Shadi Petosky TSA Trangender Woman Detained

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At 4:08 p.m. on Monday, a transgender writer and producer named Shadi Petosky started tweeting about an air-travel nightmare. But Petosky wasn't moaning about being stuck on the runway or bemoaning the lack of complimentary snacks — she alleged she was being discriminated against by TSA agents for being trans. She tweeted out, "I am being held by the TSA in Orlando because of an 'anomaly' (my penis)." Petosky went on to chronicle her alleged detention, explaining she was asked her sex and told not to take photos of the incident. Her tweets are below, but we can't verify her story at this time. The TSA did not respond immediately to requests for comments. According to Petosky, after "forty minutes, two body patdowns" she was released, but had missed her plane. Petosky is the executive producer at PUNY, an interactive entertainment studio. She has been an animator supervisor on Yo Gabba Gabba and briefly on Parks and Recreation.

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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

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

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

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

They told me to get myself together, I am sobbing, not belligerent.
— 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

Update: At 6:34 p.m., American Airlines tweeted at Petosky, saying, "We're sorry for any inconvenience you had while going through security, Shadi. We're glad to see you're rebooked." Petosky responded, "News to me! I am in the corner charging my phone. How? Where?"

@shadipetosky We're sorry for any inconvenience you had while going through security, Shadi. We're glad to see you're rebooked.
— American Airlines (@AmericanAir) September 21, 2015

Update: On September 22, TSA spokesman Mike England responded to our request for comment with this statement, "Our officers are trained to properly screen members of the transgender community. TSA takes all potential civil rights violations very seriously and conducted a review of the incident. After examining closed circuit TV video and other available information, TSA has determined that the evidence shows our officers followed TSA’s strict guidelines. Supervisory personnel and a Passenger Support Specialist participated in the screening to ensure guidelines were met.”

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