Years ago when I had four piercings (both nips, eyebrow and a below the belt) I was constantly harassed on a tour I was on up and down the east coast. It’s my own fault for not thinking of the implication of traveling one way from Long Beach to New York two days before the one year anniversary of 9/11… The TSA guys and gals weren’t that wigged out about the nipple piercings but it completely flustered them that SOMEONE would have to be chosen to take me into a back room and see if I did indeed have what I claimed to have in my pants. Two big linebacker types escorted me into this little room and if this sounds like a set up for a porno, you’re right and it’s how I felt. Except that it was probably the unsexiest setting ever: a free standing quonset hut type closet in the middle of the Long Beach airport. The dudes asked me to pull myself out and the minute I did, one of them freaked out and opened the door revealing the scene to a row of female airline attendants standing just along the wall across from our room. I still remember their shocked (and, might I add, slightly titillated) expressions. The guy closed the door and told me to put myself away and just get going.

I have to admit a certain thrill that I had about going through metal detectors that autumn – the chance to see a straight guy squirm at having to look at a gay guys package. Eventually though the hassle outweighed the admittedly juvenile fun I was having and I simply took it out before flying.
Will Clark