# Gay TSA officers allowed to grope same-sex passengers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457 "2010-11-21T17:46:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gruntled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/34f0e0/32.png) [@Gruntled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gruntled)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/1 "2010-11-21T17:46:57Z")
From here: [http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2010/11/18/tsa-enhanced-pat-downs-the-screeners-point-of-view/](http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2010/11/18/tsa-enhanced-pat-downs-the-screeners-point-of-view/) A gay male TSA officer complaining about having to pat down women: _ **“Do you think I want to go to work and place my hands between women’s legs and touch their breasts for a few hours? For starters, I am attracted to men, not women…** _ So…the TSA insists that only male officers grope male passengers and vice-versa for women. How is allowing gay officers to grope same-sex passengers any different than opposite-sex groping? How is this fair to either party? **Note: Not homophobic…just asking a factual question here.** ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/2 "2010-11-21T18:02:54Z")
Homeland Security oughta just farm this gig out to the Zeta Reticulans. When you need an orifice probed, who better to call than the guys who have been honing the art for almost half a century? ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/3 "2010-11-22T00:22:51Z")
Is there any particular reason you say the quote in question was from a gay male? It’s not identified by gender in any way. Since the TSA, as I understand it, uses gropers of the same sex as the passenger to be groped, I think it’s a straight woman that’s responsible for the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/4 "2010-11-22T01:43:46Z")
God damn it just grope her and stop your griping. Do your fucking job or quit. There are a thousand people that will do your job in a minute. ---
**Author:** ![2ply](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/b2d939/32.png) [@2ply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ply)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/5 "2010-11-22T01:45:39Z")
Silly goose, there aren’t any gay TSA agents. They make the foo-foos flight attendants. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/6 "2010-11-22T06:14:52Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Is there any particular reason you say the quote in question was from a gay male? It’s not identified by gender in any way. Since the TSA, as I understand it, uses gropers of the same sex as the passenger to be groped, I think it’s a straight woman that’s responsible for the quote. Yes, women pat down women, so the quote is not from a gay male. What an odd assumption to make. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/7 "2010-11-22T07:52:34Z")
What about straight TSA officers who unknowingly are patting down a gay person, huh? What about THEM? Maybe we could have separate lines: ``` Straight women who consent to being patted down by other straight women Straight women who consent to being patted down by gay women Straight women who consent to being patted down by straight men Straight women who consent to being patted down by gay men Gay women who consent to being patted down by straight women Gay women who consent to being patted down by other gay women Gay women who consent to being patted down by straight men Gay women who consent to being patted down by gay men Straight men who consent to being patted down by straight women Straight men who consent to being patted down by gay women Straight men who consent to being patted down by other straight men Straight men who consent to being patted down by gay men Gay men who consent to being patted down by straight women Gay men who consent to being patted down by gay women Gay men who consent to being patted down by straight men Gay men who consent to being patted down by other gay men ``` Did I leave anyone out? Because if not, I think this could work! ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/8 "2010-11-22T08:07:30Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Did I leave anyone out? Because if not, I think this could work! Furry fetishists. You definitely left out furry fetishists. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/9 "2010-11-22T09:08:05Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Straight men who consent to being patted down by straight women I suspect this will be a popular line. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/10 "2010-11-22T09:19:26Z")
You also left out transitioning people, bisexuals, polyamorous, people who would like to be groped, and those of any gender and orientation who are ok with being patted down by people of any gender and orientation but not groped. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/11 "2010-11-22T09:39:39Z")
I think if all the officers were ladies then most passengers would be happy. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/12 "2010-11-22T13:37:12Z")
> [@Gruntled](#): > > A gay male TSA officer complaining about having to pat down women: > > _ **“Do you think I want to go to work and place my hands between women’s legs and touch their breasts for a few hours? For starters, I am attracted to men, not women…** _ Do you think I want to go to work and [do something I don’t enjoy]? As my dad always said: work ain’t supposed to be fun, that’s why they pay you to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/13 "2010-11-22T15:37:55Z")
I love the use of the word grope as if all the TSAs are all horny and saying “God I can’t wait to go to work so I can cop a feel” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/14 "2010-11-22T16:03:17Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Do you think I want to go to work and [do something I don’t enjoy]? > > As my dad always said: work ain’t supposed to be fun, that’s why they pay you to do it. I don’t think the quote is that she’s whining about her job, though. I think she’s saying “Look, it’s not like I like groping you, so we’re both on the same page here. It’s not like I’m molesting you.” She’s responding to those that accuse TSA agents of enjoying groping passengers, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/15 "2010-11-22T16:10:15Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I love the use of the word grope as if all the TSAs are all horny and saying “God I can’t wait to go to work so I can cop a feel” 😃 Exactly! This entire debate has been full of loaded language like this to make something seem sexually motivated that is certainly not. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/16 "2010-11-22T16:45:24Z")
> [@ColdPhoenix](#): > > [QUOTE=CairoCarol] > Straight men who consent to being patted down by straight women I suspect this will be a popular line. [/QUOTE] Yeah, have you seen the chicks who work for the TSA? ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/17 "2010-11-22T17:19:51Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > What about straight TSA officers who unknowingly are patting down a gay person, huh? What about THEM? > > Maybe we could have separate lines: > > ``` > Straight women who consent to being patted down by other straight women > Straight women who consent to being patted down by gay women > Straight women who consent to being patted down by straight men > Straight women who consent to being patted down by gay men > > Gay women who consent to being patted down by straight women > Gay women who consent to being patted down by other gay women > Gay women who consent to being patted down by straight men > Gay women who consent to being patted down by gay men > > Straight men who consent to being patted down by straight women > Straight men who consent to being patted down by gay women > Straight men who consent to being patted down by other straight men > Straight men who consent to being patted down by gay men > > Gay men who consent to being patted down by straight women > Gay men who consent to being patted down by gay women > Gay men who consent to being patted down by straight men > Gay men who consent to being patted down by other gay men > > ``` > > Did I leave anyone out? Because if not, I think this could work! The children! Doesn’t anyone think about the children anymore? Clearly we need children to pat down other children - lest pedophile adults get jobs as TSA agents. I think having 6-7 different age groups should suffice, broken up by all the above sexual orientations post-puberty. I’m not sure how child labor laws would come into play, but TSA is a super smart agency - I’m sure they will figure out something to keep those terrorist toddlers off our planes. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/18 "2010-11-22T17:51:03Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Is there any particular reason you say the quote in question was from a gay male? It’s not identified by gender in any way. Dude, can’t you just tell by the quote? Of course it’s a gay male. I also think he’s a secret Muslim, based on his grammar. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/19 "2010-11-22T18:33:57Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Is there any particular reason you say the quote in question was from a gay male? It’s not identified by gender in any way. Since the TSA, as I understand it, uses gropers of the same sex as the passenger to be groped, I think it’s a straight woman that’s responsible for the quote. Perhaps it’s a gender bias thing? **Gruntled** found it easier to imagine a gay male TSA agent than a female one. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457/20 "2010-11-22T19:47:10Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Is there any particular reason you say the quote in question was from a gay male? It’s not identified by gender in any way. Since the TSA, as I understand it, uses gropers of the same sex as the passenger to be groped, I think it’s a straight woman that’s responsible for the quote. The quote clearly states that the person is attracted to men. As we all know, women don’t have sex drives and only submit themselves to sex in order to get diamonds and babies. Therefore it’s obviously a gay man. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-tsa-officers-allowed-to-grope-same-sex-passengers/561457.md?page=2)