Source
r/asktransgender•
TGDev

How do we force the TSA to become transgender sensitive and train their employees? Super bad experience today.

I know encounters with the TSA can be really traumatic and humiliating for transgender individuals because of the fact that TSA Policy and training gives them no tools to work with persons who are not cis and part of the binary.

I am about 4 months into my transition and hrt, on a work trip. I actually considered traveling home as myself but I didn't want a big event at TSA so I am in boy mode. But due to breast growth and nipple sensitivity I have to wear a simple no wire bra that keeps things compressed and smooth so Its not obvious through my t-shirt and uncomfortable. I've done this before without issue, some of my day bras have clasps some dont. I didn't think it would be and kind of issue as I've traveled like this before.

But today the scanning machine flagged my back where the bra clasp is. The agent felt my back and was obviously very confused and perhaps weirded out. He asked what I had under my shirt and I calmly in quiet voice explained I was wearing a bra. Not embarrassed about the truth just didn't want a scene. He said he doesn't know how to handle this and turns, then at the top of his lungs shouts across the security area to his supervisor, "Hey this guy is wearing a bra! What should I do?!"

So I'm now a celebrity and every single eye is on me. Some look confused, some make mean or gross faces, most look sympathetic at my being humiliated. I managed to stand there eyes forward and just waited. A TSA officer came over and qietly asked me to come with her to the private screening room, then left me with another TSA agent who couldn't have been older than 19.

They patted my chest down with no consideration or tact. At least they used the back of their hands and didn't grope my breasts but this should have been a female officer.

Anyways I just want to know what can be done to fix this. We shouldn't have to be terrified of what kind of humilation we will be put through every time we go through security. It's cruel and in this day and age there should be no excuse.

Posted Jul 27, 2018, 6:56 PM UTC

37293
carjansen•

What a tactless dick. Sorry you had to go through that op.

I’ve heard that TSA agents have mandatory (probably very limited) training with trans issues so they at least know what trans means, and that you can tell them before going through the machine you’re transgender. Then, the idea is that any masses unexpected for your gender that show up (binders, packers, genitals, bras in your case) aren’t a huge surprise for TSA and they can hopefully handle it quickly and tactfully. I guess it depends on the agent though... your guy clearly handled it like an idiot. Also they are supposed to ask which gender you would prefer to pat you down if you are trans. I’m partially transitioned and pretty androgynous, and they’ve always asked me.

I live in CA, so maybe this training only exists here? Idk. In any case, training definitely needs to be more effective at preventing scenes like you described. Horrible.

162
TGDevOPMTF/39/HRT April '18•

This was in the San Francisco international airport. Of all fucking airports you think this one would be equipped to not pull this kind of shit on people.

80
JopedTransgender-Pansexual MTF - HRT 2015-09-24•

TSA at SFO did the same the, yelled louldy that there is a female with an anomaly in their crotch.

Loudly asked me what it was and when I answered they made me repeat louder it was penis.

50
TGDevOPMTF/39/HRT April '18•

Someone else mentioned that SFO is actually a private contractor and not actual TSA which means they are not subject to the same training. Could be why they seem so incompetent compared to other airports.

23
JopedTransgender-Pansexual MTF - HRT 2015-09-24•

Ah interesting, this could make a lot of sense. But I question why isn't a private contractor held to the same level of training. I believe all TSA employees or contractors should go through the exact same training and held to the same levels of expected respect for passengers.

2
apt-install-emmaRachel actually•

The security at SFO is actually private contractors, run by a company called CAS.

10
nb-x•

Usually they're ok at SFO, but I have had one problem going through there too. I don't think some of the lower level employees have had any training at all tbh, the supervisor was cool tho.

6
PsiahTransbian | 27 | USA | HRT 19 Aug 2017•

All you can really do is file a complaint with the TSA, talk to a lawyer about your options to sue, or raise hell about it on social media. That last one doesn't sound like it's that effective, considering transphobia in our country, but it got that pharmacist in Arizona fired.

