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'''Kristin Beck''' (June 21, 1966) is a retired [[United States Navy]] [[United States Navy SEALs|SEAL]] who gained public attention in 2013 when she [[came out]] as a [[trans woman]]. She published her [[memoir]] in June 2013, ''Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender'', detailing her experiences.<ref name=warriorprincess>{{cite book|title=Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender|last1=Beck|first1=Kristin|last2=Speckhard|first2=Anne|year=2013|publisher=Advances Press|isbn=9781935866428|url=http://www.advancespress.com/warrior-princess.html}}</ref>
'''Kristin Beck''' (June 21, 1966) is a retired [[United States Navy]] [[United States Navy SEALs|SEAL]] who gained public attention in 2013 when he [[came out]] as a [[trans woman]]. He published his [[memoir]] in June 2013, ''Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender'', detailing his experiences.<ref name=warriorprincess>{{cite book|title=Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender|last1=Beck|first1=Kristin|last2=Speckhard|first2=Anne|year=2013|publisher=Advances Press|isbn=9781935866428|url=http://www.advancespress.com/warrior-princess.html}}</ref>


Beck served in the U.S. Navy for twenty years and is the first openly [[transgender]] former U.S. Navy SEAL.
Beck served in the U.S. Navy for twenty years and is the first openly [[transgender]] former U.S. Navy SEAL.


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Beck was christened Christopher T. Beck in June 1966 and grew up on a farm. As early as the age of five, she was drawn to feminine clothes and toys, but was encouraged to adopt masculine roles by her parents.<ref name="grove"/> Before [[Transitioning (transgender)|transitioning]], she married twice and has two sons from her first marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/04/seal-team-6-transgender-memoir-warrior-princess/2388431/|title=A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender|author=Doug Stanglin|date=5 June 2013|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kstatecollegian.com/2013/07/16/transgender-navy-seal-speaks-out-in-moving-memoir/ | title=Transgender Navy SEAL speaks out in moving memoir | publisher=Kansas State, The Collegian | date=16 July 2013 | accessdate=14 September 2013 | author=Thompson, Jakki}}</ref> She recounts in her memoir how her [[gender dysphoria]] contributed to her inability to emotionally mature while being in a male body, adding conflict to her [[sexual identity]], although she never really felt [[gay]].<ref name="salonkb">{{cite web | url=http://www.salon.com/2013/06/08/im_the_transgender_navy_seal/ | title=I’m the transgender Navy SEAL: I'm Chris Beck now. As Chris, I risked my life on countless SEAL missions -- all while trying to hide who I am | publisher=Salon.com | work=Excerpted from "Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming Out Transgender" | date=8 June 2013 | accessdate=14 September 2013 | author=KRISTIN BECK AND ANNE SPECKHARD}}</ref> Additionally, her duties as a U.S. Navy SEAL kept her on missions away from home, which distanced her from family members.<ref name="salonkb"/> Before enlisting in the United States Navy, Beck attended [[Virginia Military Institute]] from 1984 through 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightsout.org/kristin_beck_speaker|title=Knights Out Announces Kristin Beck as Gala Dinner Speaker|work=Knights Out|accessdate=29 November 2014}}</ref>
Beck was christened Christopher T. Beck in June 1966 and grew up on a farm. As early as the age of five, he was drawn to feminine clothes and toys, but was encouraged to adopt masculine roles by his parents.<ref name="grove"/> Before [[Transitioning (transgender)|transitioning]], he married twice and has two sons from his first marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/04/seal-team-6-transgender-memoir-warrior-princess/2388431/|title=A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender|author=Doug Stanglin|date=5 June 2013|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kstatecollegian.com/2013/07/16/transgender-navy-seal-speaks-out-in-moving-memoir/ | title=Transgender Navy SEAL speaks out in moving memoir | publisher=Kansas State, The Collegian | date=16 July 2013 | accessdate=14 September 2013 | author=Thompson, Jakki}}</ref> He recounts in his memoir how her [[gender dysphoria]] contributed to his inability to emotionally mature while being in a male body, adding conflict to his [[sexual identity]], although he never really felt [[gay]].<ref name="salonkb">{{cite web | url=http://www.salon.com/2013/06/08/im_the_transgender_navy_seal/ | title=I’m the transgender Navy SEAL: I'm Chris Beck now. As Chris, I risked my life on countless SEAL missions -- all while trying to hide who I am | publisher=Salon.com | work=Excerpted from "Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming Out Transgender" | date=8 June 2013 | accessdate=14 September 2013 | author=KRISTIN BECK AND ANNE SPECKHARD}}</ref> Additionally, his duties as a U.S. Navy SEAL kept him on missions away from home, which distanced him from family members.<ref name="salonkb"/> Before enlisting in the United States Navy, Beck attended [[Virginia Military Institute]] from 1984 through 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightsout.org/kristin_beck_speaker|title=Knights Out Announces Kristin Beck as Gala Dinner Speaker|work=Knights Out|accessdate=29 November 2014}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
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===United States Navy===
===United States Navy===
Beck served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEALs before her transition, taking part in 13 [[Military deployment|deployments]], including seven combat deployments. She was a member of the [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group]] (also known as DEVGRU), a special [[counter-terrorism]] unit popularly called SEAL Team Six, and received multiple [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military awards and decorations]], including a [[Bronze Star]] and a [[Purple Heart]].<ref name=plank>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/04/seal-team-6-transgender-memoir-warrior-princess/2388431/|title=A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender|author=Doug Standlin|accessdate=June 5, 2013|journal=USA Today|date=4 June 2013}}</ref> She told [[Anderson Cooper]] she wanted to be a SEAL because they were the "toughest of the tough".<ref name=cooper>{{cite news|url=http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/06/part-i-of-andersoncoopers-exclusive-interview-with-transgender-former-navy-seal-kristen-beck/|title=Anderson Cooper's exclusive interview with transgender former Navy SEAL Kristen Beck pt. I|author=Anderson Cooper|date=June 6, 2013|accessdate=June 12, 2013|publisher=CNN}}</ref>
Beck served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEALs before his transition, taking part in 13 [[Military deployment|deployments]], including seven combat deployments. He was a member of the [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group]] (also known as DEVGRU), a special [[counter-terrorism]] unit popularly called SEAL Team Six, and received multiple [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military awards and decorations]], including a [[Bronze Star]] and a [[Purple Heart]].<ref name=plank>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/04/seal-team-6-transgender-memoir-warrior-princess/2388431/|title=A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender|author=Doug Standlin|accessdate=June 5, 2013|journal=USA Today|date=4 June 2013}}</ref> He told [[Anderson Cooper]] he wanted to be a SEAL because they were the "toughest of the tough".<ref name=cooper>{{cite news|url=http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/06/part-i-of-andersoncoopers-exclusive-interview-with-transgender-former-navy-seal-kristen-beck/|title=Anderson Cooper's exclusive interview with transgender former Navy SEAL Kristen Beck pt. I|author=Anderson Cooper|date=June 6, 2013|accessdate=June 12, 2013|publisher=CNN}}</ref>


