Wow. I don't know where to begin. I seriously doubt that anyone (male or female) who gets pierced (or tattooed) in a private area does it for indiscriminate public attention. And that's assuming that is the only reason one would get pierced in such a way. I pierced my ears in my early teens, and it certainly wasn't to 'get attention', it was because I liked the way the small earrings looked.

I remember when Ann Coulter published a column complaining about the TSA. She never followed it up, and I knew right then that TSA was no laughing matter. It appears that the mighty Gloria Allred (/sarc off) has also rolled over, and quite quickly:

"Hamlin's attorney said she accepted the TSA statement as an apology, and commended the agency for taking quick action. The policy change is "an achievement for the protection of passengers' civil rights while meeting the security goals of the TSA," Gloria Allred said."

It's still hogwash and someone should have been disciplined over this. TSA's own statements about 'visual resolution' still don't hold water because there's no way (yet) to physically visually resolve joint replacements that set off the wand (and remmber, we're not talking about something that set off the WMMD, we're talking about something that alarmed the handheld wand).

Furthermore, I agree with Law-Dawg - the items in question were a threat how? After all, they were still allowed on the plane. Somehow they are not a threat if they are removed?

Sadly, a lot of people (who don't happen to have body piercings and who find them unappealing) will dismiss this (like the previous poster) as something she somehow deserved. Anything in the name of security...that is, until they get flagged for something and wonder why so few people come to their defense.