TSA, body scanners and patdowns

[Claire Cook]

Good day all,

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the new TSA rules about body scanners and patdowns, so I thought I'd relate my recent experience.

First, let me say right at the top that I have no objections to the new procedures. If this helps prevents an air tragedy, then I'm all for it. Second, when I fly dressed it is clear that I am using my male ID, my ticket has a male name and I'm probably being read. So why worry about breast forms, padding and a body scan?

So .. last week my wife and I flew to Hawaii. I wasn't flying pretty, but I was wearing a bra (no underwires or forms), femme jeans and shoes. The jeans had no hip pockets, so I had stuffed my wallet into a front jeans pocket. Went through the body scanner at DCA (Washington National) and was called aside. They noticed the bulge in my pants (my front pocket, thank you) and I underwent the full patdown after emptying all of my pockets. (I was not asked to remove any clothes.) The TSA guy was very courteous, and the patdown was very efficient and professional. I am sure that he could feel that I was wearing a bra, but made no notice. He very nicely explained why I was chosen and answered all of my questions, then wished me a good flight.

Not to be redundant, but I think this is a small price to pay for everyone's safety. So what if TS's (or GG's for that matter) are found to wear breast forms?

[Gerrijerry]

I recently went thru one of the new scaners. Full body scan. Yes fully in fem mode. Nothing was said. I was treated like everyone else so no problem. As for ID. Male name on ticket, but I carry a Transgender card plus letter from my counselor. I show the card with the ticket and normal id before being asked and the TSA agent or airline agents have never had a problem. Never have needed the letter. Bling that I have is also in my carry on and that has not been a problem either. Other then earings all bling is in carry on until after I pass the TSA agents. The less metal you have on the better. Flying should be enjoyed not worried about. So relax just remember you are not the first one they have seen.
I also aggree that the scan should not be a big deal if it helps make us safer. I didn't have a pat down so I can't say anything about that. But if that was needed I would not make a big deal of it either.

[Starr]

What I think about pat downs and body scanners is this... those who are making all the noise about them are either people who never or almost never fly... and those who want to get noticed by recording the pat down and getting on CNN to tell everyone had bad it made them feel if they don't like the security then they need to travel by something other then an airplane.

[AKAMichelle]

I recently went through the scanner intentionally dressed. It resulted in a pat down of my front torso. A woman came over and did the pat down which was followed by an explosives check and then I was on my way. The only issue I have for the machine is the amount of radiation. I don't want to get radiated each time I fly. Luckily I don't fly much but I feel sorry for the pilots and frequent flyers like TxKimberly.

[Claire Cook]

I recently went thru one of the new scaners. Full body scan. Yes fully in fem mode. Nothing was said. .. The less metal you have on the better. Flying should be enjoyed not worried about. So relax just remember you are not the first one they have seen.
I also aggree that the scan should not be a big deal if it helps make us safer. I didn't have a pat down so I can't say anything about that. But if that was needed I would not make a big deal of it either.

Great advice, Gerrijerry.


What I think about pat downs and body scanners is this... those who are making all the noise about them are either people who never or almost never fly... and those who want to get noticed by recording the pat down and getting on CNN to tell everyone had bad it made them feel if they don't like the security then they need to travel by something other then an airplane.

Starr, that is just how I see it.


I recently went through the scanner intentionally dressed. It resulted in a pat down of my front torso. A woman came over and did the pat down which was followed by an explosives check and then I was on my way. The only issue I have for the machine is the amount of radiation. I don't want to get radiated each time I fly. Luckily I don't fly much but I feel sorry for the pilots and frequent flyers like TxKimberly.

Thanks Michelle; interesting that you were patted down by a female. I recall once in DCA when a TG was stopped by security and offered the choice of being checked by a man or a woman. I thought that was very enlightened.

Last night the TSA chief was saying that the radiation dosage was minimal, responding to the concerns of flight crews. We should see the numbers on this.

