I didnt think he was going to let me on the plane!

[ReneeT]

I flew out of my small local airport this morning, like i seem to be doing a lot lately. Most of the gate agents and TSA folks recognize me, and i have never had any problems, in that airport or elsewhere. This morning, their was a TSA agent who i had seen before working the boarding pass check. He was very pleasant and said "good morning, ma'am". I returned the pleasantry and handed him my boarding pass and id. He sat there for a moment, and i could see the confusion spreading over his face. Finally, he said,"YOU are (insert male name)? i said,"I am. One day i will get my ID to match what you see". I could tell he didnt know what to do, as, whatever i look like, I do NOT look like my current male-pictured DL. Finally, he scribbled on my boarding pass like they always do and told me to have a nice flight.

While i am pleased that i am most often percieved as my chosen gender ( i dont like the word "passed"- it sounds like i am trying to fool someone), this whole male ID/male legal name/female appearance is getting a bit tough to juggle, andi am still about a yr away from legal name change. Argh

[Aprilrain]

why are you waiting to change your name?

[RADER]

Remember they striped down an old lady (85+) in Boston because they thought her
depends where full of bombs; not poop.
I guess you where a lucky one today.
Rader

[ReneeT]

I really cant change my name until i transition at work. And that happens after ffs, next summer. I promised my wife i would wait until then. Purgatory

[kimdl93]

I'm sure the fellow was puzzled by the incongruity between the lovey lady standing before him and the person on the ID. That moment of confusion was resolved and all is well.

[AllieSF]

Renee, I had that same experience 2 years ago on my return trip from a few days en femme in Vegas. The new, young and very pleasant TSA agent at the start of the security process did not know what to do. An experience young TSA agent came over to help out and explained to her how to ask a few questions about the ID document to help match who a person is when the don't look exactly like the ID pic. Then he apologized to me and escorted me over to the next security check station and asked all kinds of questions about transition and where I was in that process, which I clarified that I was not in that process. All cool with him and I do wish I and he had more time to talk. As you know I do love to chat with strangers. Better luck on your next trips.

[Traci Elizabeth]

I really cant change my name until i transition at work. And that happens after ffs, next summer. I promised my wife i would wait until then. Purgatory


AH YES! I know those promises we make to our wives all to well.

The exact same thing happened to me once before I had my name legally changed and "F" put on all my legal documents and licenses. But in my case, the agent called his supervisor over to make a decision. Mind you there were tons of people behind me getting frustrated at the delay. The supervisor looked at me then my ID and told the agent, "she's OK." The agent still seemed clueless and confused but he wrote on my boarding pass as sent me on my merry way.

That was the one and only time this happened. My NEXT flight is already booked and paid for in full to Bangkok, Thailand on October 6th.

[Sally24]

I find that many people wait until they get name changed to update their IDs. Renee, if you present a female face to the world full time, go in and update your photo ID. It will greatly simplify things for you. I am lucky in that my state.allows me to have 2 IDs so one has my male face and the other my female face.

[danielleb]

I find that many people wait until they get name changed to update their IDs. Renee, if you present a female face to the world full time, go in and update your photo ID. It will greatly simplify things for you. I am lucky in that my state.allows me to have 2 IDs so one has my male face and the other my female face.

It's the same for us here in IL. You can hold your regular DL and get a state ID (or vice versa) with an alternate photo. That sounds like a clear solution to your problem, at least for now. :)

[ReneeT]

I find that many people wait until they get name changed to update their IDs. Renee, if you present a female face to the world full time, go in and update your photo ID. It will greatly simplify things for you. I am lucky in that my state.allows me to have 2 IDs so one has my male face and the other my female face.

Unfortunately. Am not yet full time. That doesnt happen until ffs. Having said that, the only place i am not full time. and i am chpping away at that. I am at an industry conference in Salt Lake City and shared a cab from the airport to the hotel with a woman in a related industry. We had a great "shop" conversation, and introduced ourselves. I of course used my preferred first name but my real last name. As it so happens, we live in the same smallish city. So, this male image is getting tough to uphold. Its only a matter of time

BTW, SLC is a beautiful city!

[Julia_in_Pa]

Renee,

If God tells us as a community we must spend time in Purgatory we can stare this entity straight in the face and say no thank you we've done ours.


Julia



I really cant change my name until i transition at work. And that happens after ffs, next summer. I promised my wife i would wait until then. Purgatory

[Debglam]

Unfortunately. Am not yet full time.

Hey Renee,

Here in California you can get your drivers license photo looking anyway you want. You can also get a State ID card, looks just like the drivers license and is fully recognized State ID, also with a photo looking anyway you want. A lot of my girlfriends that are CD or middle path like myself keep their drivers license in drab and get a separate State ID card en femme (I haven't done this yet). If Tennessee does something similar it sounds like this would solve your problem until you change your gender marker. Your ID will still say "John Doe" and "M" but the photo would be the lovely Renee and match your appearance when travelling en femme.

Good luck,
Debby