I’ve never celebrated “National Transgender Day of Visibility” before, but I might start if it means the slow dismantling of the Transportation Security Administration’s ridiculous security screening rules.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske announced “on this internationally recognized day for the transgender community” that the TSA would soon be implementing “more secure and efficient screening processes that are gender neutral.” Part of this initiative includes reducing the number of “pat-down screenings” conducted by TSA agents.
I’m very happy that the TSA will be conducting fewer pat-downs. And I absolutely believe them when they say that fewer pat-downs won’t make airline travel any less secure. But why did we need a National Transgender Day of Visibility to make this policy change?
If we will be just as secure with fewer pat-downs after National Transgender Day of Visibility, why wouldn’t we have been secure with fewer pat-downs earlier?
Also, why do we still have to take off our shoes? Literally no other country does this.
Maybe next National Transgender Day of Visibility, the TSA will abandon this useless bit of security theater as well.
At least the rest of America will get something out of this holiday.
