TSA: Transphobic (in)Secure A**holes
Traveling is stressful for everyone, especially when it’s time to go through airport security. People of color, those who speak English as a second language, the elderly, and trans folks are groups of travelers that often face different struggles when interacting with TSA agents than their white, cis, and straight counterparts. Not only are these encounters more frequent and unique, they have higher risk factors and more severe consequences when things don’t run smoothly.
If you aren’t deemed “normal” by the individual TSA agent supervising your line or X-ray station, you may not be able to get on your flight; you may be detained, harassed, and assaulted.
In September 2015, Shadi Petosky faced all of these monstrosities, and recorded her experience on her twitter account. Hida Viloria, a writer and intersex activist, also had a traumatizing experience in 2017. Apparently, little progress has been made regarding the lack of respect, and courtesy displayed by TSA agents.
#NotAllTSA
The Transportation Security Administration is but another example of a federal institution abusing their power, and causing more harm than good. It’s true that not all TSA agents fall under this description, but that doesn’t make the TSA as an agency or going through security at an airport any better. In fact, these “good” TSA agents are the epitome of “apathetic Americans.”
In this setting, the severe concentration of multitudes of microaggressions, coupled with a powerful position, do not yield a positive result.
Symptoms of a Larger Problem
Overcoming an obstacle is always easier when it is broken down into smaller pieces. By addressing individual factors that create the problematic TSA that we have today, we become one step closer to finding a solution. Three key features that intersect with one another can be identified not only in the TSA, but also federal institutions like the police, armed forces, and even corporations.
- Toxic Masculinity
- Insecurity
- Greed
Toxic Masculinity — the Root of Many Problems
According to Huffington Post, “Toxic masculinity is built on two fundamental pillars: sexual conquest and violence.” When pat downs turn into groping, and escorting passengers becomes shoving, pushing, and literally dragging individuals, it becomes clear that the TSA stands firmly on both of these pillars.
Once introduced to this level of power, it’s easy for it to get to one’s head. The National Center for Transgender Equality strongly encourages avoiding confrontations with TSA personnel if at all possible. Like a hard drug, just a taste can leave you craving more. Not only is this problematic, but it can easily become deadly with the simple addition of a baton.
Like a bully finding out their victim won’t be pushed around anymore, TSA agents and police officers feel scared and insecure when they are called out for their behavior. Their power is being threatened. These are the moments that we watch on the news and read about online. These are the moments when innocent people die.
Our Existence is Resistance
It may look like our future is bleak. We are living in dangerous times. Many do not “understand” our community, and with ignorance comes fear — a high-risk emotion, especially when coupled with access to weapons.
It is important to remember that not all violence is created with guns; never has the pen been mightier than the sword than when it is creating legislation.
However, we are not paralyzed; we can remind our senators and representatives of their true employers: their constituents.
Click here to find your senator and representative and how to contact them.
Now more than ever we need to unite as a community. We need to remember that we are magical. We are beautiful. We are a strong, resilient, and courageous community, and we will not let these transphobic, insecure assholes keep us from getting on our flight!
Resources
For a PDF of The National Center for Transgender Equality’s Guide to Airport Security and Rights of Trans People, click here.
If you have been mistreated, or had an unsatisfactory experience with TSA personnel, click here for information on how to file a complaint.
If you have access to a smartphone, consider downloading the app FlyRights. It provides a way to immediately file a report of an incident of discrimination with TSA and DHS when it occurs. Click here for more information. It is available for both iPhones and Android smartphones.
Originally published at TravelPRIDE.
