Comments on: New Resource: Preparing for Airport Security

By: What Is Security

What Is Security — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:32:12 +0000

Yes! Finally someone writes about security.

By: DeeInGeorgia

DeeInGeorgia — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:58:36 +0000

TSA still has a problem with their instructions where they speak about gender on your identification. The State of Georgia puts your sex on the driver’s license, not gender. I called the TSA to verify gender vs. sex and they said gender. So I use my gender, not my sex. They may complain some time, but so far, no problems. It also works because my DL has a picture of my gender presentation which does not match my sex. I do travel as my sex and other times as my gender.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:29:36 +0000

I can relate to both sides of this, from being in the no docs mode and having my baggage gone through and also having been patted down as they asked “what is this a holster ?” and of course laughing I said yes for my twins . I was wearing sports bra’s bras to compact things in my male mode . So the next time I flew , a tad nervous , but my documentation in gender was correct , I was more transitioned and dressed female as I should e , nothing happened , total respect and dignity . Honestly I feel that halfway part is what got me into trouble . Living in my correct gender was not an issue .
Sometimes we can also attract the attention of a trained observer , in just the fact we are nervous. Hold your head high , be who you are in confidence and let the cards fall where they may. If you have done nothing wrong , nothing will wrong you .

By: Katie Thomas

Katie Thomas — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:10:35 +0000

Really, do you think I’m speaking in generalities? I talked anout my own specific experiences and I’m NOT about hiding my identity. I am an out and proud Transwoman. I can’t be more clear than that.
I have spoken to over 300 College classes about life as an out Transwoman. There are no ‘generalities’ when you are in front of forty to fifty curious college kids.’ The point that I was trying to make is that when someone else is making the rules, (TSA) if you want to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ you follow the rules. Our strength is in ‘following the rules’ and not ’tilting at every windmill’
in our path.What I am is a Transwoman, what I am not, is a victim!
I refuse to subscribe to this culture of victimhood that is so prevelant in our community.

By: epochryphal

epochryphal — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:36:46 +0000

@Katie,
Speak for yourself, not in generalities. Me, I’ll do what I have to for my own safety, and for my own mental health, but pretending to be a binary gender when I’m not is in fact against my principles, is painful, and chips away at my identity. It implies it isn’t valid, isn’t worth being recognized, isn’t worth the trouble (disrupts a “relatively peaceful existence”) — and this is really hard not to internalize and be weighed down by, especially when this happens in transgender spaces. Transnormativity and assimiliationism leaves a lot of people behind.

@Harper Jean Tobin, thank you for the advice. Depending on how anxious/confident I’m feeling, I’d like to try stating my actual gender identity (neutrois) and my preference of TSA agent, but I definitely realize that’s risky and could lead to delays and other issues. Otherwise, it’s a choice between dysphoria over assigned gender, or total weirdness and uncertainty over being treated as a gender I’ve zero experience with; not really sure, personally, which I’d choose.

By: Katie Thomas

Katie Thomas — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:49:23 +0000

Unfortunately, we all live in a binary world. Trans folks are just a sliver of the entire populace so if we want to live a relatively peaceful existence we must conform to some degree; Ie: go along to get along. It’s not what we want but we can bend a little without giving up our principles and identity.

By: Harper Jean Tobin

Harper Jean Tobin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:46:23 +0000

Unfortunately, TSA still lives in a binary world. If a TSO is unsure and asks about your gender, or if they try to assign someone of a gender you’re not comfortable with doing a pat-down on you, our best advice is to assert the binary identity you’re most comfortable being treated as for purposes of that interaction. We know it’s a really imperfect solution, but for now, with TSA, that’s the best advice we know to give.

By: epochryphal

epochryphal — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:28:29 +0000

If you’re non-binary and presenting as such, do you get to choose which binary gender of TSA agent does your pat-down? I don’t suppose they have non-binary TSA agents, so.