US Airways, Anti-Saggy-Pants Airline, Allows Man to Fly in Women's Panties

Last week, much ado was made over University of New Mexico football player Deshon Marman, 20, who was kicked off a US Airways flight for wearing saggy pajama pants and booked on suspicion of trespassing, battery and resisting arrest (he has not been charged). Now there's a photo circulating of another passenger, also male, clad in blue women's underwear, a blue crop tank top of sorts, and a sheer white top. He's also got on black stockings. Passenger Jill Tarlow took the photo of the man, who flew from Fort Lauderdale to Phoenix on June 9, six days prior to Marman's arrest. Marman's attorney, Joe O'Sullivan, is arguing that this is a double standard, and that "because Mr. Marman was black, wearing dreds, he was treated differently."

Here's video of Marman being confronted by US Airways employees.

The San Francisco Chronicle spoke to the man in the panties, who told them that he is a business consultant and flies in women's undergarments "to make business travel more fun." He said if employees ask, he'll cover up -- though they rarely do. He's also a preferred customer. (And he's been doing this for a while -- he has a history on YouTube.) Some news outlets identify him as "Howard."

"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."

Also,

"I have a lot at stake here," he said, when explaining why he did not want his name published. "I'm a business consultant and would be extremely vulnerable to being discredited. ... This is just something I do for fun. I don't mean any harm."

Tarlow, who took the photo, said that other passengers had complained about the man's outfit, but employees had ignored the complaints. The man said that he thought Marman's issues began when he "refused to listen to an employee and became belligerent" -- and were not about racial profiling.

US Airways spokeswoman Valerie Wunder didn't comment to the Chronicle about the man, except to say that he didn't violate dress codes, which prohibit exposure of private parts, and that the crew is authorized to exercise discretion with regard to safety and comfort of passengers. That is to say, the crew says when, the crew says how...and if you argue with them, whether it's about body scanners or your 16-oz lotion or your attire, you may well be kicked out.

US Airways cross-dresser says he does it for fun [SFC]