96
Goyimsgrrrll•

abolish tsa because they literally don't do anything

67
Rakonas•

Yeah there's no way to actually make an inherently shitty and invasive organization like the TSA be good. It's like "how do we make shit smell good?"

32
Goyimsgrrrll•

And even by their own tests they're ridiculously ineffective lol

24
YourLocalTransGirl•

The TSA does not evaluate itself at all - the 'Red Team' tests are conducted by DoHS. If the TSA tested their own operators, you can be sure they'd claim a trumpian 110% success rate, not the 5% they actually achieve.

28
limbo_451•

TSA is a jobs program

16
NagekiGirl•

I'd rather have the type of people who work for them just be on a universal basic income than wasting people's time.

32
estraced•

Absolutely. It's a federal funded job program created to put more workers on the government's payroll.

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

10
abhikavi•

I brought home some VHS home video tapes from my grandma's last year-- boy, the TSA did not like that. They tested them for bomb residue and everything.

I think the funniest though was when they tore my whole bag apart in Orlando because "something looks like Disney pins". Guess what, they were Disney pins. Still not sure why they were so concerned about that one.

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

3
DJWalnut21 MtF - HRT 1/5/18•

because and I quote: Books set off their scanners.

literally Fahrenheit 451 shit here.

also, I intentionally delayed starting HRT by a month because I was going to be flying

2
sapphires_and_snarkreprobate•

My hairdresser actually is a TSA agent and she is always talking up how important what she does is. It really takes everything I have to not say, "Yeah, you're security theater. You guys don't actually do jack shit."

6
fierren25 FtM | HRT: 3/13/18 | Top: 7/19/18•

File a complaint, this is bullshit. In the future you might look into opting out of the scanner. I travel with a service dog so I'm not sure how you would opt out as a non-disabled passenger, but my service dog and I go through the metal detector. They do a quick swipe down of my hands for explosive residue and that's it.

64
khayriyah_a•

Anyone can opt out of the scanner according to TSA policy but that means that you have to go through secondary screening (meaning pat downs). There's also the option of going through one of their security programs like TSA precheck if you have the funds to do so.

21
fierren25 FtM | HRT: 3/13/18 | Top: 7/19/18•

I think there is a way to opt for the x-ray instead of the scanner.

I’ve been through the pat downs and they’re usually super quick and not invasive at all. They’ve checked my waist band. Up and down my sides. Up and down my legs (not even close to my crotch) and that’s it. And you can request a male or female officer. I always requested males even when I was not passing as male at all.

14
JamieJewelsTransgender-Bisexual•

TSA pre-check gets you out of the scanner.

Consider that (or global entry if you plan on any international travel ever as it comes with TSA Pre-check

11
fierren25 FtM | HRT: 3/13/18 | Top: 7/19/18•

I have a service dog so it’s a moot point. I actually have my global entry interview tomorrow.

3
unique-eggbeaterNB, T 7/16, top 6/18•

This is a side-note to this conversation, but they will also do this if you're physically unable to raise your hands in the scanner... for example if you just had chest surgery. On my way back from top surgery I said I was opting out and almost got patted down and was really nervous because I had dressings under my shirt and didn't want to explain them, but when I said it was because I couldn't raise my arms they just sent me through the metal detector and swabbed my hands.

6
ZonaDudeMale. AFAB. Straight. 1/4 century on T•

Sorry for your experience. I would highly encourage you to not stay silent about it. Things don’t change unless people speak up. Scroll down to “What can I do about discrimination at the airport” as well as review your rights for future travel:

https://transequality.org/know-your-rights/airport-security

If you travel with any frequency consider getting TSA Pre-Check (or Global Priority which includes TSA Pre-Check) if you travel outside the US:

https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

37
klop20130 something | MtF | HRT 7/2017•

I couldn’t agree with this more, both reporting it and PreCheck...for domestic travel this means most airports you only go through a metal detector (I say most but honesty I’ve never encountered any that didn’t AND you usually get a dedicated line).

Honestly, some of the best money I’ve ever spent.