Beck retired from the Navy in 2011 and began [[transitioning (transgender)|transitioning]] by dressing as a woman. In 2013, she began [[hormone therapy]], preparing herself for [[sex reassignment surgery]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/transgender-navy-seal-warrior-princess/story?id=19314231#.UbKiy9iv_Kf|title=Transgender Navy SEAL 'Warrior Princess' Comes Out|last=Ferran|first=Lee|date=3 June 2013|work=[[ABC News]]|accessdate=8 June 2013}}</ref> During an interview with Anderson Cooper in early June 2013, she stated that she never came out during her military career and that "No one ever met the real me".<ref name=cooper/> After coming out publicly in 2013 by posting a photo of herself as a woman on [[LinkedIn]], she received a number of messages of support from her former military colleagues.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Navy SEAL Member Shares Sex Change Journey in Warrior Princess Memoir|author=Vittorio Hernandez|date=June 6, 2013|accessdate=June 13, 2013|url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/475374/20130606/former-navy-seal-member-shares-sex-change.htm#.UboOddVkjjI|journal=International Business Times}}</ref> Shortly after her retirement from DEVGRU and the US Navy, active DEVGRU members gave their support in person and among them one of the most decorated DEVGRU Team Leads from Seal Team Six's Red Team.{{Citation needed|reason=who are you referring to as being one of the most decorated SEALS? Beck or one of the DEVGRU members who showed support for her?|date=April 2017}}
Beck retired from the Navy in 2011 and began [[transitioning (transgender)|transitioning]] by dressing as a woman. In 2013, he began [[hormone therapy]], preparing herself for [[sex reassignment surgery]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/transgender-navy-seal-warrior-princess/story?id=19314231#.UbKiy9iv_Kf|title=Transgender Navy SEAL 'Warrior Princess' Comes Out|last=Ferran|first=Lee|date=3 June 2013|work=[[ABC News]]|accessdate=8 June 2013}}</ref> During an interview with Anderson Cooper in early June 2013, He stated that he never came out during his military career and that "No one ever met the real me".<ref name=cooper/> After coming out publicly in 2013 by posting a photo of himself as a woman on [[LinkedIn]], he received a number of messages of support from his former military colleagues.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Navy SEAL Member Shares Sex Change Journey in Warrior Princess Memoir|author=Vittorio Hernandez|date=June 6, 2013|accessdate=June 13, 2013|url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/475374/20130606/former-navy-seal-member-shares-sex-change.htm#.UboOddVkjjI|journal=International Business Times}}</ref> Shortly after his retirement from DEVGRU and the US Navy, active DEVGRU members gave their support in person and among them one of the most decorated DEVGRU Team Leads from Seal Team Six's Red Team.{{Citation needed|reason=who are you referring to as being one of the most decorated SEALS? Beck or one of the DEVGRU members who showed support for her?|date=April 2017}}


