Transgender Woman Says She Was Delayed by TSA for Anatomical ‘Anomaly’

In a recent statement acquired by Advocate.com, the TSA maintains that the agents involved followed strict procedure and did everything correctly. She even would have had to go through security again if not for the actions of a manager who intervened and guided her past.

Highlighting that reality, Petosky said one of the agents told her to “get back into the machine like a man”.

These individuals are immediately treated as suspicious, particularly if the anomaly continues to appear in additional scans – which of course it would. They can ask for a private screening if they feel uncomfortable going through the process in front of other travelers.

TSA has been under the scrutiny of many groups including conservatives who say they are inept at doing their jobs. I really thought the TSA was good about trans issues.

Held up: Shadi Petosky was preparing to fly from Orlando worldwide Airport on Monday when she was stopped because a bodyscanner picked up an anatomical “anomaly”. “I am so dumb“. Petosky recalled telling the agent. At one point, she was left in a room by herself with an officer holding the door shut. I missed my flight.

Now, people are taking to social media in her defense and support.

She missed her flight. Her version of the airport events could not be independently confirmed by NBC News. “I literally want to no lectures from American Airlines on how to travel while trans. I want the same privileges as [cisgender] people”. Then she was told she was being given a free first-class ticket, but, she claims, they still charged her credit card. Her tweets are below, but we can’t verify her story at this time.

At time of publication, Petosky responded to reporters on Twitter, alleging that American Airlines had called the police on her. She also refuted statements in the press in which American Airlines said she had been re-booked, and that she had been contacted by a representative from the airline. “I’m not going to lie”.

“Anybody who doesn’t fall into gender stereotypes gets flagged”, she said. He then asked Petosky if she wanted a man or woman to conduct the body search. Petosky responded, “News to me!” Why would TSA detain her this time? I had to stand in a specific spot. I like tons of people with my body.

The image below shows what such an anomaly would look like on an airport scanner’s screen. Despite the explanation, the supervisor still had to address the situation.

“I said, “I’m transgender. I have a penis”. Or because the agent chose this moment to take some kind of moral stand? “They were just unprepared for the situation”.

It’s never fun having Transportation Security Administration goons rummage through your bag, hoping they don’t poach your toothpaste. “Gender identity” is not listed among the forms of discrimination prohibited against passengers.

This is the image the old scanners showed. In May of 2014, Al Jazeera America published an exposé about the many complaints filed by transgender passengers.

Petosky’s tweets are ongoing, and are available here.