15
ZonaDudeMale. AFAB. Straight. 1/4 century on T•

Frequent traveler here. Pro tip when processing through Pre-Check: do not get behind a child. Apparently they have to do some kind of reset and will direct the next adult passenger to the bodyscanner (or patdown). I was thrown off the first time this happened. Agent whispered don’t get behind a child next time. Haven’t since.

8
translucent_MTF | HRT 8.21.2018•

Huh? You're claiming that you had precheck but they sent you through the body scanner because you followed a child? I'm almost positive that isn't the case. The metal detector does beep randomly sometimes to send precheck people through the scanner.

Source: I travel a ton with my kids through precheck and everyone behind us continues to move smoothly through the metal detector.

4
transandpans19 | T 8/17/17 | Top surgery 7/20/18•

I'm very sorry this happened to you. Others have addressed what you can do to hold TSA responsible, so my comment will be more focused on helping you avoid future issues since, sadly, it's unlikely that TSA will improve on this anytime soon.

  1. If you're in boymode, avoid wearing bras with clasps through the body scanners. I've been flagged for that before too. Thankfully the guy who felt my back and asked what it was let me go after I told him I was wearing a bra (he was too stunned to do anything else lol), but in your case it unfortunately didn't go as well.

  2. If you can, get TSA pre-check. IIRC, it's $80 and it lasts 5 years. I have flown with and without pre-check, and it's really worth it if you have the cash. It doesn't come with any guarantees, but generally it means that you go through a metal detector rather than the body scanners. The lines are also much shorter, both because most people don't have pre-check and because pre-check security is less extensive and takes less time. For me, it's meant that security takes me 30 minutes tops, even if they flag my carry-on and personal item. As long as they have the pre-check lines open (occasionally they don't), this is an option that would likely work well for you. It's far less intrusive and it takes way less time than regular security.

  3. If you can't get pre-check for whatever reason, you can opt for a patdown instead of the body scanners. I personally haven't done this, but I've heard that it tends to be less humiliating than the scanners, and you can ask to be patted down in private as well.

Hopefully you don't run into any more trouble with TSA. I haven't personally had too many issues with them, but I know how aggravating they can be.

20
TGDevOPMTF/39/HRT April '18•

This is a great response. Thank you. I think pressure and awareness needs to be plied to the TSA but these answers are super helpful for the meantime. <3

6
Elaine1328824 MTF | HRT 14AUG2017•

Just one thing of note OP, be aware that according to the TSAs policy, the agent that does the pat down is to match your gender based on presentation, not necessarily your preference. Though you can tell them your preference. But if you're traveling in boymode, they will most likely assume it should be a male patting you down, you'd have to request a female.

" the pat-down must be performed by an officer of the same gender as the traveler. This is based on your gender presentation."

3
TGDevOPMTF/39/HRT April '18•

After reviewing their policies this does seem to be the case. Seems like going through TSA it's bets to go all or nothing In regards to presentation. They don't seem to know how to deal with things in between

3
transandpans19 | T 8/17/17 | Top surgery 7/20/18•

No problem! I hope they can make security go smoother in the future

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2
transandpans19 | T 8/17/17 | Top surgery 7/20/18•

Yikes, I wasn't aware of that. Seems odd that they'd be allowed to do that since a patdown is arguably more accurate.

1
Em-lynButterfly girl with a cinnamon swirl! HRT 7/7/17•

I remember reading a post on another website with images from the body scans: they’re horrifyingly high resolution. You can see everything, as if you were standing nude.

It’s a little disturbing.

Here: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-photograph-of-government-corruption/answer/Joseph-Wajrowski?share=5e15fdd3&srid=iu6y

So... yeah. Virtual strip searching.

5
transandpans19 | T 8/17/17 | Top surgery 7/20/18•

Yeah, that's definitely disturbing. I'm glad I don't have to go through those with pre-check now. What I don't get is why they flag stuff like bra clasps if their scans are that accurate. The scanners ought to be able to distinguish between something that common and predictable and an actual "anomaly."