=== ''Warrior Princess'' ===
=== ''Warrior Princess'' ===

Revision as of 06:43, 30 November 2017

Kristin Beck
Beck in November 2012
Beck in November 2012
Birth nameChristopher T. Beck
Born (1966-06-21) June 21, 1966 (age 58)
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1990–2011
Rank Senior chief petty officer
Unit U.S. Navy SEALs
Awards Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Other workAuthor

Kristin Beck (June 21, 1966) is a retired United States Navy SEAL who gained public attention in 2013 when he came out as a trans woman. He published his memoir in June 2013, Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender, detailing his experiences.[1]

Beck served in the U.S. Navy for twenty years and is the first openly transgender former U.S. Navy SEAL.

Early life and education

Beck was christened Christopher T. Beck in June 1966 and grew up on a farm. As early as the age of five, he was drawn to feminine clothes and toys, but was encouraged to adopt masculine roles by his parents.[2] Before transitioning, he married twice and has two sons from his first marriage.[3][4] He recounts in his memoir how her gender dysphoria contributed to his inability to emotionally mature while being in a male body, adding conflict to his sexual identity, although he never really felt gay.[5] Additionally, his duties as a U.S. Navy SEAL kept him on missions away from home, which distanced him from family members.[5] Before enlisting in the United States Navy, Beck attended Virginia Military Institute from 1984 through 1987.[6]

Career

Beck in September 2011

United States Navy

Beck served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEALs before his transition, taking part in 13 deployments, including seven combat deployments. He was a member of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (also known as DEVGRU), a special counter-terrorism unit popularly called SEAL Team Six, and received multiple military awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.[7] He told Anderson Cooper he wanted to be a SEAL because they were the "toughest of the tough".[8]

Beck retired from the Navy in 2011 and began transitioning by dressing as a woman. In 2013, he began hormone therapy, preparing herself for sex reassignment surgery.[9] During an interview with Anderson Cooper in early June 2013, He stated that he never came out during his military career and that "No one ever met the real me".[8] After coming out publicly in 2013 by posting a photo of himself as a woman on LinkedIn, he received a number of messages of support from his former military colleagues.[10] Shortly after his retirement from DEVGRU and the US Navy, active DEVGRU members gave their support in person and among them one of the most decorated DEVGRU Team Leads from Seal Team Six's Red Team.[citation needed]

Warrior Princess

Beck co-wrote Warrior Princess with Anne Speckhard, a psychologist at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Speckhard was doing a study on resilience of the U.S. Navy SEALs, that is, the coping mechanisms employed by SEALs to deal with their intense job demands. Speckhard first met Beck at a counter-terrorism conference.[1] After Beck agreed to discuss coping mechanisms, a follow-up meeting took place in a gay bar, with Beck now dressed in female attire, to Speckhard's surprise. A five-hour meeting led to Speckhard agreeing to help Beck write her life story.[2]