[Christinedreamer]

The sad thing is that the pat downs and scanners do absolutely nothing but create a theater for gullible Americans. Israeli security does not do any of this, they do not force you to pour out anything, take your shoes or belts off. Israeli security forces are highly trained and look for telltale signs in facial expressions, body language etc. They still use magnetometers. The blurred facial images you see on stories about this are blurred ONLY for the TV story.

I have a friend who works as an IT security engineer at LAX. He has seen the data that is supposedly not recorded and knows for a fact that these scanners DO have hi res color cameras installed in them to visually record any subject (victim) the TSA operator desires. The reason is that in the rare case that they find something, the images are needed for prosecutorial evidence.

Our neighbor and her husband got back from a vacation to her home in South Korea. They were singled out rather loudly for a in depth pat down and security interview because he has a colostomy appliance and he has the backup paperwork for it. He was forced to open his shirt to the agent to show it.

One year ago I flew to Greensboro NC (in drab, on a business trip) and I brought 2 cases filled with electronic parts and tools. Some of these devices I custom built and do not exist anywhere else. I watched these 2 cases get loaded on the plane with no inspection. All I did was tell the agent what was in them. They were sealed around the hinges with clear tape that was not broken by any inspector. Inside, lots of metal canisters with wires protruding from them. (Audio Transformers) They should have raised a red flag. Sadly they did not. So much for security.

If you choose to fly en femme and wear silicone boobs or hip pods, don't be surprised at what you may endure in the name of "security".

[Kroma]

Not to be redundant, but I think this is a small price to pay for everyone's safety.
I don't want to turn this into a theological or political debate, that's not what this forum is about; however, I did not serve this country for this type of treatment. This like most of the other NSA and Patriot Act related activities are an invasion of privacy and completely against our bill of rights as well as many of our most treasured of amendments. Unequal treatment of any kind is wrong, regardless of race, religion, sex, or creed, random or targeted. I bet if everyone had to be screened then there would be a much larger rebellion, but the way the political structure is today, it's designed to divide and conquer. As long as we all argue about what's right or safe, our freedoms are being eroded.

Please know that I have the greatest respect for all of you, as I haven't even ventured out en femme, and also know that I have purchased a non-refundable ticket home for Christmas this year; the first visit home in over three years. If I'm subject to a scan or body search, I will be informing my parents that I am not willing to sacrifice my freedom for trip home. I'd rather take a 6 day trip, to and from, over 6,000 miles, in a car, for a single day with my parents before being humiliated by the government I, and my father, and my grandfather, served honorably. And, as far as Terrorists go, my feeling is that Americans can breed faster than they can organize a successful attack. So if you can't travel freely, stay at home and exercise an unalienable right for free. That sounds more fun than long lines and turbulence anyway. :2c:

[SabrinaDubh]

I don't want to turn this into a theological or political debate, that's not what this forum is about; however, I did not serve this country for this type of treatment. This like most of the other NSA and Patriot Act related activities are an invasion of privacy and completely against our bill of rights as well as many of our most treasured of amendments. Unequal treatment of any kind is wrong, regardless of race, religion, sex, or creed, random or targeted. I bet if everyone had to be screened then there would be a much larger rebellion, but the way the political structure is today, it's designed to divide and conquer. As long as we all argue about what's right or safe, our freedoms are being eroded.

Please know that I have the greatest respect for all of you, as I haven't even ventured out en femme, and also know that I have purchased a non-refundable ticket home for Christmas this year; the first visit home in over three years. If I'm subject to a scan or body search, I will be informing my parents that I am not willing to sacrifice my freedom for trip home. I'd rather take a 6 day trip, to and from, over 6,000 miles, in a car, for a single day with my parents before being humiliated by the government I, and my father, and my grandfather, served honorably. And, as far as Terrorists go, my feeling is that Americans can breed faster than they can organize a successful attack. So if you can't travel freely, stay at home and exercise an unalienable right for free. That sounds more fun than long lines and turbulence anyway. :2c:

Well said. Bravo. :thumbsup:

[juno]

I agree with Kroma (and also trying to avoid getting political). I have no problem with everyone stripping naked, if it keeps people from getting killed. The problem is that the Federal Marshal program was much cheaper, far more effective, and with far less privacy intrusion. I have to conclude that the real goal is to use this all as an excuse to erode privacy, and nothing to do with passenger safety.

