Transgender Woman Detained By T.S.A. Because Her Penis Was Identified As An Anomaly, Shadi Petosky Searched For Explosives After Male Organ Misidentified

The Transportation Security Administration (T.S.A.) is defending their decision to detain a transgender woman after misidentifying her penis as an anomaly and assuming it was an explosive device. Shadi Petosky was detained for 40 minutes while the ordeal took place, missing her flight in the process.

Petosky, 40-years-old, was screened by a flight scanner which provided a view of her body, underneath her clothes. The scanner flagged her as an anomaly, coercing T.S.A. agents to taker her aside and pat her down. Petosky attempted to explain that the anomaly was nothing more than her penis, but the Orlando International Airport screeners were not taking any chances. The issue arose because she walked through a scanner than was geared toward women. When the extra appendage was discovered, Petosky was flagged immediately, according to Metro.

After explaining that it was her penis, and not an explosive device, the T.S.A. agents decided that she would need to walk through scanner that portrayed her as a male to prove it was actually her penis. Petosky explained that the agents were confused on how to proceed, actually arguing with each other to decide the next steps, according to the New York Times.

“The T.S.A. agents were kind of arguing with each other about process.”

Although Shadi Petosky shared the experience on social media, she felt embarrassed by the entire situation.

“I’m embarrassed about it. It is just a coincidence that I got a pat down for my genitals, then I had the worst agent and then I tested positive for explosives.”

Mike England, a spokesperson for the T.S.A., spoke out to the media and advised that recordings of the situation were conducted and it appears as though there was no wrongdoing during the screening.

“After examining closed-circuit TV video and other available information, T.S.A. has determined that the evidence shows our officers followed T.S.A.’s strict guidelines. Supervisory personnel and a passenger support specialist participated in the screening to ensure guidelines were met.”

The incident resulted in Petosky missing her flight. While trying to organize a new flight, the staff sold and refunded her an upgraded flight, then contacted police to have her removed from the airport. The police intervened, taking Petosky’s side in the matter and demanded that she receive a boarding pass for the next available flight. The airline booked the new flight at no charge.

In the future, the T.S.A. suggested Petosky ask for a private screening to avoid further embarrassment.

[Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images News]