Transgender travelers get a helping hand
As we enter the busy holiday travel season, the Washington, D.C. based National Center for Transgender Equality yesterday released tips and information to help transgender and gender non-conforming people get through airport security.
While acknowledging that most transgender and gender non-conforming people do not experiencing problems with airport security, NCTE believes that “seasonal Holiday travel uptick can mean things are more hectic and potentially confusing for travelers and for Transportation Security Officers than usual.”
NCTE recommends that individuals take simple steps to ensure a smooth experience at airport security including:
- Ensuring that the name and gender on your ticket reservation match the government-issued ID you bring to the airport with you. The gender on your identification and on your ticket reservation does not need to match your current gender presentation.
- Downloading the Fly Rights iPhone and Android application before your travel, which makes it easy to report complaints directly with the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
- For frequent travelers, exploring the TSA Pre-Check program which offers “expedited screening.”
American Airlines Rainbow Team posted a link to NCTE’s complete resource guide on its Facebook page.
The LGBT marketing division for American also posted a message stating that “At American Airlines, we know the holidays and busy travel can be stressful for all. For our transgender family members and friends, we are doubly sensitive….We agree absolutely that all travelers have a right to safety, privacy and respect.”
American Airlines was the first airline to receive and maintain at perfect 100 rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index since the inception of the index in 2002. American has maintained its rating even after changing in the scoring criteria were made that focused on equality for transgender employees.
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