[Melinda G]

Exactly! It has nothing to do with passenger safty. The TSAs own testers are always able to get bombs onto airplanes.
This latest round of TSA scanners and pat downs is just the beginning. When the sheeple become accustomed to being radiated and patted down at the airport, similar to a prison intake center, the scanners will be installed at bus and train stations, sports stadiums,shopping malls, and all public buildings. If the public accepts this, they can kiss what's left of their freedom goodbye!
We don't lose our freedom in one fell swoop. We lose it in increments, a little at a time. This is just one more increment!

[Charise52]

Personally I liked the old days where you put your bags on the conveyor belt... I thought locking cockpit doors was a good idea as well as having air marshalls on the plane... this new stuff I do not buy into, we already get about 30 times the cosmic ray radiation that we get from the ground when we fly... I measured it once before everyone got paranoid... the full body scanners have been proven in studies to disrupt our DNA... and to heve my genitals felt by a TSA person, is totally unacceptable... I recently drove to southern California and back (from Seatle), and it was so fun... no TSA, lots of legroom, could stop for picnics whenever and walk around... no delays on the ground... I will never fly again... they totally ruined it for us...

[Juliemckay]

I go to the airport FOR the pat downs

[Claire Cook]

I don't want to turn this into a theological or political debate, that's not what this forum is about; however, I did not serve this country for this type of treatment. This like most of the other NSA and Patriot Act related activities are an invasion of privacy and completely against our bill of rights as well as many of our most treasured of amendments. Unequal treatment of any kind is wrong, regardless of race, religion, sex, or creed, random or targeted. I bet if everyone had to be screened then there would be a much larger rebellion, but the way the political structure is today, it's designed to divide and conquer. As long as we all argue about what's right or safe, our freedoms are being eroded.

Please know that I have the greatest respect for all of you, as I haven't even ventured out en femme, and also know that I have purchased a non-refundable ticket home for Christmas this year; the first visit home in over three years. If I'm subject to a scan or body search, I will be informing my parents that I am not willing to sacrifice my freedom for trip home. I'd rather take a 6 day trip, to and from, over 6,000 miles, in a car, for a single day with my parents before being humiliated by the government I, and my father, and my grandfather, served honorably. And, as far as Terrorists go, my feeling is that Americans can breed faster than they can organize a successful attack. So if you can't travel freely, stay at home and exercise an unalienable right for free. That sounds more fun than long lines and turbulence anyway. :2c:

Kroma,

Thanks for the reply. I agree entirely that this forum should not be a site for political comments, and my post was not intended that way. My point was that we who fly dressed or under-dressed should not worry about being outed by the new rules. I would repeat the point made in other posts that TSA personnel in general show us understanding that can be lacking in other segments of society. At least one TSA agent has told me that was part of his training.

[Proteus]

I think body scanners are vastly inferior to puffer machines and bomb dogs in detecting explosives. But it's a great publicity machine, and I bet the manufacturers are paid well, at the expense of travellers.

I have to say, though, body scanners or not, lines have started to really fly now that people have stopped resisting and fuzzing so much.

[Stephanie Miller]

And can you believe the audacity of them Julie? I mean, after the groping they don't even have the decency to offer you a cigarette!

[Mary Morgan]

Claire, I'm all for flight safety, but this process goes too far. There have been a number of "experts" on the tube lately talking about what works well and most don't see the value of this very expensive and very intrusive system. I watched my 84 year old mother being removed from her wheelchair, her purse poured out on the counter and pawed through, her shoes removed and more, all in the name of flight safety. As one of our great founders once said, when we give up liberty for safety, we will have neither. I suggest that the next thing they will tell us is that we can't wear shoes or underwear on a plane. As for me, barring an emergency that requires my immediate presence far enough away to warrant a flight, I'm done with it until sanity is restored. The last thing I am going to worry about is being embarrassed over my attire. I didn't serve in the Army so that my fellow citizens would be treated this way. This issue here is much deeper. Just my two cents.

