Transgender woman detained at Florida airport for scanning 'anomaly'
Shadi Petosky was returning from a vacation when she was stopped by the TSA
Shadi Petosky was heading homefrom a vacationin Orlando, Fla. Monday when she wasstopped at the airport, and thendetained by Transportation Security Administration agents because of an"anomaly" in her image on an X-raysecurityscanner.
Petosky is transgender, and describedthroughher Twitter account howTSA agents took her aside to a private room where they asked her about her genitals.
According to her account, she was on her way back to Minneapolis from a vacation to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parkin celebration ofher own birthdayand her mother's retirement.
I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an "anomaly" (my penis)
—@shadipetosky
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
—@shadipetosky
The TSA has left me in a room alone. There is an officer holding the door. pic.twitter.com/aFA0cQxAGx
—@shadipetosky
Afterwaiting alonein the private room,Petosky says thataTSA agent named "Bramlet"entered the room andaskedher to return to the scanning machine "as a man or it would be a problem."
TSA agent Bramlet told me to get back in the machine as a man or it was going to be a problem.
—@shadipetosky
Cop asked me what sex I was. I told him I wasn't going to answer that question. I am complying but come on.
—@shadipetosky
The scanner currently used in U.S. airports doesn't show details on a person's body it only highlights possible dangers.
These scanners have male or female options, accordingMashable, but do not have settings for transgender individuals. The settings can impact which shapes prompt alerts, and have indeed created problems in the past.
"We still hear from people that they don't fly or they avoid flying whenever they can," Harper JeanTobin, the policy director of the National Center forTransgenderEquality, told AlJeezera Americain 2014.
The advocacy group is involved ina lawsuit against the TSA, demanding that itdevelops clear rules and regulations around the scanner's use.
Petosky posted an approximation of what she saw on the scanner Monday.
I described what the flagging screen looked like to an artist. This is the anomaly. pic.twitter.com/SE0NadkPQX
—@shadipetosky
After going through an intensive security search,Petosky had missed her American Airlines flight and needed to re-book. When she attempted to approach the proper gate to do so, a TSA agent allegedly asked her to leave the airport.
Petosky wrote that when she began sobbing, they asked her to get herself together.
They told me to get myself together, I am sobbing, not belligerent.
—@shadipetosky
A spokesman for American Airlines told the New York Times that she was then booked on a new flight at no charge.
"American Airlines immediately rebooked Ms. Petosky on the next available flight at no charge to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport," Ross Feinstein said.
Petosky disagreed online with the airline's version of events, saying that airport employees at one point called the police to make her leave. They also booked her on a flight to Miami, where she appeared to be as ofTuesday afternoon, notMinneapolis.
I followed you @RossFeinstein, feel free to discuss @AmericanAir treatment including calling the police. pic.twitter.com/nFOhooqeJX
—@shadipetosky
Can American Airlines explain how if they immediately booked me flight to Minneapolis that I standing in Miami?! pic.twitter.com/HRuotOFeCL
—@shadipetosky
By 10 p.m. ET Monday,Petosky wrote that she was on a plane towards Miami, and later noted that she was used to better treatment from TSA officials.
She wrote that she travels between Los Angeles and Minneapolis fairly regularly, without much issue.
I fly A LOT, usually between Minneapolis and LA and have never had a problem. This was an anomaly -- or a Florida thing, not sure.
—@shadipetosky
A spokesman from TSA, Mike England, said that the organization's agents followed properprotocol.
"After examining closed circuit TV video and other available information, TSA has determined that the evidence shows our officers followed TSA's strict guidelines," he said to the Advocate.
"Supervisory personnel and a Passenger Support Specialist participated in the screening to ensure guidelines were met."
The same evening Petosky made it to her flight, another Twitter user, Meredith Talusan, began #travellingwhiletrans for transgender people to discuss their fears and challenges when flying.
For starters, #travelingwhiletrans often involves needing to disclose as #trans to airport officials, which is none of their business.
—@1demerith
Had my first experience #travelingwhiletrans recently. It was nerve-wracking. The TSA agents have no idea how to handle it.
—@XOskinnybratXO
#travelingwhiletrans Aggressive pat-downs of "pocket" & groin regions, nearly every time I fly. @TSA agent loudly asked once "What ARE you?"
—@loganscasey
By the end of her ordeal, Petosky appeared to have mixed feelings about all of the mediaattention she'd been receiving.
I'm not going to lie. I zero percent want to be googled as the transsexual who's junk got flagged in Orlando.
—@shadipetosky