Transgender comedian Avery Edison held at Toronto airport, tweets her way through security
At 5:23 p.m. yesterday, British comedian Avery Edison was detained at Pearson International Airport after flying to Toronto to visit her girlfriend. On its face, this was a routine detainment-she reports that she was prevented from coming into Canada because she had overstayed her student visa on a previous visit-but thanks to the magic combination of Twitter, Pearson’s free wifi and Edison’s wit, the situation resulted in an eight-hour tweet-a-thon detailing every twist and turn of the case.
So I think I’m in the process of getting denied entry at Toronto airport. So. That’s happening.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 10, 2014
So if I’m friends with the Prime Minister without realizing, now would be a great time for him to pull some strings.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 10, 2014
Edison’s play-by-play reporting provides some interesting insights into a process few people experience. It’s in turn funny, sad, Kafkaesque and weird.
This is a very large immigration waiting/processing room. Others have come and gone. I have lasted longest. In many ways, I am a queen.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
My case is being referred to a hearing. I am being taken to an immigration detention centre. Just been read rights. In washroom crying.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
The most interesting element of the narrative involves Canadian border-control officers trying to handle the fact that Edison is transgender. According to her Twitter feed, Edison’s case was referred to a hearing, and she was kept at the airport until arrangements could be made-only security personnel were unsure where to hold her.
Received word I may be kept in solitary because I am pre-operative MTF. Predictable, but still fucking terrifying.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
I shouldn’t have to worry too much about attacks, apparently, because there are guards. But it’s not jail, it’s “like a hotel”.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
Initial interviewing officer is telling another about my depression, keeps switching he/she. MY PASSPORT IS FEMALE.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
In case anybody is mistaken - I was NOT denied entry because I'm trans. I am not a credible visitor for reasons besides gender.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
After hours of tweeting, waiting and getting an outpouring of support from Twitter users, Edison was transferred to Maplehurst Correctional Complex-a men’s only facility-in Milton at 1:42 a.m. There, she was told, she’d be examined by a medical officer in order to determine if she’d get a male or female cell.
Change of plan AGAIN. Will be moved, soon, to Maplehurst correctional facility and assessed by a nurse before placed in male or female cell.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
Literally going to jail. Actual jail. Because they don't know what to do about my junk.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
The entire tale was posted in a series of tweets on Storify this morning, thanks to Torontonian Jason Sweeney. You can read the whole saga here.
UPDATE: It is now confirmed that Avery Edison has been taken to an all-male prison, despite self-identifying as female. Her partner, Twitter user Rahrah (@rahrahtempleton), is attempting to contact Edison and has learned the reason that authorities opted to take her to a men’s jail.
.@aedison When I asked why they were contravening Cdn law by housing a woman in a men's facility, employee informs me that she was told…
- rahrah (@rahrahtempleton) February 11, 2014
.@aedison 2/2 Employee says, you said your partner was female? I disclose trans status and she says, "Oh thats why they took him there". WTF
- rahrah (@rahrahtempleton) February 11, 2014
.@aedison Was promised that she would not be put in a cell, "because she'll get beat up or worse." Yeah, thats only her nightmare, she knows
- rahrah (@rahrahtempleton) February 11, 2014
This story continues to develop, and you can follow all the recent updates on Storify.
Toronto Life
So I think I’m in the process of getting denied entry at Toronto airport. So. That’s happening.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 10, 2014
So if I’m friends with the Prime Minister without realizing, now would be a great time for him to pull some strings.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 10, 2014
Edison’s play-by-play reporting provides some interesting insights into a process few people experience. It’s in turn funny, sad, Kafkaesque and weird.
This is a very large immigration waiting/processing room. Others have come and gone. I have lasted longest. In many ways, I am a queen.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
My case is being referred to a hearing. I am being taken to an immigration detention centre. Just been read rights. In washroom crying.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
The most interesting element of the narrative involves Canadian border-control officers trying to handle the fact that Edison is transgender. According to her Twitter feed, Edison’s case was referred to a hearing, and she was kept at the airport until arrangements could be made-only security personnel were unsure where to hold her.
Received word I may be kept in solitary because I am pre-operative MTF. Predictable, but still fucking terrifying.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
I shouldn’t have to worry too much about attacks, apparently, because there are guards. But it’s not jail, it’s “like a hotel”.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
Initial interviewing officer is telling another about my depression, keeps switching he/she. MY PASSPORT IS FEMALE.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
In case anybody is mistaken - I was NOT denied entry because I'm trans. I am not a credible visitor for reasons besides gender.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
After hours of tweeting, waiting and getting an outpouring of support from Twitter users, Edison was transferred to Maplehurst Correctional Complex-a men’s only facility-in Milton at 1:42 a.m. There, she was told, she’d be examined by a medical officer in order to determine if she’d get a male or female cell.
Change of plan AGAIN. Will be moved, soon, to Maplehurst correctional facility and assessed by a nurse before placed in male or female cell.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
Literally going to jail. Actual jail. Because they don't know what to do about my junk.
- Avery Edison (@aedison) February 11, 2014
The entire tale was posted in a series of tweets on Storify this morning, thanks to Torontonian Jason Sweeney. You can read the whole saga here.
UPDATE: It is now confirmed that Avery Edison has been taken to an all-male prison, despite self-identifying as female. Her partner, Twitter user Rahrah (@rahrahtempleton), is attempting to contact Edison and has learned the reason that authorities opted to take her to a men’s jail.
.@aedison When I asked why they were contravening Cdn law by housing a woman in a men's facility, employee informs me that she was told…
- rahrah (@rahrahtempleton) February 11, 2014
.@aedison 2/2 Employee says, you said your partner was female? I disclose trans status and she says, "Oh thats why they took him there". WTF
- rahrah (@rahrahtempleton) February 11, 2014
.@aedison Was promised that she would not be put in a cell, "because she'll get beat up or worse." Yeah, thats only her nightmare, she knows
- rahrah (@rahrahtempleton) February 11, 2014
This story continues to develop, and you can follow all the recent updates on Storify.
Toronto Life