[Babeba]

Personally, I find the scanning-and-patting-down experience dehumanising and dissonant to the ideals of bodily integrity and safety. If I am suspected of transporting something I shouldn't, I would rather go into a side room with two trained agents and strip myself (so I have some control left about how and when my body is seen) so they can visually inspect me (with no cameras, groping body searches or scanners involved). They should say nothing but 'thank you, you can carry on' if there are no bombs or weapons strapped to me and leave so I can dress in peace.

If I were working as an exotic dancer, and that TSA agent were a customer they would be arrested for touching me like that. And let's face it, unless they're willing to do a body cavity check which would entail touching me in a highly intimate way only my physician gets to do they're not going to find anything I would hide. Not that I would, just that I don't see these super expensive scanners doing anything which can't happen the old fashioned way.

[Katie145]

I'm an airline pilot, and I couldn't have been more upset over 9/11 because it directly affected my colleagues. I'm for reasonable aviation security as much as the next guy, however, I believe TSA crossed a line with these new procedures. I believe they do NOTHING to enhance security in the US. I suggest people take a look at security procedures in Israel - they are arguably the most effective security measures in the world, and they aren't nearly as invasive as the new TSA procedures.

This quote effectively sums up my feelings on the subject:
"People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both." -Benjamin Franklin

I could get into this subject a lot deeper, but if I do, I'll start getting a little political, and we can't have that!

[DanielleLee]

Kroma,

Thanks for the reply. I agree entirely that this forum should not be a site for political comments, and my post was not intended that way. My point was that we who fly dressed or under-dressed should not worry about being outed by the new rules. I would repeat the point made in other posts that TSA personnel in general show us understanding that can be lacking in other segments of society. At least one TSA agent has told me that was part of his training.

Unfortunately, I see this getting a bit more political over the remainder of the day. Where is a Moderator when you need one, to move a topic? *smiles*

[Christinedreamer]

One of the silliest things to watch is the dumping of all liquids into a common trash can right in the passenger screening area. If there were chemicals that could be dangerous if mixed, WHY are you dumping them all together in a plastic trash can instead of an explosion proof container?

[sherri]

I go to the airport FOR the pat downs

That's sorta what I was thinking. :-) Ooo-wee baby, let's do that one mo' time!

What is an "explosives check", by the way?

[Juliemckay]

And can you believe the audacity of them Julie? I mean, after the groping they don't even have the decency to offer you a cigarette!

The bad part is that the TSA never offers to buy me a drink first... it's not like I'm looking for a free dinner

[Juliemckay]

That's sorta what I was thinking. :-) Ooo-wee baby, let's do that one mo' time!

What is an "explosives check", by the way?

Would it be considered bad form to say, " a little faster and to the left"?

[sherri]

I would think the only way they could do a proper job is to grope under the skirt rather than through it.

[Juliemckay]

I would think the only way they could do a proper job is to grope under the skirt rather than through it.

Just make sure you're wearing your "good" panties. Oh yeah, don't forget to smile

[Alice Torn]

Why we don't learn from the Israelis, I marvel! They don't do this politically correct circus act!!! Iis so asinine, for them to pull a little old lady, or man, in a wheel chair. It is muzlim terrorist extremists they need to be checing, not the rest of us!! Political correctness may have started innocently, but, it has lad to this. MICHAEL SAVAGE is right on this.

[Tranny Tee]

They were singled out rather loudly for a in depth pat down and security interview because he has a colostomy appliance and he has the backup paperwork for it. He was forced to open his shirt to the agent to show it.


