Vanth

This was at least a couple years before COVID. Who knows what the protocols were then versus now. Best I can find is that a person can request an agent be of the same gender, but TSA doesn't have to comply with that request.

It seems they're also supposed to offer choice between patdown in line or in a private room. I was never offered a private room option, nor would I take it unless I could have witnesses and video record. Forget going into a room alone with any LEO of any gender.

Yes, in the US, at an airport, I was selected for additional screening by a TSA agent. The agent put on gloves and patted me down. He had me extend my arms out and said he was going to check my waistband. When he got around to the back, he shoved a finger down my ass crack and wiggled it, then continue on. It took half a second. My mind blanked.

I called to make a complaint the next day but got nowhere. Too late, too "minor", not enough details or evidence from me. I was told it didn't really happen, because if it had I would have spoken up in the moment.

If I am ever selected for patdown again, I intend to ask for an agent of the same gender as me, to have a supervisor observing, and cameras recording.

I would ask your friend.

If your friend is anything like me, they might be fascinated with this post and the comments you have gotten. I believe they would be quite happy to talk about differences between countries and even within the US, and give you good advice on this specific birthday party.

I encourage you to read on the history and structure of resistance movements: what succeeded, what happened to make them eventually dissolve or fall apart. Requiring everyone to be max extreme, to give up their jobs and put their families at risk is not going to build a movement. Plenty out there, here are easy-to-find starters:

Black against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom

Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare by Erica Chenoworth and Maria Stephen

Activism, Inc. : How the Outsourcing of Grassroots Campaigns Is Strangling Progressive Politics in America by Dana R. Fisher

Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution by Andrew Boyd

The Lady and the Peacock: The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi by Peter Popham

You and I don't own this system, we have to survive in it. You aren't actively hurting anyone. Do it, get the paycheck that keeps a roof over your head, then find some way to make a positive impact in your local community. Is there a place with resources for LGBT youth/young adults that you could volunteer at or donate to?

My take on it, at least. I'm not helping anyone if I get evicted. The employer is the one showing a lack of morals/ethics, not you.

Agreed. Sports is one of the last things that tempt me to log back into reddit. The sport I follow has a community here and a little bit of activity, but not enough to keep game threads active.

Edit: Ope, missed which community I'm in. No US politics here, it's in the sidebar.

1. the concept of Dark Triad traits is overused early 00's pop psychology

2. it's like BMI: fine for applying to a large population, but breaks down when looking at an individual

3. even if useful at the individual level, "dark triad" indicates three traits but says nothing about the balance between them, e.g., a high mach and a low narc pairing will looking very different than two high machs.

IMO it is not useful to oversimplify any single relationship down to "two dark triads".

None beyond their own bodyweight.

The photograph shows an impressive feat in which dozens of acrobats stood on top of each other (relying on mounted platforms) to create a human tower in the likeness of the torch.

Emphasis mine. Most of the weight is born by platforms that the humans are obscuring the view of. Look at the postures of each tier; none are braced for any significant weight.

Lol, I just blocked Donald J Musk yesterday! The Fediverse is still such a small world, I love it.

Report it. IDK how terminally online the mods are in this community, but a post in the middle of the night is going to linger a while. Reporting makes it way easier for the mods and reinforces that the community still wants that rule enforced.

No specific piercing. I'm vanilla AF, so any piercing or amount of piercing that I can't help but stare at probably means we aren't a great match.

Actual red flag ... maybe if the piercing has a swastika or other political/religious/other sentiment I find abhorrent.