"(06-22) 17:23 PDT PHOENIX -- A man who flies US Airways in women's skimpy clothing, including little more than undergarments at times, said Wednesday that he does so to make business travel more fun, and complies with employees' requests to cover up - though they rarely ask.
"The 65-year-old Phoenix man, who spoke to The Chronicle on the condition that his name not be published, said he was unaware that a photo taken of him wearing ladies' blue underwear and black stockings at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 9 had thrust him into a debate about racial profiling, travelers' security and appropriate airline attire.
"The man said he works as a business consultant and flies several times a month as a preferred customer on US Airways. He's flown in scanty female clothing for several years and has put on a sweater or pants the few times an employee has asked, he said.
"'It has never been my intent to put people in a situation where they feel uncomfortable,' the man said during a phone interview. 'I try to respect other people's opinions. As long as my dress is not indecent from a legal perspective, and so long as the airline does not object, I have the right to wear what I wear. And others have the right to wear what they want to wear.'
"The photograph of the white-haired traveler at the Fort Lauderdale airport showed his exposed mid-section and thighs, and was taken by a passenger who said US Airways employees had ignored other passengers' complaints about his apparel.
"Six days later, a college football player at San Francisco International Airport allegedly refused a US Airways employee's request to pull up his sagging pants, sparking an argument that led to his arrest.
"That man, 20-year-old Dashon Marman of San Francisco, was booked on suspicion of trespassing, battery and resisting arrest, but prosecutors have not decided whether to charge him.
"Marman's attorney, Joe O'Sullivan, accused US Airways of racial discrimination for requiring his client - who is African American - to pull up his pants, while allowing a white passenger to fly 'in his underwear.'"
Posts
5 comments:
Baggy/sagging pants bother me but that picture offends me with his package right out there and all.
Mercy...that's nuts.
I do HATE kids that walk around with the pants down; they should be arrested for indecent exposure.
Sassa, maybe he is running for the Senate to take "Weiners" place...
I can't imagine looking across the aisle and seeing that guy sitting there wearing that "outfit."
How about I board wearing nothing but speedos and flip-flops? Trust me, it won't be pretty. Even I get sick thinking about it.
What do you even say to this? This has to be mental illness. I would find a 65 year old woman dressed like that to be offensive. There should be a dress code that is written and the airline employees should follow it.
The more I am around the sagging pants, the less it seems to bother me. Big deal. They wear shorts underneath. It is just a fashion that will pass, much like the colorful hair, the spikes or mohawks, the overdone eye makeup. When we stop complaining about it, they will find something else to bother us with. That is what kids do. What worries me more are the "permanent fashions," like tattoos, excessive piercings and body "morphing" their earlobes, etc.
While I wouldn't go out for a drink with the guy, I'd fly with him as the pilot. I look at flight logs and safety records. If he is a safe a conscientious pilot, no qualms at all. Some of the people I've known have been "flamboyant" but I've always looked past that.
Post a Comment