People Can't Get Enough Of This Facebook Post About A Trans Person's Positive TSA Experience
“It shows us all, those affected and those who can relate, that this is a sensitive issue that many don’t talk or speak out about.”
A Facebook post describing a surprisingly heartwarming interaction with a TSA agent at Connecticut's Bradley International airport has gone viral, proving not all airport experiences have to be horrible to be memorable.
Amanda Sapir, who identifies as gender-nonconforming and uses she/her pronouns, posted to Facebook on Saturday about receiving the "most socially conscious TSA pat-down ever."
Going through airport security can be stressful for everyone, but for trans or gender-nonconforming people going through the body scanner can prove to be an extra uncomfortable process. According to the TSA website, an agent must designate each traveler as male or female, enabling the machine's software to flag anyone who doesn't match up to the set outline of those two genders.
Sapir, whose ID lists her as female, told BuzzFeed News that usually when she goes through airport security the machine always flags her. "Fortunately, I have not had a traumatic or awful TSA experience like a lot of trans people have had. I've just had awkwardness," she said.
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"Happens every time," I say.
"Why do you think?" she says.
"Because I wear boxer briefs."
"Oh, what is the gender you would like to be identified as?"
"Well, I consider myself gender nonconforming. I am female and also trans masculine."
The TSA encourages trans travelers to purchase reservations with the same name and gender that appears on their government-issued ID, but for many trans people changing the gender that appears on their ID from the gender they were assigned at birth is a difficult process.
"Now the machine is wondering about..."
"Boobs," we say in unison laughing some more.
Lac then asked how Sapir would like to identify so she could conduct the proper pat-down. "You get to decide how you are identified," she said.