Washington, DC, August 17, 2009-The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rolled out
a new phase of their Secure Flight program over the weekend. Passengers will
now be required to provide their birth date and gender when they book an
airline ticket as part of a move to help distinguish passengers from those on
the government's "watch list" (often called the "no-fly" list).
NCTE has issued a new FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about
the Secure Flight program and its impact on transgender people. The resource
includes information about how to navigate the new process, particularly if you
have identification that does not match your gender presentation. NCTE firmly
supports the right of transgender people to maintain our privacy and to travel
freely.
NCTE has been engaged in ongoing work with TSA and
administration officials about the Secure Flight program. There appears to be
no chance of having the requirement of listing gender lifted; however, we will
continue to work on how the policy is implemented in order to minimize the
negative impacts. We are also monitoring the impact on transgender travelers.
If you encounter difficulties when you travel, please contact us as
202-903-0112 and let us know. We may be able to provide you with assistance and
the information can also help us as we work with TSA to help prevent future
problems.
You can read more information in the New York Times
about the Secure Flight Program.
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