5
Hazlrh1Jessica 40 Mtf HRT 6/12/18•

Fuck. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. 😡

18
MizDianaMtF - HRT April 2017•

Answer to title question:

Step 1: Elect a Democratic administration.

Step 2: Put a spotlight on & shame Democratic administrators of the TSA.

Number 1 is very likely not sufficient without the additional prod to action. Number 2 won't work on non-Democrats, as they will take their bigotry as a sign of pride and perhaps increase mistreatment.

TSA policy does give a person the right to select what gender gropes them, regardless of what gender the TSA thinks they are. I don't know how well the TSA actually sticks to policy. Probably not well, judging by how they do everything.

18
roccostella•

I had a horrible experience once. (I’m mtf and i have breasts but I’m pre op) i wore a bra because I kinda have to at this point. I had a face full of makeup and my junk was so flattened I thought I would pass. I went through the scanner and the TSA agent operating it said I set something off. She asked a coworker to come and said “I need you to pat this dude down” and I was so upset and confused that I looked at her and went “I’m not a dude. Please use she/her pronouns”

She didn’t like my response and continued using he/him. The guy cams over and and I could tell he was kinda confused. He told me he was gonna pat around my crotch and thighs. I immediately mentioned I’d be more comfortable with a woman patting me down and he just kinda looked at me with a smirk and said it should only take a second and I’d be on my way to my flight.... they seemed to intentionally ignore everything I told them.

It took all my energy to resist breaking down. I was so upset I called my best friend to rant about it.

6
transmorgrifierM2F / Love is my Superpower•

Report them.

3
[deleted]•

Oh hey! I can speak up on this!

I currently work for a company who creates training course ware for various government agencies. Our current client is in fact the TSA, and we just did a Transgender Awareness course for them recently. In fact, I was asked to be part of this project, since I am out to my workplace as being trans.

Anywho, the course ware is meant for the TSA agents so that they are (hopefully) more aware of how to correctly treat us. I looked over the course, and I can say that it's a major improvement. The course encourages correct use of pronouns, don't assume, don't make a scene, and especially how to handle us during scans. Overall, it's awareness, and it's the good kind of awareness.

I can't say for sure if this new training has been introduced to the TSA agents yet or not, but I was pretty happy that progress was happening. Let's hope that they receive it well, and practice what they are trained on. I know people hate the TSA, and it's understandable, but it's because previously there was lack of proper training, and I was glad I was given the opportunity to help raise awareness. I hope that it works and they practice what they were taught in full effect, because we all deserve respect and for people to know why things like shouting what that agent shouted is NOT ok. That agent probably did that because he simply did not know how to handle that situation, and the training course we created aims to rectify situations just like that.

So, we don't need to force them - our company is already on top of it, and the TSA is already aware that this needs to be fixed, which is why they asked our company to help create the necessary training for them.

17
Murasaki42•

Need more than training. Need new procedures and/or better software for the machine . I am more or less stealth mtf. I travel a lot for work and generally use precheck but every single time I get scanned I just immediately tell them I am trans because the machine flags the hell out of my groin. I do the public patdown to save time, but I am tired of feeling the back of peoples hands on my junk.

7
TGDevOPMTF/39/HRT April '18•

This is awesome to hear. I hope it gets implemented but change is slow nd painful.

6
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
EducatedRat•

I totally get this. I traveled for work, and am a transgender man, that had not had top surgery. This scan's flag anyone that is male looking with boobs. Every fucking time.

In SeaTac I had a guy ask me what it was, and I said I had boobs. Then he said I'd have to be patted down, and what gender was I. I handed him my CAC and my Passport and said male, and that a man should be the one to pat me down.

That was not the answer he was hoping for. He was barely into his 20s, and obviously freaked out. He literally shook when he patted me down, right there in line.

I told him, "Don't worry, we will get through this together." and his coworker started cracking up.

