Transgender Navy SEAL, Warrior Princess
OK, you guys wore me down. I’ve been avoiding this subject since last night when someone sent us a link, but I’ve been getting a couple of “tips” every hour about Chris/Kristin Beck who wrote about his journey from Navy SEAL to woman. Yes, according to Don Shipley, Beck is indeed a former SEAL. Shipley’s exact words were “Only in the Navy….” So I figured that since I have nothing constructive to add to the discussion, but you guys seem eager to discuss it, here’s your opportunity. From the Washington Times;
Chris Beck served for 20 years on SEAL Team 6 — the same unit that ultimately raided bin Laden’s compound. He retired six months before the bin Laden raid, but nonetheless still went on 13 different deployments during his military career — seven of which sent him to combat areas — ultimately earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, the Daily Mail reported.
But something was amiss.
“Chris really wanted to be a girl and felt that she was a girl and consolidated that identity very early on in childhood,” said Anne Speckhard, who helped the soldier write a book, called “Warrior Princess,” the Daily Mail reported.
Just so long as he doesn’t do like Autumn Sandeen and starts wearing a female Navy uniform in public. By the way, that particular link comes with warning about how things you’ve seen can’t be unseen.
Category: Who knows
I have some really good Navy jokes right now but I will abstain out of respect for the obvious shock, depression, nausea and anger you are collectively experiencing.
I wish you the best and a speedy recovery!
I don’t give a big flying fuck at all,but why do they(he/she) need to make a big point about it? Get your self a new name and have the surgery and get over it.
Yeah, I saw this yesterday. Not really sure what to say though. Just….wow. So honestly, how long should we wait before the “Sailors love it in the ass” jokes to start flying? Is it too soon? You won’t see some stupid shit like this going on over in Army SF units. They’re REAL men over there….
I wrote about it earlier. The guy had an honorable career and hid his feelings about all this until he got out. He kicked ass. Good for him.
He needed to get this out? Great. Good for him. Those who want to read about it will do so, and those who won’t will not. Simple.
What bugs me is those who claim he should lose his retirement pay, because “he’s a different person” now, or those who imply he’s a pedophile, or equally repugnant statements such as that.
The guy did more in his career than most people so these assnuggets should just thank him and shut their ignorant pieholes.
I do not think a lot of people get the bigger picture.
Cannot say I am surprised, though.
Wait until the LBGT community uses this (along side the social scientists) to advocate and push for changes within the existing military structure.
And think about the fallout. Not necessarily all negative; but definitely several cause and effect scenarios.
Ex: Here at my school in the Great NW, they are considering having specific toilets/showers for transgender. You know, make accommodations for less than 1/2% of the student body. No shit. I mean, screw the disabled people. Make them walk up steps and carry their wheelchairs but lets make some new toilets for people who refuse to dump alongside the sex of their “choice”.
Women will not shower with them, neither will men. But they are now anatomically female. See the hypocrisy?
And that’s just a start.
Wait until this stuff flies on a ship, sub or similar enclosed space.
The news is clearly promotion for the book… which I have zero problems with. She served the country admirably and I hope is very happy with her new life.
All I’m going to say is “Don’t start”.
He was obviously unhappy with who he was, not with what he did for a living. Now he’s happier. I can still tell that he’s/was a guy because of that lower jaw. Some things you simply can’t hide.
But if he had an honorable career, and he’s made a change in his life that makes him more ‘comfortable’, who gives a shit?
Me — well, I enjoy being a girl. That’s all I have to say.
Well, that and no, he can’t borrow my Victoria’s Secret underwear.
@5 – GT, what about the women who have a sex-change and are now anatomically men? Where are they supposed to go?
That’s a two-way street, you know. No pun intended.
See, this is something I have never understood and never will, so I must be completely out of touch. I just do not get it.
First, why do I care? He/she served and earned what ever he/she earned. That should not, and likely legally cannot, be taken away. Why do I need to hear about this. It is none of my business.
Second, one story said that Chris stifled his “sexuality” for years while in the Navy. However it also says he was married twice and has two kids? I am confused. Not as confused as Chris apparently, but confused nonetheless.
Third, anyone who uses one example to make a wholesale policy change for 1/2% of the population is just nuts. Therefore, the calls for this change in 3, 2, 1…
I agree with Green Thumb that this “announcement” is part of a bigger agenda. The Palm Center who was used a lot during the push for the repeal of DADT is making it their mission to bring transgenderims to the military. Remember all the cries that homosexuals should serve “because some of them were heroes?” This announcement is probably the same kind of advertising.
@8.
Yeah, I missed that in my typing flurry.
You are correct, it goes both ways.
Same difference, though.
As far as service-related benefits; no issue. The individual in question served honorably and is entitled to make choices that they see fit.
