CarnalNation

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) oversees the public transportation network (buses, subways, and rail) for the greater Philadelphia area. Fare discounts are available to commuters in the form of monthly passes, called the TransPass. In order to obtain a non-transferrable TransPass, commuters simply need to purchase the pass, indicate their gender on the pass with an "M" or "F" sticker, and sign the back. SEPTA maintains that the gender stickers prevent people from sharing the passes. Drivers and fare inspectors have the authority to deny riders whose appearance does not match the gender indicated on the TransPass access to transportation. Those simple little stickers, however, are not so simple for members of Philadelphia's transgender community.

For example, Christina Molieri, a trans rider, has been forced by drivers to pay full fare despite having a TransPass with an "F" sticker. “The problem is by societal definitions I don’t look female,” Molieri said. “Not only is it humiliating to be called out in front of an entire bus or kicked off, it puts my safety at risk.” Charlene Arcila, a trans-identified female, has had similar problems. At diifferent times over the past two years, she has obtained TransPasses with both "M" and "F" stickers but has still been denied access to transportation because of the way drivers and fare inspectors perceive or interpret her gender. Finally, Arcila took action and filed a complaint with SEPTA, claiming that the stickers violate not only the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance but also federal and state Equal Protection Clauses. She also joined Riders Against Gender Exclusion (RAGE). RAGE notes on its website that "Many Philadelphians face harassment, economic hardship, and lack of access to public transportation due to [SEPTA's use of (M/F) stickers]."

RAGE will meet with SEPTA's citizen advisory committee on June 30 to make the case for eliminating the stickers. SEPTA is currently spending tax- and fare-payer money to defend its gender-identification policy against a complaint filed with the Human Rights Commission. In addition to the obvious discriminatory potential of the gender stickers, RAGE also notes that the stickers are an unnecessary expense for the agency, create longer lines at TransPass retail outlets, and are not environmentally friendly. The stickers also don't prevent people from sharing the passes. For that reason alone, they ought to have been eliminated. Factoring in the harrassment and the other issues raised by RAGE, getting rid of the stickers seems like a no-brainer.