Outraged Mom Sues TSA After Her Transgender Daughter Is Traumatized By Strip Search

A mom is livid after an incident in 2019 left her child traumatized. The North Carolina mom is suing the Transportation Security Administration after its officers inappropriately checked her transgender daughter's genitals when she was going through airport security.

Kimberly and Jamii Erway were traveling through the Raleigh-Durham International Airport when it occurred. Jamii, who uses she/her pronouns, was only 15 at the time.

When they were being checked, the TSA reportedly "detected an anomaly" around Jamii's groin. Since Jamii identifies as a woman, that scan made her feel as if her current genitalia was a security threat.

While it makes sense that safety is the TSA's priority, it was still a moment that made Jamii incredibly uncomfortable, showcasing that there's still a lot of work to be done when it comes to making those who are transgender feel safe and secure in this world.

So, what happened? The TSA actually has a rundown on its website of how those who identify as transgender are screened. "TSA recognizes the concerns that some members of the transgender community may have with certain security screening procedures at the nation’s security checkpoints," it says. "TSA is committed to ensuring all travelers are treated with respect and courtesy. Screening is conducted without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity, national origin, religion or disability."

According to the TSA, it's all about presentation. "When you enter the imaging portal, the TSA officer presses a button designating a gender (male/female) based on how you present yourself," the site explains. "The machine has software that looks at the anatomy of men and women differently. The equipment conducts a scan and indicates areas on the body warranting further inspection if necessary. If there is an alarm, TSA officers are trained to clear the alarm, not the individual. Additional screening is conducted to determine whether a prohibited item is present."

"If you cannot or choose not to be screened by advanced imaging technology or a walk-through metal detector, you will undergo a pat-down procedure instead," the site continues. "You may also undergo a pat-down procedure if you alarm the screening equipment and/or at random. If a pat-down is performed, it will be conducted by an officer of the same gender as you present yourself. Screening can be conducted in a private screening area with a witness or companion of the traveler's choosing."

The lawsuit mentions why Jamii was flagged. "The body scanner indicated an anomaly was present on Jamii's groin area," it says, per Today. "Jamii, like all transgendered individuals, is more likely to encounter false positives (while screening) because although she appears female, she [possesses] external genitalia and thus will trigger a false-positive unless the screener presses male."

According to the lawsuit, Jamii told the scanner that she was transgender. However, instead of giving her a second scan with this information, the person called their supervisor for extra help. She was reportedly not given the options that the TSA states directly on its website, and instead she felt violated.

The supervisor, who has remained anonymous in the lawsuit, reportedly said that "she would need to accompany her to a private room, expose herself, and allow (the supervisor) to 'feel up in there,' i.e., touch her genitals." That, alone, seems like a terrifying situation when officers could have just scanned Jamii once again knowing that she was transgender.

Jamii reportedly protested this type of search. When her mom went to check and see that she was OK, she was reportedly told to "mind her own business," adding stress to an already stressful situation. But then she was asked to "force Jamii to submit to the strip-search" against her will.

The supervisor then tried to get the police involved, who reportedly said that they "would not be assisting in the detention of Jamii." From there, Jamii and her mom felt safer driving 600 miles to their destination rather than flying. TSA officers seemingly blew up a situation by not even adhering to the TSA's own policy.

Trying to force anyone to disrobe in front of a stranger in order to fly seems a little out of hand, especially when Jamii herself explained what the anomaly was. The incident caused Jamii a lot of trauma and pain, especially when she's in a situation where life is already a few degrees more difficult than many of her peers. She and her mom are suing because the TSA breached its own policy and added discomfort to the situation.

Jamii isn't the only person who has suffered this type of abuse before. Once her story was told, many others who identify as trans shared their own personal stories of having to out themselves, often to no avail. Jamii's mother, Kimberly, hired lawyer Jonathan Corbett to help them with their case.

"TSA policy at the time of the incident did not allow a screener to demand anyone — let alone a child — expose their genitals as part of a search," he said, per Today. "This failure of training and supervision is all too common with the TSA, and we look forward to holding them accountable." The horrifying incident that rerouted the entire day for Kimberly and Jamii has since been stuck in Jamii's mind. As a child, it can be especially hard to stand up for yourself in front of an adult.

Not only did Jamii suffer from panic and emotional distress, but it's turned her off from flying. Being forced to do a strip search is mortifying by itself. But it's worse with a child, and it's worse when it involves showing genitalia. It's hard to imagine what Jamii was feeling in that moment, but her lawsuit will try to ensure it never happens again.

It seems like incidents like this happen far more often than people realize, and many have similar stories where the TSA made them feel ashamed, embarrassed, or nervous over their identity. Something needs to change so that all passengers feel safe not only in the air but in the airport prior to boarding. Hopefully, Jamii will be able to use her experience to make change for others.