Trans Woman Degraded and Humiliated by TSA Officials in Orlando Airport

A Transgender woman suffered degradation and humiliation at the hands of TSA officials in an Orlando airport on Tuesday after TSA officials flagged her for questioning because her genitals did not match the settings the TSA entered on the security scanner reports Vox.

Trans writer and producer Shadi Petosky documented her entire experience on Twitter, explaining that the TSA detained her after discovering an ‘anomaly' after she was scanned going through security, and the humiliation and degrading remarks she endured after she was detained by the TSA and police:

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/646053501055987713

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/646386315341234178

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/646058164996173825

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/646058899628519424

Petosky also says officials threatened to confiscate her phone as she was documenting her experience, telling her she wasn't allowed to record or take pictures. Petosky's phone was summarily confiscated and inspected by two police officers, an explosives specialist and four TSA agents. Petosky endured two full body pat downs and had her luggage fully sifted through by officials. Petosky attempted to re-book her flight with American Airlines, but endured more mistreatment from airport officials:

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/646073393700319232

Petosky noted that this is the first time she's been pulled aside while traveling. Petosky and her mother were visiting Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal to celebrate her mother's birthday and retirement; Petosky's mother took an earlier, separate flight home and was not present when Petosky was detained.

The New York Times reported that the TSA defended their agents' actions in their handling of Petosky with a spokesman noting that the agents acted accordingly with TSA guidelines. Petosky was placed on a standby flight to Miami, and finally boarded a flight to Minneapolis today without further issues.

https://twitter.com/shadipetosky/status/646627282669453312

The incident is troubling for trans people and advocates despite numbers showing more Americans personally know or are affiliated with someone who is transgender today than they did seven years ago.

(Photo via Instagram)