TSA recognizes the concerns members of the transgender community may have with undergoing the security screening process at our Nation’s airports and is committed to conducting screening in a dignified and respectful manner. These travel tips will explain the various screening processes and technologies travelers may encounter at security checkpoints.
From Preparing For Travel and The Screening Process through to Reporting Travel Issues Or Concerns, the TSA website has all the information you’ll need when travelling into and around the US.
I’ve flown many times since I transistioned in 1997, and have only ever had an issue once.
I was directed to a back scatter machine, which I opted out of. I was taken aside, and a female TSA agent told me I would be patted down, from the hips down. I mentioned to her I was transgender, which she then asked if I wanted a male officer. I told her, no, but that I wanted them to know before hand.
The pat down was just my legs, front and back. It wasn’t invasive at all, and I was told, at all times, what they were going to do before they did it.
I am NOT a fan of TSA at all, I find them to be a black mark on my 4th Amendment rights. But they treated me with respect and the delay was minimal. This will not be everyone’s story. But hopefully it will be the one that happens to anyone else who has to go through this.
Jenn Dolari
16 Mar 12 at 3:10 pm
my experiences have been quite different. i always opt-out. this has caused significant delays, and i very nearly missed a flight due to extended delay waiting for someone to come pat me down.
i have also had TSA agents argue with me to try to convince me to go through the machine. since their talking points are the same every time (they blame me for ‘choosing’ the delay and state it would’ve been faster to go through the machine; they insist the machines are safe and the images aren’t saved, etc etc) i assume they’re being trained to do this. i calmly explained that actually, the only truly non-coercive way to even attempt to protect my rights would be for the airport to staff enough agents to make opting-out as speedy as going through the machine. they didn’t like that very much.
the genitals-inclusive pat-downs are not acceptable, and i don’t believe any of this actually makes us safer. only more desensitized to violation of privacy. we’re getting way too comfortable with the idea of routine, invasive government surveillance…
MHS
3 Apr 12 at 7:30 am