Full Body Scanners

[Guest Michele H]

For those in the community that are pre-op full time and need to travel, the impending increase in full body scanners represents a serious threat to our safety when we travel. While passage of ENDA will not reduce the embaressment nor directly provcide protections, it does establish a mind set within the federal government as well as increasing the chances of redress if you do experence a discrimatory act.

As a community, we have to become actively involved in passage of ENDA. I know that many cannot afford to live openly, but you can still support passage. For starters You can call your congress person or senator. If you are working, give up a meal out and send that money to a group fighting for passage.

There are enough votes to pass in both the house and senate but the bill has not been able to make it out of committee. It is doubtfull if it will until after the mid term elections - and then we have to see.

At the state level, apply pressure for state protection (or preserve protection if already in place). The more states that have protections in place, the easier it will be to get the national bill passed.

The current governor of MN appears to want to strike the T from GLBT in our state laws (got to protect our kids you know from teachers who one day is Jim and the next Jane)

[Sally]

Travel has always been one of those areas that troubled me, I will probably not fly while pre-op but I don't know for sure.

I had thought that driving would be pretty good, but then when we went to Memphis Donna Jean had car trouble and had to ride in a tow truck with a driver that wasn't exactly sure what to make of her (this was several months ago and she has changed a lot since then) and then waiting to rent a car, having to show her male driver's license and then trying to figure out how to use the restroom while presenting female but just having shown a male license - troubles and embarrassment can find you anywhere.

It is important to not let the T dropped from any legislation - we have no rights or protection as it is.

I will start my letter writing immediately.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest April63]

I don't think fully body scanners really show that much down there. I think they just show what's in your pockets and under your clothes, and the general contours of your body. I could be wrong though.

[Guest Astro_Liz]

I had to go through these this past holiday, and I have mixed opinions. The process was very quiet, its not like they were announcing who I was when I went through. Step in, arms up, a little thing spins around you quickly, and walk out. Sadly, this is the future, and while you could fight the battle to have it removed completely, perhaps a more realistic goal is needed. Right now, the software automatically blurs out faces and genitals (not breasts though), so as long as you are properly "tucked away" the screener shouldn't be able to tell anything. However, it only works about 60% of the time (I read that somewhere reputable, but I can't remember where now). I would like to see pressure put on the manufacturer to increase the accuracy of this area of the software, and its an achievable middle ground. The person seeing the image is in a remote location and can't see you, so they wouldn't know the difference or know who you are. Even if the software failed, and they could see your face and genitals, "ambiguous or mismatched" genitals are not a cause for alarm as long as there aren't explosives or something else strapped under your clothing (they can see different chemical compositions, so packers for the FtM should be ok). Also, even if it does "out you", would you ever see any of these screeners again? Doubt it. They won't remember you, and I doubt you will remember them. Of course, any one has the option of a full body pat down in lieu of the scanner, but I think that is much more intrusive since they reach around your breasts and inside your groin area.

Anyway, just my thoughts. I am used to very intrusive security though given my line of work, so most of these procedures don't bother me. You just get used to it and move on.

~Liz~

[Guest Ryles_D]

My partner recently traveled, and they were split into men and women for some security thing. My partner isn't transsexual, hasn't been on hormones or anything and is legally male, they're just naturally androgynous, and they got a ton of glares from the staff when they got into the 'male' line. That's pretty Gosh darned dangerous as well. We really need protection.

[Guest Donna Jean]

My partner recently traveled, and they were split into men and women for some security thing. My partner isn't transsexual, hasn't been on hormones or anything and is legally male, they're just naturally androgynous, and they got a ton of glares from the staff when they got into the 'male' line. That's pretty Gosh darned dangerous as well. We really need protection.

I totally agree here......

Very good point!

Donna Jean

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

I totally agree here......

Very good point!

Donna Jean

There was a good article on the Full body scan on CNN today; it even included shots of what the scanner opperator sees, and if you aren't packing anything suspicious what they see is more of an androgenous form. Its not an xray so it can't see in you it just penetrates your clothing and stops at your skin even the sex organs dont show.

[Guest Vivian]

My partner recently traveled, and they were split into men and women for some security thing. My partner isn't transsexual, hasn't been on hormones or anything and is legally male, they're just naturally androgynous, and they got a ton of glares from the staff when they got into the 'male' line. That's pretty Gosh darned dangerous as well. We really need protection.

This truly makes me nervous since I have plans to fly out and back into the U.S. in the next few months.

Vivian

[Guest Nigh]

I really don't see the issue with these scanners. I mean, "Warning: TRANSSEXUAL" isn't going to flash on the screen in big bold red letters the moment you go through the thing, it's just an extra precaution put there for our safety.

[Guest AshleyK]

I suppose the biggest fear id have is more with the line splitting. I mean, If you have only 2 lines, one for male and one for female, where do you go if your in between? lol

Whichever one your passport says, huni

[Guest Eth]

Whichever one your passport says, huni

That still doesn't seem right or fair to me...

What's so bad about having one line for everyone again?

愛 Eth

[Guest April63]

That still doesn't seem right or fair to me...

What's so bad about having one line for everyone again?

愛 Eth

It's slower. Two lines are faster.

[Guest Pól]

It's slower. Two lines are faster.

Two mixed-gender lines?

[Guest Eth]

Two mixed-gender lines?

Hell, make it four.

Yeah what I was stating was not simply a definite single-file ONE line only... just no segregation in the line(s).

愛 Eth

[Guest April63]

Well, gender is probably the easiest way to split a group of people in two. And if the group of people is a random group, there will be close to equal males and females in most cases. It's easy to do, and most people don't mind it. Just here there seems to be a problem, because that's the nature of this forum.

[Guest Donna Jean]

No....no...no....

It's not just the nature of this forum!

This forum represents a cross section of people of all ages from everywhere...

Nuff of that!

And the simple reason that there is a male and female line is because there is a male and female screener looking at the screens...

Men wouldn't want a woman looking at their pic on the screen and visa versa!

Donna Jean

[Guest Kaitlyn88]

The video I watched of it with actual screeners at the airport clearly showed genitalia. I won't post a link because it does show nudity, only the people are blue. I don't plan on flying again until I go to Thailand for SRS, and since I can't get my ID to say female until after SRS mine will still say male. I wouldn't be able to decide what to do in that situation it would be either go in the female line and be outed with the machine and ID or going in the male line looking female which would get everyones attention, plus I don't care what my ID says or what is between my legs at the moment, I'm female. I guess since people will out you and make a big deal about it either way I might as well go in the female line and at least not be bugged while waiting in line or feel frustrated at being in the wrong male line. Like there isn't enough to worry about traveling to Thailand for SRS.

[Guest julia_d]

Here is something which may be helpful .. especially as it quotes a few human rights

http://aebrain.blogspot.com/search/label/Passport