TSA tapes sex toy to outside of baggage

[HSoft]

A gay couple has sued Continental Airlines for emotional distress, alleging that the airline shamed them with a dildo.

Christopher Bridgemann and Martin Borger sued the airline this week, claiming that baggage workers removed a sex toy from their luggage and taped it to the outside of the suitcase for all to see, according to SF Weekly.

The men flew from Costa Rica to Houston on May 21, 2011, the newspaper reported. The men retrieved their luggage, then rechecked their bags onto a flight to Norfolk, Va.

At the baggage claim in Norfolk, they discovered, "to their horror, that a private sex toy had been removed from one of their bags, covered in a greasy foul-smelling substance and taped prominently to the top of their bag," according to the newspaper.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Couple-Accuse-Airline-Of-Shaming-Them-With-Dildo-167733125.html?dr

Must admit this made me chuckle.

[Mystic Mungis]

I don't see anything funny about it, people can do whatever they want in their free time behind closed doors. Shaming them in public like that is an utter disgrace.

[ahhell]

What a ****ing ignorant thing to do!

[theyarecomingforyou]

It's sick how puritanical so many in the US are. It's disgusting that anyone would even consider doing such a thing and the person(s) responsible should be fired. It's a gross infringement of an individual's right to privacy and it was clearly done to shame the owner. There is obviously a strong case to sue for emotional distress and I hope they succeed.

There's nothing funny about such behaviour.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Sorry but why did they need to bring a sex toy?

If they were going on holiday surely they could have waited a week or two, or if they were moving, send it via the post with their belongings, or buy a new one when they get there?

Do we have to be faux outraged just because they are gay?

[Mr. Gibs]

A gay couple has sued Continental Airlines for emotional distress, alleging that the airline shamed them with a dildo.

Christopher Bridgemann and Martin Borger sued the airline this week, claiming that baggage workers removed a sex toy from their luggage and taped it to the outside of the suitcase for all to see, according to SF Weekly.

Um what? Why are they suing the airline? Continental doesn't open and check bags, TSA does.

[ILikeTobacco]

Do we have to be faux outraged just because they are gay?

Only reason this is even news is because they were gay. Common sense would tell you that whoever did this did it behind the scenes which means that they would have no way of knowing they were gay in the first place. Saying it was a gay couple is nothing more than trying to stir up the public. The act probably wasn't done because they were gay. I say probably, because obviously there is no way to know for sure just the same way there is no way to know for sure that it was because they were gay. Media hype doing its thing I guess.

Um what? Why are they suing the airline? Continental doesn't open and check bags, TSA does.

Exactly. Continental staff at most check it in, but they don't actually check the contents of the bags. That is done elsewere.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Sorry but why did they need to bring a sex toy?

What the hell does that have to do with anything? It's disgusting that you would try to manipulate the story in such a way. Why shouldn't they be allowed to take a perfectly legal item with them?

Only reason this is even news is because they were gay.

No, it's news because it's a gross infringement of their civil liberties. The fact they're gay is completely irrelevant and it's sad that you have chosen focus on that point.

[M_Lyons10]

I don't see anything funny about it, people can do whatever they want in their free time behind closed doors. Shaming them in public like that is an utter disgrace.

I agree. It's a disturbing thing for a TSA person to do honestly. I feel weirded out enough when I find my clothes all disheveled, I can only imagine if something like this were to occur (Not that it could happen to me... lol).

[Farstrider]

I don't see anything funny about it, people can do whatever they want in their free time behind closed doors. Shaming them in public like that is an utter disgrace.

Agreed, utterly shocking thing to be allowed to happen! What the hell? In this instance, I'd sue them all AFAIC!

[Mystic Mungis]

Sorry but why did they need to bring a sex toy?

If they were going on holiday surely they could have waited a week or two, or if they were moving, send it via the post with their belongings, or buy a new one when they get there?

Do we have to be faux outraged just because they are gay?

If they did it to a woman travelling by herself or a straight couple I would be equally as annoyed. It's their holiday, their luggage and their private life, what gives anyone the right to mock people just because of what they choose to do. You don't need your phone on holiday, you could go a week or two without it, just write down phone numbers and use a pay phone but I'm sure you still take it with you.

