UPDATED Tue. 10:57 a.m. PT with further comment from TSA.
Shadi Petosky, a transgender woman trying to get to her flight from Orlando to Minneapolis, was detained by TSA when she was going through security Monday.
Petosky live-tweeted her account of what happened, including the moment when TSA officers allegedly told her to "get back into the machine as a man." While it isn't entirely clear how the incident began, it seems from her account that the TSA scanner identified an unexpected item on her person -- and an agent had to make his own call on how to respond.
I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an "anomaly" (my penis)— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I would like any help I can get at the Orlando airport.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
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— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I would like any help I can get at the Orlando airport.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
The TSA has left me in a room alone. There is an officer holding the door. pic.twitter.com/aFA0cQxAGx— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
TSA agent Bramlet told me to get back in the machine as a man or it was going to be a problem.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
TSA agents are now saying their are explosives alarm from my hands and the officers gloves when she gave me a full body pat down.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I asked TSA agent Bramlet if he had any training in trans issues. He said "I know what I am doing"— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I fly all the time and this has never happened. I really thought the TSA was good about trans issues. I am so dumb.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
Cop asked me what sex I was. I told him I wasn't going to answer that question. I am complying but come on.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
At one point, the TSA began making it more difficult for Petosky to use her phone to send out messages and tweets.
They're telling me they have to take my phone. I told them that I want to use this to keep a record of what is happening— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
A man a brown suit came and whispered to TSA agent Sean San Roman to make sure I am not taking photos or video.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
There are now 2 police officers, 1 explosives specialist and four TSA agents. They're taking my phone for screening— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I am through. It was about 40 minutes, 2 full body pat downs, fully disassembled luggage. I missed my flight. pic.twitter.com/wLTvP3md9W— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I don't think my body is an anomaly. I like tons of people with my body. Can there be more buttons?— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
After being detained for so long that she missed her flight, Petosky was told to rebook another one -- and that she would have to go through another screening process.
They told me to rebook my flight at the gate, I rebook my flight at the counter I will have to go through screening and would be reflagged.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I am going to look for any open American Airlines gate in the airport to rebook. I am prob being hyper vigilant about logging publically.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
Then she was apparently asked to leave the airport, and to "get herself together."
A TSA agent is telling me to leave the airport. I asked them to please call a supervisor, I just want to get to an American Airlines gate— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
Well shit. pic.twitter.com/XHnameY3Rc— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
They told me to get myself together, I am sobbing, not belligerent.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
American Airlines says that if I want to for sure fly out of Orlando today it's $955.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
They're offering standby in this hostile airport.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
My point of listing the prices is not to get money. It's to show cost when the TSA detains trans bodies (Plus time, denigration)— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
People in the community are talking crowd funding initiatives but please don't. Class privileges aren't my current issue. Much love.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
American Airlines manager is telling me that "in the future ask for a private screening"— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
I literally want to no lectures from American Airlines on how to travel while trans. I want the same privileges as cis people.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
My phone is 1% so I'm going to rest / charge it before I do anything. Don't want to do anything here without my phone pic.twitter.com/ZSR2iXVn3D— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
When the police officer asked me what sex I was I told him I wasn't to respond. He said this was not a game. Are trans civil rights?— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
TSA supervisor Ramon luckily heard the officer and stepped in and said me disclosing sex/gender was not an issue.— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015
A spokesperson from TSA told Mashable: "TSA takes all potential civil rights violations very seriously. We are looking into the situation now for further information."
On Tuesday morning, TSA further clarified to Mashable, “Our officers are trained to properly screen members of the transgender community [...] After examining closed circuit TV video and other available information, TSA has determined that the evidence shows our officers followed TSA’s strict guidelines. Supervisory personnel and a Passenger Support Specialist participated in the screening to ensure guidelines were met.”
TSA's also notes on its website that "transgender persons should use the name and gender that appears on their government-issued ID when making flight reservations and at the security checkpoint," and that "screening can be conducted in a private screening area with a witness or companion. You may request private screening or to speak with a supervisor at any time during the screening process."
The National Center for Trans Equality states that while TSA scanners "could register body contours not typical for a person’s gender as anomalies," the center was not aware of any instances when that happened.
Yet according to documents obtained from the Department of Homeland Security by Al Jazeera America, there have been several incidents in where transgender travelers were placed under heavy scrutiny at airport security checkpoints.
TSA press secretary Ross Feinstein told Al Jazeera last year that while all TSA screening officers receive sensitivity training, the training does not generally include content specific to transgender passengers.
When Petosky tweeted her experience, she prompted a reply from someone who had a similar experience:
I too have been taken away, detained, invasively patted down because scanner showed an "anomaly", despite my explanation. Unacceptable @TSA— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) September 21, 2015
Well that was thoroughly mortifying. After three issues with the body scan they told me there was an "anomaly" in my groin.— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) December 19, 2013