"Warrior Princess:" Navy Seal Comes Out As Trans!

[Carolyn Marie]

This could really be a big deal, perhaps a game changer, for transfolk in the military. This is just awesome! I have a LinkIn account and saw her photo, and she looks smashing. Wow!

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/06/transgender-navy-seal-memoir/65823/

Carolyn Marie

[Drea]

When I saw the title I thought this was about someone I know. She was a seal and she used the moniker warrior princess.... But quite evidently a different person.

So the more things change, the more they stay the same I guess.

[Guest GinaInside]

All I can say is WOW!

I salute Chris' awesome courage as a US Navy SEAL, and Kris' awesome courage to come forward! 20 years as a SEAL, then Transition!

Chris looks like the guy you don't mess with. Kriss is beautiful! This is so awesome!

This must be rocking the establishment to the core! I only wish I could see the Brass' faces! My oldest half-brother was a SEAL in Viet Nam, this will shock him if he sees this!

I still think Trans-people have a long way to go, as far as the military is concerned. Maybe, just maybe, Kristin Beck will help change that!

I'm so happy for her!

[Guest sophia.gentry58]

I absolutely loved the article and while transgendered people may have a long way to go within the military ranks, this is sure to upset the proverbial apple cart. Way to go Kristin!

Sophia

[Guest nomnomnom]

Any chance of a photo link? I'm intrigued to see what she looks like, but don't have an account

[Guest LizMarie]

ABC News has a nice photo.

[Guest otter-girl]

Very interesting article.

I came across this item from a UK perspective.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/02/raf-gender-transition-media

Rachel

[Guest sophia.gentry58]

Any chance of a photo link? I'm intrigued to see what she looks like, but don't have an account

I couldn't get to the link that Carolyn posted so I googled Kristen Beck's name and pulled it that way; you'll be able to see a lovely picture of her there.

Sophia

[Carolyn Marie]

Very interesting article.

I came across this item from a UK perspective.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/02/raf-gender-transition-media

Rachel

Excellent article, Rachel, and one I hadn't seen before. Thanks for sharing the link.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest sophia.gentry58]

Any chance of a photo link? I'm intrigued to see what she looks like, but don't have an account

I couldn't get to the link that Carolyn posted so I googled Kristen Beck's name and pulled it that way; you'll be able to see a lovely picture of her there.

Sophia

It was rather late when I first posted my thread to this topic and thus I was too tired to elaborate my sentiments to what I believe to be a monumental shift in how people will begin to see us. I don't know how many people realize what Kristin Beck has done, but I think it is tantamount to a Rosa Parks moment. Think about it, before Rosa Parks there were many others who had done the same as she, saying essentially, "the hell with it I'm tired and I not going to sit at the back of the bus any more." No one knows quite why the shift began with her though I strongly suspect that it had a large part to do with her being a secretary for the NAACP at the time.

Now, today we have Kristin Beck; to be sure there have been others, many other transwomen who have served with distinction in the US military and later publicly herald their transition. However, and I could be wrong, but having a special operations (ops) personnel coming out publicly about her transition may be unprecedented. Kristin served in what could be arguably be said to be the premier elite military special ops unit in the US Military, the Navy Seals. Albeit, the Army Rangers, Delta Force, Green Beret, et 'al are all special ops units and experts and elite in their own right, however, none, I believe are required to be experts at sea, air, and land; hence the name "Seals". Out of a 100 would-be Navy Seal trainees only a few get to the end; graduating between 25 to 33% and the month's training to get to graduation is nothing short of pure hell!

So, why do I spend so much ink as it were extolling the Navy Seals, because people have warped preconceived ideas about what kind of person would want to change themselves from being one gender to another. I've been in the military for 20 years and other than the one year in Iraq and the constant IDFs (indirect fire) we received on our FOB (forward Operating Base) and the one mission I went on outside the "wire" (outside the so-called safe zone) where we were ambushed, I sat behind the desk. It would be easy for someone to make the case if in no other's mind except their own that all I did was do what many may consider to be a job typically assigned to women. People would feel comfortable with their bias attitudes and relegate me to the label of not being a "real man", or not ever having a "real man's" job. But what do you do with someone like Kristin? My deciding to transition my body to that of a woman coupled with my work history would only seek to keep some entrenched in their bigoted mindsets that "real men" would not make a transition from MTF. However, when you look at the photo of Kristin when she was a Navy Seal member coupled with the knowledge of the fact that she was an elite warrior, I believe it completely shatters these preconceived bigoted notions within most of the status quo in our society about the kind of person who are transgender, particularly MTF.

