The Canada air travel thing has been getting a lot of traction around the Internet since I posted yesterday, even reaching the pages of Jezebel. The issue is getting a lot of attention from feminists, because it could so easily be used to target cis women. If you have short hair, don’t wear make-up, and for comfort have decided to travel in jeans, a baggy t-shirt and sneakers, you could, under these regulations, be denied boarding. Airline and security officials should not be given the power to police how people dress.

As far as we know, that isn’t happening, and it seems it would probably be OK for me to travel. However, it is certainly a badly worded regulation that could easily be mis-used, and it is a very real issue for many trans people who are barred from using air travel as a result.

There is, as usual, an online petition. If you are Canadian you might also consider writing to the Minister for Transport:

Hon. Denis Lebel, Ministre des Transports | Minister of Transport
Courriel | E-mail: denis.lebel@parl.gc.ca
Phone: 613-996-6236
Fax: 613-996-6252
Adresse postale (sans timbre) | Mailing Address (postage free) : Hon. Denis Lebel, Chambre des communes/House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6