I don't think there is much to do about it, but being blunt and unashamed sure seems to help. I had a friend that packed dildo's into her luggage because she kept getting pulled for a search. She packed the biggest dildos she could find, and then would tell the agents matter of factly they were butt plugs for anal sex, or double headed dildos for double the pleasure. Nothing inappropriate. She said the searches really shortened up after that.

I didn't stop getting frisked and searched until I had top surgery.

13
Murasaki42•

Yeah I travel a lot and the military ID and bluntness helps a lot, but still get the groin patdown because I am mtf and women penises are apperently potential weapons.

6
DJWalnut21 MtF - HRT 1/5/18•

and women penises are apperently potential weapons.

cis men literally believe this

5
EducatedRat•

Omg! They found out last penises and boy boobs combust at altitude! They’ve found out our secret transgender powers!

2
MyTransAccountv140s | MTF | HRT 10/2017•

You can't force the TSA to do anything.

They're useless mall cops that exist purely as a jobs program for people that can't work anywhere else.

What happened to you can/does happen to everyone (cis/trans/young/old) and won't stop until people demand that they go away and a return to actual security occur.

Sorry you went through it, but seriously... fuck the TSA.

11
FinneganOFayTransmasc NB | mid-30s | T: 4/25/18•

I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you. Others have already given some great advice, but I wanted to add that you can print out a copy of the TSA disability notification card and write "transgender" and any additional information that you might want to communicate to the agents without anyone being able to overhear on it. That said, if you come across someone as tactless as the agent you saw earlier, I don't know that this would help. Filing a complaint might though.

7
WannabeTransgender•

God, I'm sorry. I had something similar happen when I was traveling to DK a year ago; my bra got flagged twice, once on my way out and once on my way back. The first time was super embarrassing; I got a pat-down, and was laughed at by some old woman watching. :P The second time was better, though- the security guard was confused about the bra, but sent me on my way without issue.

I don't have any solutions; it sucks, a lot, but I'm not sure what can be done beyond education and advocation.

6
Julie-h•

Sorry you had to go through that.

5
ChlorafloraLawd help me•

Ugh I’m sorry you went through this crap :(

I’m going abroad in two weeks and, as overtly feminine as I am, I’m expecting to have a hard time because I haven’t legally changed my name or had surgery yet.

4
SillySnowFoxMtF 33 Kyra•

This is one of the many reasons I don't fly.

4
sierra606•

How do we force the TSA to become transgender sensitive and train their employees?

The TSA is an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security, which is a cabinet department whose senior leadership is appointed directly by the White House. So from a practical/realistic perspective, I doubt there is much that can be done for now, given the current state of affairs in the Oval Office. Sorry.

As others have said though, you can reduce the probability of this happening in the future by signing up for TSA Pre-Check. But again, trying to change policy at any cabinet department to be more trans-friendly is going to be an uphill battle for a while.

4
lisa-hardt•

This is terrible! Something needs to be dons...dang last week I was flying and thinking of wearing a tube top....glad I didn’t

I am so sorry you had to go through that!

Try to enjoy your weekend!

Lisa

3
SophieCalleSophie, Life is cray, HRT 5/10/16, USA,•

In general, with all things being trans, just OWN your own circumstance.

The body scanners have a choice of M or F. They eyeball it. If you have M with breasts, it will fail. If you have F with external genitals, it will fail.

So, just own being trans when you walk out. Say "yes, you're going to find an anomaly. It's one of those things (nod nod - and calmly repeat it until they get it - that way the word doesn't need to be uttered). Just go ahead and wand me" (with your hands up showing total cooperation).

They then do that without embarassment.

If they bring it up, say it's a "compression top" for gynecomastia.

All corners covered, done.

And btw, if you have breasts showing now, know the problem won't go away until you fully present and tuck well.

So, plan accordingly.

The system won't fix itself. Trump and the TSA are doing their best to not let us even fly. Don't expect it to.

Adapting is all we have got.

3
palmbranch•

So I’ve been on E for 7 months so that means boobs, went through tsa, the guy asked me if I had a necklace and when I said no patted me down without asking me anything and he was like feeling me up I was SUPER freaked out and almost started crying after.

3