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Dec. 13th, 2011
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Dec. 13th, 2011 06:11 pmSomething I wanted to post about, but didn't want to do it right away....
...so on my way back to Seattle, I was asked to go through an airport body scanner. I knew this would happen eventually given how often I fly, and I've always regretted it. There's not only the 4th Amendment violations I feel we go through just to fly, but also the leaked photographs from the body scanner. There are also a lot of horror stories out there.
My biggest fear is that a picture through the scanner will be shared around the water cooler as I'm trans and haven't had my SRS surgery yet. So I opted out of the scanner.
The TSA agent looked at me funny, and asked almsot jokingly "You wanna opt out?" and I saids politely, "Yes, please." He had a jokingly-friendly demeanor when he said it, and when I replied, it almost turned to one of concern, from what I could read. More of a "was it something I said?" look. "Just one moment." He called over another TSA agent who came to me and again asked "You want to opt out of the body scanner?"
"Yes."
"You understand that this includes a pat down search, yes?" Again, her response was more concern, versus orders or sneering, or bullying.
"Yes, I do."
She nodded and turned to another TSA agent "Can I get a female agent, please?"
I've read horror stories about how the body searches groped sensitive areas, and concerned that they might have thought I was an biological female before checking my crotch, I did tell her I was trans. "Did you want a male agent, then?"
"It doesn't matter to me, really. I just wanted you to know for your search."
Again, she nodded. The last agent asked me (very politely) to gather my stuff from the x-ray machine and put it aside, which I did. She went over exactly what she was going to search before she did it, and again, made sure I knew and understood where she would be touching. I was only going to be searched from the waist down (to check if I was hiding anything under my skirt), and would amount ot a pat down of my legs, and butt.
She asked me to put one leg forward, then the other, and repeat, for a total of four swipes. She then thanked me, and told me to continue to my gate.
I'm totally TOTALLY not a fan of the 4th Amendment violations the TSA represent. I find the organization reprehensible and "Security theater." But I specifically wanted to get this out there, so people realized that while what TSA is wrong is wrong, not every TSA agent is a monster. The whole process took three minutes, I was treated with resect the entire time, and warned in advance (repeatedly) of what was going to happen in a courteous respectful manner.
While I really wish to see TSA non-existant, I also wish that other TSA agents who DO make the news in horrible horrible ways were as courteous, respectful, and understanding as the ones at San Antonio International Airport.
...so on my way back to Seattle, I was asked to go through an airport body scanner. I knew this would happen eventually given how often I fly, and I've always regretted it. There's not only the 4th Amendment violations I feel we go through just to fly, but also the leaked photographs from the body scanner. There are also a lot of horror stories out there.
My biggest fear is that a picture through the scanner will be shared around the water cooler as I'm trans and haven't had my SRS surgery yet. So I opted out of the scanner.
The TSA agent looked at me funny, and asked almsot jokingly "You wanna opt out?" and I saids politely, "Yes, please." He had a jokingly-friendly demeanor when he said it, and when I replied, it almost turned to one of concern, from what I could read. More of a "was it something I said?" look. "Just one moment." He called over another TSA agent who came to me and again asked "You want to opt out of the body scanner?"
"Yes."
"You understand that this includes a pat down search, yes?" Again, her response was more concern, versus orders or sneering, or bullying.
"Yes, I do."
She nodded and turned to another TSA agent "Can I get a female agent, please?"
I've read horror stories about how the body searches groped sensitive areas, and concerned that they might have thought I was an biological female before checking my crotch, I did tell her I was trans. "Did you want a male agent, then?"
"It doesn't matter to me, really. I just wanted you to know for your search."
Again, she nodded. The last agent asked me (very politely) to gather my stuff from the x-ray machine and put it aside, which I did. She went over exactly what she was going to search before she did it, and again, made sure I knew and understood where she would be touching. I was only going to be searched from the waist down (to check if I was hiding anything under my skirt), and would amount ot a pat down of my legs, and butt.
She asked me to put one leg forward, then the other, and repeat, for a total of four swipes. She then thanked me, and told me to continue to my gate.
I'm totally TOTALLY not a fan of the 4th Amendment violations the TSA represent. I find the organization reprehensible and "Security theater." But I specifically wanted to get this out there, so people realized that while what TSA is wrong is wrong, not every TSA agent is a monster. The whole process took three minutes, I was treated with resect the entire time, and warned in advance (repeatedly) of what was going to happen in a courteous respectful manner.
While I really wish to see TSA non-existant, I also wish that other TSA agents who DO make the news in horrible horrible ways were as courteous, respectful, and understanding as the ones at San Antonio International Airport.