It may be way too early to see the ramifications of my heroine, Kristin, and what she has done, but mark my words ladies and gentlemen, what Kristin Beck has done I consider to be hugely historical. I believe this to be our watershed moment, and it will be seen as a sea change for not only how the military sees transgenders, but how society as a whole will inevitably treat us.

Sophia

[Guest Kaylee234]

I just thought I'd add that this story made the front page of the Virginian-Pilot here in the Hampton Roads area. The quotes of the responses of her former teammates brought tears to my eyes. I can only hope that my coming out is so warmly welcomed.

~ Kay

[Carolyn Marie]

More on the subject:

http://guardianlv.com/2013/06/transgender-navy-seal-gains-control-back-over-her-life/

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LizMarie]

Sophia, I think it's too early to tell but I hope that you are right and that this is a sort of watershed moment. I think the last few years with people as diverse as Jenna Talackova, Janet Mock, and now Kristin Beck being in the public eye is doing much good for the trans community generally. I also think the increasing acceptance of children identifying themselves as trans is helping in small ways too.

We have to remember that there is a significant segment of society that has an irrational basis for disliking us and calling us freaks. Changing that won't happen overnight although it does appear to be steadily changing with time.

[Guest GinaInside]

I read the ABC article, it was nice and unbiased. Then, I read a long string of the comments, which affirmed to me, we have a loooooong way to go. Most of the comments are against Kristin Beck, and TS's in general.

A major problem of this issue, is that the scientific studies regarding TS's are not widely known. People still think this is a freakish disorder of some kind, not an issue with real biological causes.

I am hopeful that Kristin Beck, who is now in a position to address the world, will take the opportunity to do so. She has certainly earned the right to live as she chooses. She is probably a private person, but she has now been thrust into the spotlight, and I hope she rocks the world. I'd bet the military hierarchy is in shock, and how they treat her will be telling.

[KathrynJulia]

I read this story when it first came out and wow, what a wonderful story. Kathryn

[Guest LizMarie]

I sort of doubt the military hierarchy is "in shock" though they may be under-informed on trans issues. But very clearly the VA is moving in the right direction for trans veterans, although perhaps slower than many of us would like.

You also have to remember that the Department of Defense had been recommending the abolishment of "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" with regards to gay service members for some years before politicians actually moved on that. And remember that the armed services integrated long before general society did in the post-WWII period. So my own inclination is not to assume that the DoD is in shock but rather that they are becoming more aware of trans issues. The speed at which they respond though will likely be slow because changing big organizations takes time even if we believe they should change right now.

As for Kristin, I think she is uniquely positioned to demonstrate that we are just like anyone else in society and that we deserve to be able to work, play, and live our lives just as anyone else is.

[Guest crissy_oakley]

I am not surprised by the hateful comments left on the ABC site. What I am surprised about is the lack of support for Kristine's brave journey... It is very disheartening that Kristen and many others have sacrificed for the freedom for people to hate. At times I question why I have spent over 20 years in the military, so people can have the freedom to express hate...

[Guest BobbiLee]

I just saw this on the Today show a few minutes ago. Great story and yes she looks great!!

[Carolyn Marie]

I missed her appearance on Anderson Cooper's show, part of which was shown on the "Today Show" as Bobbi Lee mentioned. She is, not surprisingly, well spoken and a very good spokesperson for the Community. I had to cringe, though, at the part of the segment where she pushed a big old motorcycle wearing, yes, a miniskirt and stiletto heels.

I can only hope it was the producer's idea, and not hers.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest BobbiLee]

Carolyn,

Funny, I was thinking the same thing...at least she did not sit on it!!

Bobbi

[Carolyn Marie]

Here is the video segment. Sorry you have to sit through a30 second commercial first.

http://www.today.com/news/transgender-former-navy-seal-i-want-some-happiness-6C10239554

Carolyn Marie

[Guest sophia.gentry58]

I am not surprised by the hateful comments left on the ABC site. What I am surprised about is the lack of support for Kristine's brave journey... It is very disheartening that Kristen and many others have sacrificed for the freedom for people to hate. At times I question why I have spent over 20 years in the military, so people can have the freedom to express hate...

Yes and double yes, so they may have the freedom to spiel their diatribe. Let us not wish for the day that the hate mongers would be silenced; for on the day that that should occur, remember to look over your shoulder to see someone waiting in the wings to not just silence us, but to hide us away permanently. It is good to know however, that more and more people are waking up to the immutable fact that we are all connected and thus recognizing the counter-productiveness, the self-destructiveness of attacking and hurting one another in sundry ways.

Sophia