03
2011All Aboard–Except the TGirl
Having flown without incident as a girl on a number of occasions in the U.S., I was quite taken aback to read that in Canada – a country most people would regard as more progressive – the law requires airlines to deny boarding to anyone who “does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents.” (Aeronautics Act of Canada Section 5.2(1)(b).)
My experiences in America have been nothing but pleasant. I have sung the praises, on these very pages, of both border agents and security personnel, who have gone out of their way to be accommodating and pleasant.
It never occurred to me that my own country, which has legalized same-sex marriage, gives much greater recognition to common-law spouses, and often even pays for sex-change surgery, would have enacted such a dubious rule in the name of passenger safety.
Either I look like the person in my photo – and can prove my gender if necessary to confirm – or I don’t.
Whether I wear a dress or nail polish or heels should have no bearing on it.
I had intended on wearing a skirt and heels with a slinky tank top on my upcoming flight.
And, I am still going to… except for the heels.
However, to comply with the regulation, I will now gather the skirt into a baggy pair of chinos, wear a loose-fitting polo shirt over my tank-top, and don a pair of running shoes.
By the time my bottom has touched down on my assigned seat in the cabin, the chinos and polo shirt will be in the overhead bin, along with my running shoes, and I will have extracted my heels and makeup kit from my carry-on.
It may cause a few wide-eyed stares from my fellow passengers, but I’m flying as a girl even if I can’t board that way.
I fail to see how security is enhanced by making me jump through these hoops to fly in my chosen gender.
Perhaps it is directed at the man who, not convincingly and for nefarious purposes, dresses up as a woman and presents female ID. But fake ID is fake ID, whether gender is at issue or not.
I don’t know – maybe it makes it easier for the people at the gate to process passengers more quickly.
I don’t know… The U.S. seems to manage alright without singling out trans people. So should Canada.
Mary-Margret Callahan
Here, here!!! I agree 100% This is a dinasaur law and should be extinct. You nailed it on the head when you said that “Fake ID is fake ID”. If the regulation is in place for the sole purpose of preventing a person from circumventing security by disguising themselves then it needs to be amended to state just that and not single out trans people. After all, clothes belonging to one gender is subjective anyway. A kilt is, after all, a traditional male clothing item, right?
cdjanie
The law is quite vaguely drafted, and certainly doesn’t prevent a man from wearing anything he wants – as long as he doesn’t look like a woman. It seems that the more passable you are, the more likely you are to be caught by this restriction.
Fiona Alexis
I’m surprised – if not shocked. I would have thought that your anti discrimination legislation would include protection for trans persons. I believe our laws talk about gender self identification and that it is discriminatory to deny a person services on the grounds that they present in a gender other than their genetic gender. I would also have thought your laws would be similar if not more advanced and that your Aeronautics Act may be in contradiction.
cdjanie
I believe you are right, but it will require someone to challenge the law.
AshelyP
You could also travel via US-based airlines (until they get the law changed). Reason, most US airlines will likely have their own policies based on US Law and regulation which seems to be more accommodating of trans people. You might not have much selection at times, tho.
For a country like Canada, this does seem strange tho.
cdjanie
I doubt that US carriers would be any less bound by Canadian law on Canada than Canadian carriers. But, I’m no expert.
shantown
What awonderful story. YOur determination is awesome.
What did you do with your hair as you checked in and boarded. Even if you had it pulled back, I wonder if most around you simply saw a girl dressed in a casual, gender-neutral way. Even in a polo and chinos you’re still all girl from this view….. :-).