Full Body Scans at Airports, Why I Refused

These full body security scanners have been added to many airports nationally and pose a serious privacy risk for trans-identified individuals. When going through security individuals are selected at random to be scanned by this machine instead of your typical walk-through security booth. A person has the option to refuse, but if they take this option they must commit to a full body pat down by a member of the same sex. Going through these machines pose a risk of being outed, subject to further security measures, and other issues for a trans person. Binders would be visible, packing could be visible, etc. Not only could a trans-person’s identity be revealed, something that for many is an incredibly person and private piece of them, but they could then be asked to reveal what the binder or packing is, why they use it, etc. We can all agree that this is not okay.

I first encountered on in the Colorado airport over winter break. I wanted to refuse but the security long was incredibly long, others were waiting for pat downs for multiple reasons, and I was running late. I went into the body scanner, cringed at the sense of guilt as a member of the LGBTQQIAA community and strong activist, and continued on my way. Today, in the airport, I had plenty of time because I had to drive somebody else here in time for her flight, which was two hours earlier than mine. I wondered if I would have the chance to refuse, and I wondered if in my anti-conflict heart I preferred to not have the opportunity to refuse because they would direct me to the regular scanner; but, they didn’t. The security man directed me towards the full body scanner and I confidently refused. With a slightly confused look on his face he directed me towards another man who stood next to me in a roped in box that I needed to wait in. A TSA woman came over and asked which bags were mine to she could grab them from the belt for me and I moved in her direction so I could clearly point out which bins were mine on the piled up belt, where I was told in a strict and almost-fearful voice not to move by the man standing next to my little box. She grabbed my stuff and then I was escorted over to another area where she explained how she was going to pat me down and asked whether I would like the pat-down to be done in private. I said I was fine with it done in the public box, she did it, and I was on my way.

I wished she, or somebody, would have asked why I refused the full body scanner. Usually people have a reason other than “I think it’s wrong,” which likely explained the confused and suspicious way everybody treated me. While I completely understand the need for strict, harsh, watchful security in an airport, I was annoyed by the fact that my decision turned what is usually a friendly process for a 20-year-old 5’3” girl in to and experience that made me feel like I was suspected of dangerous activity and going to be on slightly close watch for the day. I think that, above all, was why I wished somebody had asked me why I refused, so I could explain to them that I was just like the countless of innocent people trying to get from one place to another. I wasn’t doing anything suspicious, was not trying to get around and security measures, or hide anything - I was trying to make a point that this system isn’t right, and that I will take a stand for it even if it doesn’t apply to me.  Just because something doesn’t affect you and your life every day doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you at all. I am a cisgendered bisexual woman and my body scan would have appeared completely “normal” to their standards, but I am not free until all gender-identities are free.

Kony 2012 - After those moments of reflecting on your own gratefulness for the life you've been given.

The whole eruption of the Kony 2012 campaign has put a lot of people into a place of deep reflection on their own lives; how am I fortunate in ways I never consider, am I doing enough to give back, and how can I enrich my life by contributing to organizations like these? What upset me most about the campaign is that a huge aspect of it is that nobody, or at least very few people, know about this. The aspect of this whole reflection that came after those initial questions, for me, was that here is another organization putting forth a cause that is incredibly worthy of attention and support. Here are people suffering in ways that most of the world is oblivious too, and they deserve our aid and support. How do I know where to focus my energy and resources and fight, when there are so many important "fights" that I already am aware of let alone the ones that I have clearly lived a good part of my life being unaware of. As of right now I give most of the time and donations a college student can give to organizations that support LGBT equality, environmental and wildlife foundations, and, if I can spare it, support foundations for teen suicide and self harm like To Write Love on Her Arms. Now that already ignores my devotion to women's rights, the battle against rape and sexual assault victims, the right to health care for all within the United States, those in Japan who are still homeless from the tsunami, poverty, racial issues, and religious oppression. This post is not to in any way lessen the importance of the issue that Kony2012 sheds light on; it is an incredibly important issue that has my support and action to both educate and contribute to the resources necessary to combat it. This post is meant to express the overwhelming helplessness I feel in knowing that I, and others, have lived so long without knowing the suffering of these people and acknowledging that, given that fact, there are probably countless other battles to be fought that we don't know about, too; furthermore, it's to express the helplessness I feel even in having three or four serious causes I would like to give to and can't.

Ultimately you can't make an argument for whose plight is worse, who needs your help more, or who needs more resources; you just can't. Is it children who worry about being abducted and forced to kill their parents; is it the partner of a 15 years of a soldier who risked her life for me, and you, and everybody else in this country, who is in a hospital bed alone because her girlfriend isn't legally allowed to see her in states like New Jersey; is it the red pandas being illegally hunted and ruthlessly skinned alive, all for their fur, that don't even have a voice? As I said, everybody can have their priorities, but nobody can deem one inequality worse or moe important than another.

The only conclusion I can come to is to set my feet in to causes that I attach my life to; these are the ones that consume my life because I am an LGBT feminist woman who is simultaneously passionate about the psychology of severely troubled young adults and animals. In addition, when a new cause such as a natural disaster tragedy or as it did tonight with Kony2012, I will do what I think is the right thing and contribute what I can but not sideline the causes to which I dedicate my life. I am coming to the... yes, helpless... conclusion that I can't give my heart to every cause, but I can contribute and say I made a difference without abandoning those organizations that have always had my unwavering support, unconditional dedication, and heart. I can't save the world, but we can.