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ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

Thats interesting what you say there Darcy - about the chain.

In my younger, and more stupid (yes, I was once even more daft than now) I studied some self defence techniques using of all things, a BIC biro as a weapon. Absolutely deadly if one knows what to do with it. And I take them on planes in my bag all the time - gotta have something to do the crossword with.

Then there's my high heels. I certainly wouldnt want a crack on the head even with the 2'' heels I wear, let alone anything higher and more stabby.

And I can take a lighter on board - what fun. (though obviously, more than one lighter is dangerous). How about I take the Times to the toilet, screw the pages into fire sticks, light them and start throwing them out the door into the passenger area?

And there's my belt, which I can strangle someone with.

And my personal favourite - pose as a diabetic, necessitating the taking of a needle on board. Halfway through flight, draw some blood, grab a hostess and announce I have HIV and will inject said hostess with infected blood should this that or the other not be done (in flight drinks at half price would be a reasonable demand I think).

And I failed my Al Quaeda interview. Shame really, as I have the most deadly combination of terrorist paraphernalia ever devised - a female passport and a penis.

E

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen
I'm just pondering whether to email the department concerned, as a UK business person wishing to come to the US and as a TS person, to ask what if any special procedures and or documents I might need to gain entry......

E

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ORIGINAL: ownedgirlie

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ORIGINAL: adoracat

*now* they do, yes.  this was before the shoe-removal regulation happened.  my son and i were pulled out for a random search...

they searched me but NOT the wheelchair.  and yes, a padded seat could conceal something, you know? 

i dont mind so much the regulations that are now in place.  although they did lead to some amusement when i was wearing cowboy boots and needed help from the imp in removing them.  :)

if *everyone* is treated the same, i have no issues.  its annoying, yes, but if everyone is annoyed the same, so be it.

kitten

Oh ok, I was incorrectly thinking you meant recently. 

My Dad - a 76 year old man with cancer and a walker - was also asked to step away from the walker, lift the chair portion of it  (there is storage underneath) and remove his slippers, also.  He grumbled a little, until my Mom told him to knock it off - the bigger the stir a person creates, the bigger the fiasco, ya know?

I didn't mean to point you out critically, adoracat.  I agree it is unfortunate and annoying what we have to go through now, and that prejudices are never good. 

For the heck of it, I Googled information about Transgenders flying internationally and passport issues - there were several articles pointing out the confusion that can occur, and listed tips in limiting the problems that have been known to happen.  They also list links where people can go to file harrassment complaints.  It is my belief that anyone with a changed passport or questionable situation should look into such issues before traveling.  It didn't take me long to find enough articles that indicated TGs often have problems flying internationally.  Some of those articles came from TG groups, such as TG Crossroads and TS Roadmap.  There is also a pretty decent article from the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office, stating international travel tips for those who are transgender.  Apparently international travel is a known problem for transgenders, and there are several groups working toward educating those in authority and creating rules that are a bit more fair. 

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ORIGINAL: farglebargle

quote:


My thoughts exactly. I reserve judgment until I see some actual facts, not just what one side has asserted. It's just that this person's story allows everyone to jump on the bandwagon and bemoan some facet of this country and its government and how it's run.

Since the government in question is TORTURING PRISONERS, I'm don't understand why any rational person would give it the benefit of the doubt.

The price of Liberty and Freedom is accepting the risks inherent in All having Liberty and Freedom. If someone is too much of a coward to accept those risks, I can understand why the Security Theater at the Airports would come as a comfort to their tiny little brains.

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ORIGINAL: lazarus1983

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ORIGINAL: farglebargle

quote:


My thoughts exactly. I reserve judgment until I see some actual facts, not just what one side has asserted. It's just that this person's story allows everyone to jump on the bandwagon and bemoan some facet of this country and its government and how it's run.

Since the government in question is TORTURING PRISONERS, I'm don't understand why any rational person would give it the benefit of the doubt.

The price of Liberty and Freedom is accepting the risks inherent in All having Liberty and Freedom. If someone is too much of a coward to accept those risks, I can understand why the Security Theater at the Airports would come as a comfort to their tiny little brains.

It's a basic concept called "innocent until proven guilty."