine changing the outline to a female shape and had me step  back into the scanner. This time the only thing that showed up was my watch on my wrist! The screen lit pink anf they cleared me and I went on my way. They both apologized for inconvenience me.

I've heard horror stories of traveling as trans but never when you are presumed in guy mode. I have been male failing a lot lately and I am hoping this does not happen every time I travel now. I fear it is likely. I guess yet again my plans are thrown ahead faster than I wanted them to go.

Has anything like this happened to any of you?? How do you handle this without outing yourself. I lucked out this time and was not with colleagues. I may not be so lucky the next time.

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[JenniferLopezgomez]

Glad you handled it well honey. I am legally female on my USA Passport and Im full-time girl, so I have no issues whatsoever on various international flights recently within Europe, and from Spain to Morocco in the Arab world. I pass well and I was called ma'am all along the way in security lines and check-in lines at all airports. Feels great! xx

[DebbieA]

If you fly a lot I highly recommend getting global entry.  It is good for 5 years and you will always be TSA pre check.  I only go through metal detectors. Not scanners.  I am far from passing as female but I fill a 38b just fine.  I'm sure my chest would give the scanners a raised eyebrow or two.

[KarynMcD]

It is good for 5 years and you will always be TSA pre check.

Not exactly. Not every airline participates in PreCheck and it's not available at every airport.

[RobynD]

I travel a lot as well and up and until about the latter part of last year, i was getting the male profile button pushed on the scanner a lot because invariably a box would light up around my bra strap.

I typically do not dress ultra-femme to travel but casual (jeans, boots and t-shirt or button up shirt, with a leather jacket if it is cold) and definitely not male mode, also i have breasts and i didn't really hide the fact that i did. So it was all a bit perplexing to me.

It never caused much of an issue, usually the agent would be like..."what's back here?" and i would say..."I'm wearing a bra" to which they would say....ok have a nice day. One lady even said... "oh sorry dear, you have a really nice day " after a guy agent patted my back.

One guy responded one time "really?" (like no dude im kidding you its not a bra ). I started wearing brighter lipstick when i travel and a bit more makeup overall, as my hair has been growing out as well, this whole treatment has largely faded, but i suspect it will happen again some time.