15-Year-Old Girl Asked to Lift Bra to Prove Gender at Airport

A British teenager was forced to prove her gender at airport security by removing her bra.

15-year-old Caitlyn Disley was horrified when security staff at Egypt's Hurghada International Airport forced her to undergo a "sex check" because they did not believe she was a girl, even though her passport identified her as female.

Caitlyn was traveling with her girlfriend Olivia's family when she was asked to lift her bra up in front of a nurse to prove her gender. The family was only allowed to leave the airport terminal after the check was completed.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Caitlyn, whose dad referred to as a "tomboy," said that the only difference between her physical appearance and her passport photo was that she had cut her hair short.

"It was traumatizing and embarrassing. I've never been put through anything like that before," Caitlyn said.

Caitlyn's father, Tom Disley, told the publication that Olivia's mother tried to avert the situation by first asking airport staff if there was anyone available who spoke fluent English to make sure there was no miscommunication.

When they pressed Caitlyn to strip, Olivia demanded the check be performed by a female nurse in a private location.

"She asked Caitlyn to lift her sports bra and then the message was conveyed that they needed to 'look down there.' But Olivia's mother told them no, and they were able to compromise by having Caitlyn pull her shorts up tight to prove that she did not have any male genitalia," Tom shared.

"Me and her brothers have never seen Caitlyn in such distress. She had two males standing in front of her, saying they wanted to see parts of her body," Tom said.

Tom added that the encounter has "hit her more now that she is back home," and that Caitlyn spent her entire trip fearful the same thing would happen again during their return flight home.

Caitlyn's family is currently in contact with Lisa Nancy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the U.K., to discuss the incident so it doesn't happen to other children in the future.