On his way home from a trip to Colombia , marriage equality advocate Hunter Carter discovered another way to fight for his rights . Carter and husband Cesar Zapata stepped up to the American Airlines ticket counter in Medellin , Colombia , expecting to undergo a preflight security screening together , just like heterosexual married couples . That did n't happen , even though the United States Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act in late June , allowing for some federal recognition of same-sex marriage rights . The Transportation Security Administration 's rules had not been updated when the couple flew home from Colombia on January 18 , a story first reported in the Washington Blade . With the exception of husbands and wives , and parents and their children younger than 13 , airlines flying into the United States from certain countries have to screen travelers individually under TSA rules . That appears to be changing . The TSA is updating its language , an agency spokesman confirmed Thursday . Because they were not a heterosexual married couple , American Airlines agents refused to screen Zapata and Carter together before issuing their boarding passes , Carter said . One rudely ordered Zapata back in line , Carter said . `` We knew this had happened to another couple but did n't believe it could happen to us , '' said Carter , a partner at the New York law office of Arent Fox . American Airlines confirmed the two men were screened separately . Employees were following TSA security rules , said Bob Witeck , president of Witeck Communications , who consults with American on LGBT issues . Within hours of the incident , the couple took to Twitter and Facebook to report the incident . Carter also contacted the White House LGBT liaison and two members of Congress to ask the TSA to update its airline screening questions . `` TSA is working to make clear any confusion in language included in the Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program document , '' wrote a TSA spokesman , via e-mail . `` TSA policy is for every attempt to be made to accommodate all families traveling together . '' The agency declined to discuss any more specifics of its security procedures . `` I 'm thrilled how quickly people decided this is wrong , '' said Carter . `` It 's a sign of the times that American executives at the corporate level wanted to stamp this out fast . '' The change appears to be immediate at American Airlines , Carter said , citing an e-mail he received from an airline lawyer : `` TSA has communicated to our Corporate Security folks that they are working on a technical change to its directive , and that , pending that change , we can immediately begin screening same-sex spouses together . We are working on communicating this change in procedures to our stations ASAP . '' American is happy to implement the TSA change , said Witeck . `` For two decades , American Airlines has been a leader in LGBT equality , and now with DOMA 's repeal , outdated rules that treat married couples differently can come tumbling down , '' said Witeck . `` A seemingly small but crucial equality milestone for all travelers . '' It wo n't be too long before Carter and Zapata will test the change . They have a second home in Colombia , and they 're flying back in March for a wedding . `` I expect us to be treated like every other legally married couple , '' said Carter . `` When they ask , 'Why are you together ? ' I will say , 'We 're legally married . ' We expect them to give us our boarding passes , and we 'll move on . ''
Gay couple did n't expect to be separated for airline security screening . Heterosexual married couples can answer the preflight questions together . TSA says it is changing its guidance for airlines flying into the United States .