I have a colostomy and belong to a support group for ostimates. At our last meeting we discussed this issue and the consensus was that if someone wants to feel up our colostomy bags they are more than welcome to. It should be quite fun to watch.

Another forum I am on discussed the TSA procedures, calling them "Gate Rape."

[AmandaM]

I like to dress as a French Maid, go up there, and moan when they grab me. Then I tell them a little lower honey, there, give me a spank will you. LOL!

[tinachristina]

What I think about pat downs and body scanners is this... those who are making all the noise about them are either people who never or almost never fly... and those who want to get noticed by recording the pat down and getting on CNN to tell everyone had bad it made them feel if they don't like the security then they need to travel by something other then an airplane.

Hi I dont know if I am intruding.
On my maiden visit to US of A, the only thing I did not like about the country was over-over done security. I could hear things like 'We are on orange alert, we are on this ...that'. That looked like that people are made to live in constant fear of something happening.

And I wore the jeans( in male mode) which had small metal pins on the seam of the pocket. I had to go through the metal detector twice. It beeped everytime. And the third time, I was asked to go inside a chamber that was made of, I don't know, plastic or fibre. I felt like a zoo animal inside. The someone called me from the other side and did a thorough pat down( which is okay to me as the security needs to be sure).

I do agree however that security staff is polite and respectful but I detest just the kind of environment all around the security checking. It is supposed to be more friendlier even though security is kept high ( that is the challenge according to me). And the scanners to me are a complete no-no. Even if they are required, the pictures should be encrypted and viewed only with permission from right authorities.

Thanks for reading.
Tina

[Mary Morgan]

Not to belabor the point, but today it is airplanes, next it will be trains and mass transit, then who knows what. How about outlawing crossdressing because it interferes with "correct" identification? And it doesn't make you any safer because while we are all diverted to this nonsense, our enemies are looking at other means to get to us. Enuf said!

[eluuzion]

I always worry more about the strategies the gov't concocts to "sell" the next round of privacy invasion to the public, after they implement it. Just be patient, you will see some frightening catastrophic events that were "detected" and "avoided", as a direct result of the latest TSA "safety" measures. "TSA" patdown disarms what would have been a disasterous airline explosion"..."News at 10"...

I feel much, cough cough "safer" now, don't you?:brolleyes:

Hey, if they put cameras in every house in America, we could catch those boogie-men at home when they are putting stuff in their pants...before they even get to the airport! Or even better...a bug in every pillow...then we could hear them whispering about the plan before they even put on their pants! Wait, if we hook everybody up with electronic brain wave monitors, we would know what they were dreaming up while sleeping~~! No, even better.... we could....

[erickka]

I'm sure that those TSA people doing pat downs, etc have seen it all. I wouldn't worry about flying en femme, or the security checks. They are there to do a job, but I'm sure at the end of the day, they will probably "compare notes" just like everyone else.

[ArleneRaquel]

Exactly! It has nothing to do with passenger safty. The TSAs own testers are always able to get bombs onto airplanes.
This latest round of TSA scanners and pat downs is just the beginning. When the sheeple become accustomed to being radiated and patted down at the airport, similar to a prison intake center, the scanners will be installed at bus and train stations, sports stadiums,shopping malls, and all public buildings. If the public accepts this, they can kiss what's left of their freedom goodbye!
We don't lose our freedom in one fell swoop. We lose it in increments, a little at a time. This is just one more increment!

I agree. This is a preparation for the coming police state. IMHO our freedoms are being eroding slowly, but surely under the guise of national security..

[Claire Cook]

Well, I did not expect the range of responses I got to this post! Let me just say that it was not intended as a statement for or against the TSA policy; I for one would be happier if body scans and patdowns were not added to the stresses involved in flying today (though flying pretty is such a kick!). We are stuck with it for the moment, and my point is that we as TG/CD are being treated (at least in my experience and those of others who have posted) with the consideration that we deserve, and that the policy is not going to keep me from flying pretty when I can. I might, however, suggest that arguments for or against the policy that do not involve CD issues be reserved for other forums.

