ShadSterling1d ago
Joelle

Trans folks who have flown recently or soon:

I'm creating a list of experiences of trans travelers with airport security, because there is a lot of scary stuff out there, and it's hard for people to know what the "ground truth" is. Please add your experiences when you go through security!

PLEASE boost & share!

The form is here to provide anonymous airport security experiences: https://forms.gle/Ui2jq8u8qEGEfCMw6

You can see the responses as I approve them (can take days) here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12IHWmQgBww2rW7Smi-wQxYTpE0FacE2A7KRvJzL1x4M/edit?usp=sharing

Trans+ Airport Security Experience Form

Please provide your experience as a trans person traveling through airport security. If you went through airport security at multiple locations along your journey, please submit additional forms for each security checkpoint you went through (for instance, if you flew from Dallas, connected in Toronto but had to also go through security there, and continued onto a third destination, you would complete one of these for Dallas and one for Toronto).

Google Docs
Apr 6 at 4:03amWeb
Show threadIrenes (many)1d ago
for anyone who listens to us: we vouch for @joelle
Show threadSammi1d ago
@joelle Are you talking worldwide or just the US/America?
Show threadPoindex761d ago

@joelle

Thank you for undertaking this project.

One thing to consider is that some folks consider Google untrustworthy from a privacy standpoint. I’ve switched over to CryptPad, but there are other privacy-focused alternatives.

Here’s a pretty nice guide to deGoogling.

https://tuta.com/blog/degoogle-list

DeGoogle list with best private alternatives | 2026 | Tuta

2026 is the year to deGoogle! In this guide, we take a look at the best private Google alternatives so that you can say hello to privacy!

Tuta
Show threadＮＯＲＭＩＥ1d ago

@joelle I don't think Trans+ people who support Palestine can risk going on holiday in case they never return

or even afford to, with the cost of living crisis and the way society treats them as second class citizens

I'll boost because some people are more privileged, passing, conforming to society's expectations than me

but I don't even travel around the UK anymore. I know where I'm not welcome... most of planet Earth

Show threadash 1d ago
@joelle is this poll actually intended for an international audience? I can't help but notice the form options are very US centric and only US airports are in the answers so far...
Show threadCharlie O’Hara1d ago
@joelle these questions assume you’re both visibly trans and that you live in the USA.
Show threadJoelle1d ago

@awfulwoman
I tried not to do either of these things. If you think the existing options don't fit (for instance, you want to note you aren't visible or you want to note you are), that can be added either to the gender or to the notes fields.

I'm not sure how it doesn't work for non-USA travelers (I did just change the option for security line to make it a bit better), but am interested in what I'm missing.

Show threadprey ⏿1d ago
@joelle hm, dont really understand the options for the security line type, nor remember the exact dates :(
so, since it can't submit the form:

it and partner had some really really bad experiences at BER airport specifically, ranging from {trans,nb}phobia ("your existence offends me") to outright sexual assault!
have contacted airport management about them in the past which has had at least a momentary impact it seems, but no admission of guilt nor apology on that end either... absolutely insane.

have had okay to good experiences at LCY, LIS, AMS, LGW
Show threadJoelle1d ago
@ny
I'm sorry you had a really bad experience. That's horrible. Estimated dates on the form are fine, if you can estimate them. If you went through the "normal" line, that's the "general" line. But I've also made that question optional.
Show threadEmmeline1d ago
@joelle the best solution is honesty to not fly at all. Ice has already started operating at airports so there is now a double whammy for people of color who are also trans. Not much can be done to circumvent them. You can’t change skin color.