[M_Lyons10]

Sorry but why did they need to bring a sex toy?

If they were going on holiday surely they could have waited a week or two, or if they were moving, send it via the post with their belongings, or buy a new one when they get there?

Do we have to be faux outraged just because they are gay?

I don't think them being gay has anything to do with it honestly...

[Ryoken]

How would you like it if someone went through your bags and taped some of your stuff to the outside, covered in some unknown substance ?

The fact that it's a dildo makes it popular news, but it would be just as wrong if it was a toothbrush, shirt, book, laptop, whatever.

TSA's job is to look for threats, not screw with people.

[M_Lyons10]

How would you like it if someone went through your bags and taped some of your stuff to the outside, covered in some unknown substance ?

The fact that it's a dildo makes it popular news, but it would be just as wrong if it was a toothbrush, shirt, book, laptop, whatever.

TSA's job is to look for threats, not screw with people.

Absolutely. This "busybody" mentality in the TSA has to end. There is just no place for it.

[ILikeTobacco]

I don't think them being gay has anything to do with it honestly...

No, it's news because it's a gross infringement of their civil liberties. The fact they're gay is completely irrelevant and it's sad that you have chosen focus on that point.

If that were the case, there was no need to say "gay couple" at the beginning. "Couple" would have been enough.Be lets just ignore that shall we.

And leave it to theyarecomingforyou to start his appearance on the thread with insults instead of intelligent conversations. I noticed your lack of explanation for them pointing out that it is a gay couple is convenient for your agenda though I suppose since even you can't explain it.

[torrentthief]

there is no reason to take a sex toy on a short holiday, they aren't necessities.

[theyarecomingforyou]

If that were the case, there was no need to say "gay couple" at the beginning. "Couple" would have been enough.

I completely agree. But that doesn't have any bearing on the incident itself; it's just the way that NBC decided to report it. It would be just as inappropriate to say "black couple", "overweight couple" or "elderly couple".

[HSoft]

It's sick how puritanical so many in the US are.

Coming from someone who lives in the UK and the UKs laws on things like this (porn etc which was banned in the UK for many years (except really softcore stuff)) that's quite laughable.

On a side note, have you thought about going to anger management counseling? Perhaps it's the manner in which you write but you seem to be a very angry and hateful person, especially with anything to do with the USA.

[theyarecomingforyou]

there is no reason to take a sex toy on a short holiday, they aren't necessities.

Neither are mobile phones, Bibles, crayons or lipstick. And your point is what, exactly? That if it isn't necessary to take on holiday it's okay to cover in a foul-smelling substance and tape it to the outside of a person's baggage? It's bizarre that you focus on their decision to pack a sex toy rather than the treatment of their luggage.

On a side note, have you thought about going to anger management counseling?

Nah, I'm fine thanks.

[rfirth]

there is no reason to take a sex toy on a short holiday, they aren't necessities.

And what if my short holiday is my honeymoon? Might need some... supplies...

[ArialBlue]

Could be worse - imagine a family with a teenage girl for example.

Someone needs to be sued. This is horribly wrong.

there is no reason to take a sex toy on a short holiday, they aren't necessities.

People take porn with them too. It is not like there is no rest and sleep and bathe time when going on a vacation.

[Growled Member]

Absolutely. This "busybody" mentality in the TSA has to end. There is just no place for it.

I figure it's just going to get worse before it gets better.

[Pam14160]

. . .darn another slow news day. What, a TSA agent decides to shake things up a bit, and now this is one of those really bad things against gays. Sure got the crazies all up in arms. . . :woot:

[zhangm Supervisor]

If this were a case where a TSA agent vandalized a person's (properly stored) gun due to their personal beliefs about guns, the title of this thread would be "OBAMA administration's TSA curtails second amendment rights".

I say this to highlight how personal views can cloud the real point here, which is not about guns or dildos or gay sex, but about how these agents acted maliciously on a personal impulse rather than do their freaking jobs.

[Buttus]

i hope the greasy foul-smelling substance wasn't already on it! :x