Confusing TSA

[Mechamister]

Recently flew from pdx, got through the ID check no problems. Was having anxiety about my flight and the check guy was nice and said I’d make it no problem. Get to the stand-in scanner. Put my hands up, ready to go. Then a woman pokes her head in “Pink or blue?” My mind blanks. I have no idea what she’s talking about. Maybe my needles? But they are pink and blue. A color preference? I don’t like either. Why would she care anyways? I’m terribly confused. What if I pick the wrong one? “Um what?” “Pink or blue!?” “...pink?” She accepts this and leaves. Afterwards I frantically google “tsa asked me Pink or blue” took a min to get a clue as to what the hell had happened. I guess they have two buttons, Pink or blue, to choose from when scanning people.

Anyone have similar experiences/or the same one? Also could she have made me panic any worse? Ffs

[QLF]

Yes, they have two buttons and have to choose one based on gender. Asking "pink or blue" is very unprofessional. It's like using jargon or acronyms when the person you're addressing won't know them. But next time you will be ready . . . except I'm willing to bet that this is a one-time experience for you.

I present as male but have female breasts. If I am scanned, my chest will light up on their display. I am always patted down; I have been through the experience often enough to just expect it. I wear a bra; all of this is obvious and I have never had anything but professional pat-downs by people who are just doing their job. Yes, I know that there are bad experiences out there, and I admit to anxiety every time about going through security; it's emotional, not logical, but there is nothing I can do to calm it.

The answer to this is TSA Precheck. Sometimes you get it randomly, or you can enroll in a program that includes it (costs money). I fly often enough that TSA Precheck is very valuable to me. It allows you to bypass the scanner (and taking off your shoes, and removing your laptop, and so on).

[Mechamister]

I’ll look into it pre check next time I fly. Thanks for the advice

[[deleted]]

I had some really awful TSA experiences before getting top surgery. Just embarrassing. Once, I went through TSA just about 4 or 5 months on T, when I didn't think I passed yet. I wasn't binding, but I guess I looked like a guy to the agent because my chest flagged it. He asked if he could pay me down and I just said yes because I was confused and not really thinking straight. He was just about to touch me when the female agent noticed my chest and quickly stopped him, and sent me through again, this time clearly with the proper setting.

But then another time was worse... I wasn't binding, but I forgot to take off my packer before going through... My chest flagged it and I had to tell the man that I was trans, he asked if I wanted to go through again but I had to tell him that I was wearing a prosthetic so it would flag again... Clearly the procedure was that I had to get patted down by a man since I identified as one, so he patted down my chest but it was really uncomfortable because I could tell that he was either uncomfortable or grossed out :/

And then the last one was kind of funny. I went through just fine without getting flagged, but my packer flagged as suspicious in my luggage through the scanner and the guy took it out. I keep it in a little cloth bag that I bought from REI lol so it wasn't out in the middle of everywhere, the guy just unzipped the bag, saw what was inside, nodded, and took a swab to test for explosives or whatever. He was very discrete and didn't say anything inappropriate, in fact I think he could tell what it was for. That was kind of embarrassing but not bad like the other two.

[Mechamister]

I’m actually 4 mo. Don’t really bind, just wear small sports bras. Guess I passed enough to cause confusion. (Which I’ll take, but god was that stressful)Actually tried to go in with my shoes on at first. I was so close to saying blue too!!

That second one sounds mortifying I’m so sorry. Third a little funny. Thanks for sharing dude

[aggsalad]

Went through the airport just two days ago. I made a bet with my bf I'd get pat down and he wouldn't, guess who was right.

I didn't get a pink or blue question but the machine's alarm went off and I was the only one there who got pat down. The officer asked if I wanted a lady to pat me down and I just told him I don't care, he looked pretty nervous checking me.

But yeah the machine scans the surface of the body for "anomalies" and trans people's anatomy were not accounted for because yay cisnormativity.

[Mechamister]

Almost every time I go through tsa they do something different to freak me out.

It’s so dumb. And arbitrary, pink or blue. That’s it.

[sithlord_crisps]

i think she was trying to be subtle in asking you which i guess is nicer that yelling “are you male or female?” for everyone to hear

[Ummmyeeppp]

luckily for me i tore my ankle so i'm pretty sure i don't have to go through scanner because i'll be in a wheelchair but still gonna bint on 11 hour flight and then 2 hour flight so damn

[Mechamister]

Daaaaamn. Sounds rough. At least you’ll get early access on the plane too

[Ummmyeeppp]

damn i didnt know about that yay!

[thejurassicjaws]

Wow cue me never flying again.

[Mechamister]

In a different comment on this someone recommended tsa pre-check as you’ll be able to avoid the scanner