Shadi Petosky, a transgender woman, was detained unexpectedly at the Orlando airport on Monday after the TSA allegedly decided that her genitalia didn't match up to their (mis)perceptions about gender. The TSA had yet to release a statement by the time that comedian Tig Notaro's account (which is often run by others) tweeted to her 39,000 followers to watch Petosky's tweets.
Transgender woman live-tweets her expulsion from Orlando airport
A brief programming interruption: Follow what @TSA and @AmericanAir are pulling on @shadipetosky
— Tig Notaro (@TigNotaro) September 21, 2015 .@JennyBoylan TSA takes all potential civil rights violations very seriously. We are looking into the situation now for further information.
— TSA (@TSA) September 21, 2015 Below is Petosky’s personal account of what happened, organized from her first tweet to most recent as of publishing. She expresses frustration, confusion, and outright indignation about the treatment she received by the TSA and police officers, who asked her at one point what her sex was.
I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an "anomaly" (my penis)
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I would like any help I can get at the Orlando airport.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 The TSA at the Orlando Airport told me I couldn't take photos but this is denigrating. I have missed my flight pic.twitter.com/PHwBLiJ0cB
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 The TSA has left me in a room alone. There is an officer holding the door. pic.twitter.com/aFA0cQxAGx
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 TSA agent Bramlet told me to get back in the machine as a man or it was going to be a problem.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 TSA agents are now saying their are explosives alarm from my hands and the officers gloves when she gave me a full body pat down.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I asked TSA agent Bramlet if he had any training in trans issues. He said "I know what I am doing"
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I fly all the time and this has never happened. I really thought the TSA was good about trans issues. I am so dumb.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Cop asked me what sex I was. I told him I wasn't going to answer that question. I am complying but come on.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 It became increasingly difficult for Petosky to continue to tweet from her account
They're telling me they have to take my phone. I told them that I want to use this to keep a record of what is happening
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 A man a brown suit came and whispered to TSA agent Sean San Roman to make sure I am not taking photos or video.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 There are now 2 police officers, 1 explosives specialist and four TSA agents. They're taking my phone for screening
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Petosky ironically took a survey about TSA treatment following the difficult ordeal
I am through. It was about 40 minutes, 2 full body pat downs, fully disassembled luggage. I missed my flight. pic.twitter.com/wLTvP3md9W
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I don't think my body is an anomaly. I like tons of people with my body. Can there be more buttons?
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 It’s after missing her flight that Petosky had to re-book
They told me to rebook my flight at the gate, I rebook my flight at the counter I will have to go through screening and would be reflagged.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I am going to look for any open American Airlines gate in the airport to rebook. I am prob being hyper vigilant about logging publically.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Then she was allegedly asked to leave the airport
A TSA agent is telling me to leave the airport. I asked them to please call a supervisor, I just want to get to an American Airlines gate
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Well shit. pic.twitter.com/XHnameY3Rc
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 All I am trying to do now is peacefully find an American Airlines gate so I can rebook.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 To get a new boarding pass through American Airlines. So I am back out of the secure area being escorting by a police officer.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 After missing her flight and being asked to leave, someone instructed Petosky to get herself “together”
They told me to get myself together, I am sobbing, not belligerent.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 At American Airlines ticket counter trying to rebook. They say there are no more flights to Minneapolis today. I am asking for anywhere.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Petosky was put on stand by for future flights
American Airlines says that if I want to for sure fly out of Orlando today it's $955.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 They're offering standby in this hostile airport.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 The delays caused Petosky plenty of stress and possibly money
My point of listing the prices is not to get money. It's to show cost when the TSA detains trans bodies (Plus time, denigration)
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 People in the community are talking crowd funding initiatives but please don't. Class privileges aren't my current issue. Much love.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Petosky retained her sense of humor, though
Reporters are calling me but please leave the lines open for American Airlines or actor Kyle Chandler.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 It’s at this point that an American Airlines manager (or someone reporting to be one) suggested she request “private screenings”
American Airlines manager is telling me that "in the future ask for a private screening"
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I literally want to no lectures from American Airlines on how to travel while trans. I want the same privileges as cis people.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I left the American Airlines counter. I'm need to recharge my phone and nap, then eat something.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 They can put me on standby for an 8pm flight to Miami but there are storms there. Can anyone talk to whomever runs weather in Miami?
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 I guess everyone knows about my junk now. 99% sure I'll regret this tomorrow.
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 My phone is 1% so I'm going to rest / charge it before I do anything. Don't want to do anything here without my phone pic.twitter.com/ZSR2iXVn3D
— Shadi Petosky (@shadipetosky) September 21, 2015 Concerningly, Petosky was tweeted at by American Airlines about her rebooked flight, which she had yet to confirm for herself. Follow Petosky’s Twitter account for further updates.
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