Don't touch my junk
Encyclopedia
"Don't touch my junk" is a phrase that became popular in the United States
in late 2010 as a criticism of Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) patdowns
. The word "junk" is American English slang for a person's genitals. The phrase refers to the offense many people took to the November 2010 decision by TSA to begin full body patdowns of airline passengers in the United States who refused to go through a TSA full body scanner machine.
, who released an audio recording from San Diego International Airport
in which he told TSA agents: "If you touch my junk, I'm going to have you arrested." Tyner had initially chosen to undergo a pat-down rather than going through a full-body scan machine because of health concerns and the fact that he viewed the machines as a threat to privacy. The TSA refused to allow him to pass without this intimate search and so he declined to travel and got a refund on his ticket. An official then demanded that he submit to a search regardless. He declined and was threatened with prosecution. In response to being asked by a reporter if he thought he looked like a terrorist, Tyner said no, "I'm 6-foot-1, white with short brown hair". He subsequently uploaded a video onto YouTube
based on his experience, which went viral and received 70,000 views by the end of the same day. Most of the comments posted on the video were supportive of Tyner.
subsequently wrote an editorial in which he expressed support for Tyner and described "Don't Touch My Junk" as the "anthem of the modern man, the Tea Party patriot, the late-life libertarian, the midterm election voter" and even compared it to the American patriotic phrase "Don't Tread On Me." At least two "Don't Touch My Junk" songs have since been released, one of which was written by Houston, Texas
, musician Danny Kristensen and was based on a James Cotton
song, "Cut You Loose".
Michael Kinsley
weighed in on Politico
in a column entitled "Go ahead, touch my junk", in which he defended the TSA against criticism from Tyner and others. A columnist for The Atlantic, Wendy Kaminer
, argued that the intentions of those, such as Krauthammer, who were using the phrase to promote racial profiling
would be more aptly described as "Don't Touch My Junk, Touch His".
On his radio show
, Rush Limbaugh
offered a slightly different formulation of the slogan: "Keep your hands off my tea bag, Mr. President", alluding to the recent use of the phrase "tea bag" in reference to the Tea Party Movement
. In another variation, news anchor Brian Williams
said on the Late Show with David Letterman
, "I always get it at [Los Angeles International Airport
]. I get nailed. They go, they go right in. This new thing, they go right after Dave and the twins."
"Don't touch my junk" was parodied, to the tune of Parliament
's "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
", at the 2011 Gridiron Club
dinner, with President Obama in attendance. Also in March 2011, two New Hampshire
state representatives
introduced proposed legislation, colloquially called the "don't touch my junk bill", that would criminalize as sexual assault
invasive TSA patdowns made without probable cause
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in late 2010 as a criticism of Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
(TSA) patdowns
Frisking
Frisking is a search of a person's outer clothing wherein a person runs his or her hands along the outer garments to detect any concealed weapons or contraband.-Stop and frisk:...
. The word "junk" is American English slang for a person's genitals. The phrase refers to the offense many people took to the November 2010 decision by TSA to begin full body patdowns of airline passengers in the United States who refused to go through a TSA full body scanner machine.
Origin of the phrase
The phrase was inadvertently coined in 2010 by passenger John Tyner of Oceanside, CaliforniaOceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
, who released an audio recording from San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
in which he told TSA agents: "If you touch my junk, I'm going to have you arrested." Tyner had initially chosen to undergo a pat-down rather than going through a full-body scan machine because of health concerns and the fact that he viewed the machines as a threat to privacy. The TSA refused to allow him to pass without this intimate search and so he declined to travel and got a refund on his ticket. An official then demanded that he submit to a search regardless. He declined and was threatened with prosecution. In response to being asked by a reporter if he thought he looked like a terrorist, Tyner said no, "I'm 6-foot-1, white with short brown hair". He subsequently uploaded a video onto YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
based on his experience, which went viral and received 70,000 views by the end of the same day. Most of the comments posted on the video were supportive of Tyner.
Support and criticism
Conservative columnist Charles KrauthammerCharles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer, MD is an American Pulitzer Prize–winning syndicated columnist, political commentator, and physician. His weekly column appears in The Washington Post and is syndicated to more than 275 newspapers and media outlets. He is a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and The New...
subsequently wrote an editorial in which he expressed support for Tyner and described "Don't Touch My Junk" as the "anthem of the modern man, the Tea Party patriot, the late-life libertarian, the midterm election voter" and even compared it to the American patriotic phrase "Don't Tread On Me." At least two "Don't Touch My Junk" songs have since been released, one of which was written by Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, musician Danny Kristensen and was based on a James Cotton
James Cotton
James Cotton is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time as well as with his own band.-Career:...
song, "Cut You Loose".
Michael Kinsley
Michael Kinsley
Michael Kinsley is an American political journalist, commentator, television host, and pundit. Primarily active in print media as both a writer and editor, he also became known to television audiences as a co-host on Crossfire...
weighed in on Politico
Politico (newspaper)
The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...
in a column entitled "Go ahead, touch my junk", in which he defended the TSA against criticism from Tyner and others. A columnist for The Atlantic, Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminer is a lawyer and writer. She has written several books on contemporary social issues, including A Fearful Freedom: Women's Flight From Equality, about the conflict between egalitarian and protectionist feminism; I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional: The Recovery Movement and Other...
, argued that the intentions of those, such as Krauthammer, who were using the phrase to promote racial profiling
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
would be more aptly described as "Don't Touch My Junk, Touch His".
On his radio show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
offered a slightly different formulation of the slogan: "Keep your hands off my tea bag, Mr. President", alluding to the recent use of the phrase "tea bag" in reference to the Tea Party Movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
. In another variation, news anchor Brian Williams
Brian Williams
Brian Douglas Williams is the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, the evening news program of the NBC television network, a position he assumed in 2004...
said on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, "I always get it at [Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
]. I get nailed. They go, they go right in. This new thing, they go right after Dave and the twins."
"Don't touch my junk" was parodied, to the tune of Parliament
Parliament (band)
Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
's "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
"Give Up the Funk " is a funk song by Parliament. It was released as a single under the name "Tear the Roof off the Sucker ". It was the second single to be released from Parliament's 1976 album Mothership Connection "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)" is a funk song by Parliament. It...
", at the 2011 Gridiron Club
Gridiron Club
The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C. Its 65 active members represent major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Membership is by invitation only and has...
dinner, with President Obama in attendance. Also in March 2011, two New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
introduced proposed legislation, colloquially called the "don't touch my junk bill", that would criminalize as sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
invasive TSA patdowns made without probable cause
Probable cause
In United States criminal law, probable cause is the standard by which an officer or agent of the law has the grounds to make an arrest, to conduct a personal or property search, or to obtain a warrant for arrest, etc. when criminal charges are being considered. It is also used to refer to the...
.