In the book, Speckhard notes that Beck had a desire to die honorably "so that [she] wouldn't have to wrestle anymore with the emotional pain that stemmed from the lack of congruency between [her] gender identity and body".[11] In her introduction to the book, Beck writes:

I do not believe a soul has a gender, but my new path is making my soul complete and happy...I hope my journey sheds some light on the human experience and most importantly helps heal the "socio-religious dogma" of a purely binary gender.[11]

OutServe Magazine praised the book, calling it "one of the smartest and most important books of the year".[12] The Huffington Post noted that while the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was repealed in 2011, the ban on openly transgender people serving in the U.S. armed forces still remained.[11] Days before the release of Warrior Princess, Metro Weekly's Poliglot column reported that the Pentagon had celebrated LGBT Pride Month in a memo while avoiding mention of transgender military personnel; the Pentagon memo read in part: "We recognize gay, lesbian and bisexual service members and LGBT civilians for their dedicated service to our country."[13] The Atlantic Wire said that the book could "lay the groundwork for even greater inclusion in the armed forces" and Salon stated that Beck's military credentials may "lead the Pentagon to revisit its policy against trans service members".[14][15] While restrictions on sexual orientation were lifted in 2010-2011, restrictions on gender identity remained in place due to Department of Defense regulations until 2016, when the Obama administration ended the ban on transgender Americans serving in the military.[16]

Lady Valor

Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story, a documentary, aired on CNN on September 4, 2014.[17][18] Earlier during LGBT Pride Month on June 18, 2014 at the Defense Intelligence Agency, she received a plaque from retired Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn when he led the DIA as its Director.

Congressional campaign

In August 2015, CNN said that Beck was running for Congress to represent Maryland's 5th Congressional District.[19] Beck finished second behind Representative Steny Hoyer in the Democratic primary election on April 26, 2016.[20]

Awards and decorations

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Beck, Kristin; Speckhard, Anne (2013). Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender. Advances Press. ISBN 9781935866428.
  2. ^ a b Grove, Lloyd (6 Jun 2013). "Kristin Beck, the SEALs' Warrior Princess Who Came Out as Transgender". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  3. ^ Doug Stanglin (5 June 2013). "A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender". USA Today. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  4. ^ Thompson, Jakki (16 July 2013). "Transgender Navy SEAL speaks out in moving memoir". Kansas State, The Collegian. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b KRISTIN BECK AND ANNE SPECKHARD (8 June 2013). "I'm the transgender Navy SEAL: I'm Chris Beck now. As Chris, I risked my life on countless SEAL missions -- all while trying to hide who I am". Excerpted from "Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming Out Transgender". Salon.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Knights Out Announces Kristin Beck as Gala Dinner Speaker". Knights Out. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  7. ^ Doug Standlin (4 June 2013). "A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender". USA Today. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Anderson Cooper (June 6, 2013). "Anderson Cooper's exclusive interview with transgender former Navy SEAL Kristen Beck pt. I". CNN. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  9. ^ Ferran, Lee (3 June 2013). "Transgender Navy SEAL 'Warrior Princess' Comes Out". ABC News. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  10. ^ Vittorio Hernandez (June 6, 2013). "Former Navy SEAL Member Shares Sex Change Journey in Warrior Princess Memoir". International Business Times. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Cavan Sieczkowski (June 4, 2013). "Kristin Beck, Transgender Navy SEAL, Comes Out In New Book". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  12. ^ Katie Miller (June 4, 2013). "OutServe Magazine Praises Memoir of Transgender Navy SEAL". OutServe Magazine. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  13. ^ Justin Snow (June 3, 2013). "Pentagon marks LGBT Pride Month while omitting trans servicemembers". Metro Weekly. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  14. ^ J.K. Trotter (Jun 3, 2013). "The Latest Navy SEAL Book Could Impact the Military's Transgender Rules". The Atlantic Wire. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  15. ^ Katie Mcdonough (June 3, 2013). "SEAL Team 6 veteran comes out as transgender". Salon. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "DoD Transgender Policy Changes". Self. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  17. ^ JustCuriosity (29 November 2014). "Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  18. ^ "Transgender SEAL is subject of CNN documentary". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  19. ^ S.E. Cupp; Video Jeremy Moorhead; CNN (11 August 2015). "Transgender Navy SEAL running for Congress". CNN. {{cite web}}: |author2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Representative in Congress". 31 May 2016.
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