Flying while trans

coati said:

I was not aware that it had been definitively proven that the newer microwave scanning technologies do not have any effect on biological systems. Being a skeptical luddite, I'll probably keep avoiding this technology, as well as holding a cell phone next to my brain for long periods each day. I do appreciate that others are willing to act as experimental subjects for these new technologies.

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"I personally dislike cell phones, but can their use lead to cancer?

All known cancer-inducing agents—including [ionizing] radiation, certain chemicals, and a few viruses—act by breaking chemical bonds, producing mutant strands of DNA. Electromagnetic radiation [the kind produced by cell phones] is absorbed by molecules as discrete packets of energy called 'photons.' The energy of a photon is determined by the wavelength; the shorter the wavelength, the higher the energy. Not until the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum is reached, beyond visible light, beyond infrared and far, far beyond microwaves, do photons have sufficient energy to break chemical bonds. It's a little like trying to hit an object across a river with a stone... it won't matter how many stones you throw if you can't throw that far. Microwave photons heat tissue, but they do not come close to the energy needed to break chemical bonds, no matter how intense the radiation...

Regardless of how convincing the evidence exonerating cell phones may be, there will continue to be those who will argue that the issue has not been completely settled."

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LustreMunky said:

How does one fly trains?

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pplwatching said:

You seem pre-disposed to believe the worst of the TSA. I am not in a position to say whether or not that's justified, other than to say that this hasn't been my experience.

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temp256 said:

I posted this in the GLBT forum initially, but it quickly got bumped off into obscurity.

I was just offered an all expenses paid trip for a job interview. The only problem is it involves flying, something I haven't done in over a decade.

Flying itself doesn't bother me, but airport security in the US has only gotten more and more invasive and absurd. They molest everyone, and would further harass someone like me for fun. I'm not sure what to do.

As a bit of background, I'm a transwoman. All my papers are in order, my appearance is perfectly passable, and no one is the wiser. At least, unless they conduct searches which in any other circumstance would be considered sexual assault. I'll be flying entirely within the US, so no customs to worry about.

What is the level of idiocy in the TSA these days? Is there anything I can do to prevent persecution? There's no way I'll ever step into a nudie scanner, but what about the groping?

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curvycutie39 said:

I'm not sure what airports you've travelled in but theres no groping involved! I've sometimes been patted down if I beep for done reason coming through the scanner. if you're a male a male member of staff will do it and if you're a female a female member of staff will do it. at no point do they touch your crotch!

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