Oh, and thanks for the humorous bits!

Claire

[Michelle123]

I'm just curious about something. If you were obviously flying as a male, and as you stated...the screener must have noticed you were wearing a bra, then I think perhaps he wasnt doing a very good job....It seems to me that the screener would have become suspicious of feeling something that wasnt quite right for a male to have in that area, and would have wanted to investigate further. How would he know it was just a bra, and not some kind of harness that could perhaps being used to conceal some type of explosives? Did he not think it was rather strange to feel that on you?

[Pythos]

When or if I go flying on an airliner, I and if I have the gumption, I am sooooooooo wearing a catsuit, belt, and zip sided boots, with a trench. They can run the trench through the microwave. I will have a female pat me down (had it done before, while in similar attire), If they feel they need to do a more thorough search, then I will go through the scanner (microwave). But I am hoping they will use some common sense and realize, no muslim extremist will openly wear a tight garment like a catsuit, AND have explosives in his nether regions. A strip search if needed will be quite simple, just one zip, and there ya go. (you intruding mindless trolls).

You think what I am suggesting is absurd? This whole thing is. This entire irational fear we have and ignorance of the truth.

Bomb sniffing dogs are far more efficient and acurate than expensive and dangerous scanners, and public groping sessions with strangers.

[Alissa]

Just think how much more secure our planes would be if the TSA agents were not wasting their time patting down little old ladies and 3 year old kids. Every time a TSA agent spends 5 minutes wasting their time, that is 5 minutes taken away from searching for the real threats. It is time we let common sense prevail and not pure political correctness. Israel is probably the most targeted country in the world when it comes to terrorism, and they manage to do it without patting down 90 year old grandmothers.

I remember the outcry about the Patriot Act from the very party who are putting in place these security policies now. At some point, yes, we have given up too much of our freedom. These images are not all destroyed and that is proven by the ones that have leaked out.

[Stephenie S]

Another reason to follow my mother's advice. ALWAYS wear clean panties.

[sandra-leigh]

I haven't visited the USA since before "9/11". I have flown within Canada several times, and recently flew to Asia. With appropriate choice of bra to not have a wire underwire, I usually don't even get wanded. My purse has been swabbed twice for explosives but that was pretty quick. I was patted down once while I was wearing a skirt and top and forms and bra (metal underwire set it off); the agent used the back of their hands. They did touch the outside of the underside of my bust; it was a single touch on each side, a slight nod to themselves, and continued on avoiding the rest of my bust. I did not feel at all like I was "felt up": it just felt like the agent was doing their job.


Michelle, I've gone through screening wearing large forms, DD or even G. It was never a problem, and I was never selected for special screening because of it. Some of those times I was wearing very obvious female clothes, other times I was wearing "stealth" clothes (women's clothes that most people don't bother to think about.) A number of those times were before I got my ears pierced; now with long flowing hair and pierced ears and clothes that aren't obviously male, any trained person would likely pick up on the signals that I might be CD or TG. Individual agents will vary, of course, but TSA and CATSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) agents are routinely trained to be sensitive to CD and TG.

[Melinda G]

How about outlawing crossdressing because it interferes with "correct" identification?
Naaah. I think we're safe there. They'll be using Retina Scans.


I always worry more about the strategies the gov't concocts to "sell" the next round of privacy invasion to the public, after they implement it. Just be patient, you will see some frightening catastrophic events that were "detected" and "avoided", as a direct result of the latest TSA "safety" measures. "TSA" patdown disarms what would have been a disasterous airline explosion"..."News at 10"..

What scares the beejeezus out of me, is that they will actually let something major happen, to convince the growing number of doubters. Of course, there will be lots of obvious clues left behind, just to point us at the right country to bomb.

