A transgender woman says TSA in Orlando detained her because of an 'anomaly'

This just in from Twitter: Apparently TSA agents at the Orlando International Airport have detained a transsexual woman due to an "anomaly": 

I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an "anomaly" (my penis)

— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015

Over the past few hours, Shadi Petoskly, a writer and executive producer for Puny Entertainment, has been tweeting about her ordeal at the airport, in which she says she was stopped, patted down, put in a small room and eventually told to get back in the scanning machine "as a man" or "it was going to be a problem." 

Official TSA policy, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality, is that all passengers traveling must provide their name, gender and date of birth, which must match what's on their government-issued ID.



"If you have different names or genders listed on different ID, you can choose which to provide, so long as you bring photo ID that matches your reservation," the organization says. "TSA Travel Document Checkers will check as you enter security to ensure that information on your ID matches your boarding pass. It does not matter whether your current gender presentation matches the gender marker on your ID or your presentation in your ID photo, and TSA officers should not comment on this."

According to Petosky's thread on Twitter, she has flown many times in the past without problems.  Why would TSA detain her this time? This story is still unfolding. Follow @shadipetosky on Twitter to follow her story. 

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

She missed her flight. 

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 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

Based on what she posted to Twitter, the police were called ... and so were explosives specialists. 

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

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

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

They told me to get myself together, I am sobbing, not belligerent.

— 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 left the American Airlines counter. I'm need to recharge my phone and nap, then eat something.

— 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

Another transwoman chimed in a little later, saying that she has had similar experiences with TSA agents in the past. 

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