Question for Canadian Members or Those Who May Know

[Marcelle]

Hi all,

A bit of an update as finding any information (definitive in nature that is) on this subject is like spotting a Leprechaun chasing a Sasquatch while riding a Unicorn.

I finally got through to CSTSA agent to discuss my experience at the Airport with the two DBs. He informed me that they (CSTSA) agents do not verify identity only the boarding pass and the security of the carry on luggage so the issue does not lie with CSTSA and he also indicated that the two who were rude will be sanctioned accordingly (whatever that means) as they had no right to speak to such policy. He further indicated that it is up to the Airline Boarding Gate personnel to verify identity and to his knowledge no TG persons have been prevented from flying but then again he was not sure if any had either. His understanding is that if you can be discerned from your ID (facial feature recognition) then there should not be a problem however as far as he knows, there is no guidance given to Airline personnel on making that call.

My next call was to Air Canada . . . what a joy that was. I talked to several people and asked about their TG policy and identity screening and nobody could answer my question directly as they were not sure. One person was not aware of any identity restrictions, one person suggested that I just save myself some hassle and fly male, another said it should not be a problem so long as I don't look too pretty but look more like a guy (WTF ) and the most disturbing response was . . . "well it is left up to the individual boarding gate agent. If he/she doesn't believe that is you in your ID then they have the right to deny you boarding" So I asked if push came to shove and I removed my wig so they could get a better look at my face would that suffice? The response . . . "It really depends on the agent. If he/she believes that you are trying to conceal your identity by dressing as a woman it is their call. You have the right to complain and seek a second opinion but it is unlikely they will override the initial call and you will be asked to leave." He added that it is not only about the gender you present but how you appear in comparison to the photo ID. He recommended be up front at check in, indicate you are TG and things should be okay as he has never heard of any TG persons being denied boarding a flight based on incongruent ID but then again he could not speak to every case.

Reine,

I asked the agent I talked to about what information is given to employees about what "gender" means. His was response was very telling on how they are applying the term "gender" . . . "Well if you look like a woman and your travel document says "male" then you do not match the gender on your travel documents and this can be an area of concern." I then asked him how does the agent determine if I "look like" a woman. His reply . . . "Well if have longer hair, are wearing women's clothing, make-up and you know look like other women then that is a cause for concern and may be questioned". So, it is easy to see that agents especially in the absence of policy will confuse "look" with "gender". Added to confusion is the other part of the identity screening policy:

5.2 (1) An air carrier shall not transport a passenger if:

(a) the passenger presents a piece of photo identification and does not resemble the photograph;

While I may resemble my boy self when I am presenting as Isha (kind of like a better looking sister ) It is still the boarding gate agent's call in that no guidelines exist for them to go by. So, they are free to interpret the regulation as they wish. If the agent feels I am trying to disguise myself he/she can deny me boarding regardless of whether I take off my wig, remove make-up and strip down to my underwear to prove I am 100% guy. This is just a agent doing due diligence with no other hidden agenda. Now what happens when I go up against an agent whose personal belief about TG persons is that we are an abomination, perverts, creeps and degenerates . . . these people do exist and the balance of probabilities would indicate that some are employed as Air Canada personnel. This same person doesn't have to be overtly discriminative in order to discriminate against us based on personal belief. He/she only need look at my ID, smile and say "Sorry ma'am, but I cannot let you board as your ID picture looks nothing like you. Have a nice day." Oh, I could indicate I am willing to remove my wig (nice embarrassing moment for any TG person) and he/she cans still say "Sorry, for the safety of the plane, I cannot let you board". If I continue to argue I am more likely to find myself flanked by two RCMP Officers being escorted from the airport for being a disturbance.

So in the absence of information (more like disinformation) I have decided to travel as Isha. My plan is to arrive at the airport, present my travel documents and declare myself TG and see what happens. Now the annoying part is that in the absence of clear Air Canada policy to its employees, I will have to go through this each time I board a connecting flight. So it is plausible that I might make it through Ottawa, Toronto only to get denied boarding in Calgary prior to my last flight to Vancouver and even then I could be denied boarding for my flight to Victoria.

Ah . . . now don't you feel safer knowing that crazy fundamentalist TG persons can be kicked from a flight at the whim and fancy of one person's definition of what gender means or how you present.

I'll let you know how it goes . . . keeping my fingers crossed.

Hugs

Isha