[Proteus]

It's been forever since I was in the US, I thought it was just normal airport security. Not this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhkQoiaf7Uc

[TS_Denice]

On the TSA Blog it says "Pat-downs are conducted by same gender officers." So I'm curious, if you are flying dressed do you opt for a private pat down or are you fine having a male pat you down at the check point? If you are passing pretty well this would let everyone know you are a male if you are patted down in public. I guess for most of you who have flown dressed you are fine with revealing your true gender to the airline and to a TSA agent. But to be publicly searched by the same gender might draw more attention than you feel comfortable with.

[Loni]

i say if you do not or can not fly then do not go near a airport. and let the airline know this and your senator and congress person, as well as your governor.
the tsa is runamuck and will get worse they must be brought down now before it is too late.
cause what is next?? a ultrasound up the... to look inside of you??
these new body scanners will not keep any bomb off a plane. and why do a touch in the wrong place of your body. and remember 3000 people were murdered and there was NO bomb. or anything a tsa person would have found.

a full on boycott is not needed just so many not flying and letting those in charge know this and why.

.

[Raychel]

If they are going to continue these pat downs. I say that you get to choose who get to do the pat down, Then after they are done with you, you get to do the exact same thing to them,

Go ahead sweetie, pat me down all you want. But just remember my turn is next.:heehee:

[TxKimberly]

On the TSA Blog it says "Pat-downs are conducted by same gender officers." So I'm curious, if you are flying dressed do you opt for a private pat down or are you fine having a male pat you down at the check point? If you are passing pretty well this would let everyone know you are a male if you are patted down in public. I guess for most of you who have flown dressed you are fine with revealing your true gender to the airline and to a TSA agent. But to be publicly searched by the same gender might draw more attention than you feel comfortable with.

OK, that statement is for the general public that is NOT making an effort to appear as the other gender. Their policy when dealing with the Transgendered is that an officer that is the same gender that your are presenting as will do the inspection. This is not theoretical - it is based on letters from the TSA and my own experience on several occasions.

[SANDRA MICHELLE]

I flew round trip the other day to New York and back to Chicago and got the pat down both ways. Don't really know why since I do not wear any forms, had them in my carry on and was given a second look by TSA. I went through the full body and then got the pat down. I was fully en femme but anyone can see that I am not legitimate female. At Ohare I was asked by TSA if I wanted a male or female to do the check, I said whatever you feel comfortable with so since I was dressed as a woman they said they would have a female agent screen me, oh what joy. I almost wanted to go back a second time. The pat down was not any big deal and I am in the camp of safety first, of course I appreciate everyones opinions about this and can't find fault either way.

[Christinedreamer]

Just yesterday there was a published case of a GG who had survived breast cancer (more than enough trauma) and was wearing a prosthetic breast. The TSA goon made her remove the silicone form for inspection DELIBERATELY causing her extreme emotional distress and humiliation.

I guarantee you that the terrorists will never again need to or even try to use small explosives on a plane because there is no need to. No explosives were used on 9/11.

BTW, these Walmart greeter rejects cannot even see the most common weapon around and one that most everyone carries every day. A pen.
In addition, any number of service vendors have unrestricted access to the supply warehouses for the planes and the food stuffs on board.

I personally have driven my truck into the warehouses numerous times for several freight handling divisions of American, Southwest, Delta, FEDEX and UPS to deliver shipments in heavy metal and plywood cases that went immediately onto the tug trains and out to the planes with NO inspection whatsoever. All that is required is to have an open account and give them a signed copy of a form on a single sheet of paper (not even multi copy) that there is nothing dangerous in the shipment.

I have done this in DC, Dallas, LA, NOLA, and Seattle. The shipments had complex electronic equipment with lots of "interesting" looking components and even batteries. LAX security to those areas is non existent. KABC has entered those restricted areas numerous times as a test.

There is absolutely ZERO security potential with TSA and only a more intrusive and exponentially growing exposure of the traveling public to a completely non compus mentus government agency on a serious power trip.

[Bobbi Lynn]

I wonder how many people who are "supposedly" making these "rules" actually go through this type of "screening"? They keep talking about "balancing the budget" get rid of homeland (un)security.

[Melinda G]

just dont fly!