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Trans woman live-tweets her airport agony after being told she has an ‘anomaly’
A trans woman has live-tweeted her agony in an airport after being told by TSA agents that she has an anomaly.
Shadi Petosky has flown a lot, but this was perhaps her worst experience ever when she was held up, locked up in a room without her consent, humiliated and ultimately forced to miss her flight.
I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an “anomaly” (my penis)
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I would like any help I can get at the Orlando airport. — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
The TSA at the Orlando Airport told me I couldn’t take photos but this is denigrating. I have missed my flight pic.twitter.com/PHwBLiJ0cB
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
The TSA has left me in a room alone. There is an officer holding the door. pic.twitter.com/aFA0cQxAGx — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
TSA agent Bramlet told me to get back in the machine as a man or it was going to be a problem.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I asked TSA agent Bramlet if he had any training in trans issues. He said “I know what I am doing” — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I fly all the time and this has never happened. I really thought the TSA was good about trans issues. I am so dumb.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
Cop asked me what sex I was. I told him I wasn’t going to answer that question. I am complying but come on. — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
They’re telling me they have to take my phone. I told them that I want to use this to keep a record of what is happening
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
A man a brown suit came and whispered to TSA agent Sean San Roman to make sure I am not taking photos or video. — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
There are now 2 police officers, 1 explosives specialist and four TSA agents. They’re taking my phone for screening
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I am through. It was about 40 minutes, 2 full body pat downs, fully disassembled luggage. I missed my flight. pic.twitter.com/wLTvP3md9W — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I don’t think my body is an anomaly. I like tons of people with my body. Can there be more buttons?
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
A TSA agent is telling me to leave the airport. I asked them to please call a supervisor, I just want to get to an American Airlines gate — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
Well shit. pic.twitter.com/XHnameY3Rc
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
They told me to get myself together, I am sobbing, not belligerent. — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
At American Airlines ticket counter trying to rebook. They say there are no more flights to Minneapolis today. I am asking for anywhere.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
American Airlines manager is telling me that “in the future ask for a private screening” — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I literally want to no lectures from American Airlines on how to travel while trans. I want the same privileges as cis people.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
After all of that, Shadi still needed to get out of Orlando. She went to the American Airlines desk, where she was told there was no flights out of there. Eventually, she was able to rebook onto another flight leaving out of Miami the next day.
A statement from the TSA reads: ‘Our officers are trained to properly screen members of the transgender community. TSA takes all potential civil rights violations very seriously and conducted a review of the incident.
‘After examining closed circuit TV video and other available information, TSA has determined that the evidence shows our officers followed TSA’s strict guidelines.
‘Supervisory personnel and a Passenger Support Specialist participated in the screening to ensure guidelines were met.’
This was enough to annoy Shadi even more.
Oh my god. The TSA manager told me that the officer was in the wrong and they’re still training new people. t.co/WUEM4nIVZl — Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 22, 2015
The TSA may think they are trained and following strict guidelines but if the guidelines include flagging my genitals, they need to change.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 22, 2015
Following Shadi’s ordeal, she urged others to follow other people sharing their experiences of being in airports. The #TravelingWhileTrans hashtag soon started to go viral, with many people sharing their stories of being confronted by security when their appearances did not match their legal documents.
According to the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 11% of trans people had been ‘denied equal treatment’ by airport staff or the TSA and 17% had been harassed or disrespected.
The post Trans woman live-tweets her airport agony after being told she has an ‘anomaly’ appeared first on Gay Star News.
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