*Advisory - Please Take Precautions When Traveling - Advisory* PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN TRAVELING The following editorial will appear in IFGE's Transgender Tapestry magazine, #96. Because the subject of the editorial is important and timely, GAIN and IFGE are cooperating in this early release. Remember 09-11-01 Please Take Precautions When Traveling The mood of America has changed, and future months will doubtless see even more change. Americans are furious, considering that there is a state of war -- but there is no clear target for the anger. This is already translating into lack of toleration of those who are different. One obvious target for the people's rage is individuals with olive skin. Perhaps a less obvious target will be transgendered and transsexual people. We urge our readers, and especially our readers from the Middle East, to take precautions to ensure their safety, especially in public spaces like airports, train and bus stations, malls, parks, and on the streets. Increased security at airports will result in an insistence that photos on documents of identification match the individual's appearance. Those who customarily fly cross-dressed without matching ID may find themselves grounded, and may be questioned by authorities. This is an issue primarily of security, but prejudice against transpeople may make matters worse. Those who customarily fly crossdressed might consider whether it would be wiser not to do so in the next few months. For those who decide to fly crossdressed anyway, and for those who have transitioned gender roles, we suggest you make sure your photo identification matches your appearance. If it doesn't, now would be a good time to get your ID updated. You should also consider carrying supporting documents such as letters from your support group, therapist, and physician explaining who you are and what you are doing. If you should be removed from a flight, we suggest you not make a fuss at the scene. Save your complaints for later, when they will not put you in danger of being arrested.
	IFGE - Dallas Denny GAIN
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