Jordan
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As we all know (or probably not), public policy in this country is generally a able bodied male-dominated bloodsport. We've all heard the Chicago welfare queen myth, which has been used to feminize poverty and eliminated much needed social programs in the name of "making people pull themselves up by the bootstraps". And of course, especially here in Western Pennsylvania, we have "job creation" in the form of jobs at frack sites (hint to author: the reason why many women don't work in these field jobs is because the combination of toxic chemicals, the ability to get pregnant, the length of pregnancy, and the "roughneck" nature of these jobs make it extremely hard).
And now, joining the world of patriarchal public policy decisions, the Transportation Security Administration!!!
This does not sit well with me, not only as one of those annoying "feminazis" that Rush Limbaugh loves to bloviate about, but as a transgender person, a sexual assault survivor, and a civil libertarian, this doesn't sit well with me.
Transgender people tend to have issues relating to body dysphoria, and frankly, strangers touching one's junk is one thing, but to touch something that I wish I didn't have on my body is too traumatic to think about; not to mention the fact that not many people are sensitive to the issues surrounding being transgender and will be subject to ridicule and humiliation by some airline employees, and makes me NOT want to fly (of course, I'm more of a road tripper anyway).
On to sexual assault, I honestly feel that the people who work in the TSA are being ordered to commit rape by coercion, basically stating that if you do not wish to be violated in more ways than one, the best case scenario is that we cannot get on a plane, the worst case scenario is being arrested and of course, if booked into the county jail, the chances of getting sexually assaulted again are elevated. These people who work for the TSA claim that they are just "following orders", and as we learned in Nuremburg, THAT IS NO EXCUSE!!!
And on being a civil libertarian, do I have to explain here!!!
And while I can't say I've been in this woman's situation, Sean Hannity has been talking a lot about a breast cancer survivor who had to remove her prosthetic. If this policy is not insensitive towards women's issues, I don't know what is!!!
But fear not, transgender/genderqueer people, breast cancer survivors, sexual assault survivors, and anyone who is just plain concerned about the TSA, former Congressman Bob Barr (yes, I know he's a Republican, but he's in the right here) has created an opt out card program. Though I only heard about this now, and its prob too late to request it for Thanksgiving travel, you should get your card for Xmas travel.
Because this is an issue that has brought people of many demographics together and I would like to see a resolution, not just for civil liberties, but the idea of feminism and trans-inclusiveness.
And here as a bonus: Transgender Travellers and New TSA Policies
-Jordan Gwendolyn
Policy
Sexual Violence and Dating/Relationship Violence
Transgender Issues
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These scanners will not detect a bomb, explosives, drugs, or anything else if they are ingested or inserted into a body cavity. And what if someone tries to blow up a plane that way? Will the TSA make everyone drop trou and bend over for a body cavity search? I think all this is disgusting, and I will resist every step of the way.