My issue does not revolve around the person, per say, just the asinine waste of time and resources to be PC.
While folks are doing this, the mission, vision and intent of certain organizations becomes secondary.
Point being: everyone deserves equal rights, not special rights.
Obviously liberal colleges and the military are separate entities but organizational structure(s) are similar and inherent.
I’m surprised that you are not supportive of Kristin. She has made extraordinary sacrifices for her country. If this is what makes her happy then I support her in doing it 100%.
I truly don’t see why this is a bad thing. Or why you wouldn’t want her to wear a female Navy uniform.
well the Wash Times didn’t play it up nearly as bad as another site did where the headline screamed “Transgender SEAL breaks down the military’s gender barriers” and made it sound like he started this while still in and made it sound as if we are right around the corner from trans serving in all branches.
Not to sound crazy (tin foil hat creaks) but this is what they want. they want the military to be another federal job with feel good quota’s and “diversity” in everything. First it was Leon telling everyone that gays could serve openly as he ran out the door. Now the branches are looking at “limited” bennies for same sex partners, letting women into male only combat jobs, and I’m sure allowing transgender to serve is somewhere down there on the lefts wish list, right along with the deaf and the mentally retarded.
As for people suggesting s/he lose her retirement, no. I look at it this way, he served honorably AS A MAN, then retired with 20. What he does now that he’s out is his own biz.
Can we have some Village People music in the background?
Speaking just for myself, Ken… what I have a problem with is making this a “statement” to further an agenda. If this SEAL wanted to get re-assignment surgery to be changed into a panda bear, I wouldn’t give a flip. Did his time, got out, Vaya con Dios. But as noted by some of the posters above, this looks like the beginning salvo of more social engineering experiments for our Armed Forces. That I have a real big problem with. YMMV.
Is that why the Navy enlistment form doesn’t ask M or F? 😀
@12 – Kenneth, I said this: “But if he had an honorable career, and he’s made a change in his life that makes him more ‘comfortable’, who gives a shit?”
My saying that I don’t understand it does not mean I think Beck was wrong, if it made him happier with himself. And did he really stop to consider the long-term consequences of that decision? In gender change, the person making the change has to take hormonal therapy to become the physical other sex. This means, for a man, taking considerably higher doses of female hormones – conjugated estrogens — than most of us would get naturally AND going through menopause AND facing cancers specific to women and other diseases that men do not usually get. Yes, men can get breast cancer, but do they ever talk about it?
However, this need to confess to the entire world about it, this need to get attention for something like this, is off-putting because (to me, at least) it gives hints of a hidden agenda.
The sex change doesn’t bother me. He did what he felt he had to do. But I will admit I felt skeptical that he could have actually been a Navy Seal because I just think this is something completely unprecedented. But it seems as though he’s legit so good for him.
I’ve personally known two men who have had the sex re-assignment surgery to become women. One had been married and has kids and both said that they were always conflicted, feeling that they should have been born women.
After a stellar career of service, he/she deserves to be happy.
That said, those that are trying to say that he/she is the first female SEAL are very wrong. He was all man during his career or it would have never happened.
I guess I’m fine with this… You go, girl. So in theory, she could be called back up from the fleet reserve and be the first woman in US spec ops?
Cannoncocker@3, you may need to adjust fire.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/April/Judge-Rules-in-Favor-of-Transgender-Army-Veteran-.html
Welp, like TSO I wondered until re-reading Shipleys statement. Served our country, honorably so I’m good to go with this individuals choice.
out.
If he/she is using this opportunity to sell a book, who bloody cares? He/she earned it, just as much as any other military veteran/Spec Ops personnel who have wrote a book the past 40 years.
I’ve known over a half-dozen transgendered people who served in various military branches, most in the 70s-80s I think. None claimed to be super-bad-SF-elite or anything, just normal soldiers in various positions.
I’ve never heard anyone argue in favor of special circumstances being made for being TG in the military. Most don’t agree on joining the sexes on submarines or other nonsensical PC stuff like that and neither do I.
It’s common for someone struggling with feelings like this to compensate by throwing themselves into a “masculine” job… so firefighters, military, even marines aren’t uncommon. They usually struggle with hating themselves but they exist and serve with just as much honor as the next soldier.
As for specialty bathrooms… that’s stupid. All I ever look for, at work or in a school for example is a unisex bathroom (one-person type) somewhere I can decently walk to if I need to. I never consider public showering though military life probably demands that… but I seriously doubt many TG want to start transitioning in the service. I can see if they work a desk job maybe, but not active service.
To clear up some confusion people are having, orientation and gender are two different things. From observation about half the transwomen (MtF) identify as gay (they date women) and half straight (they date men). In the transmen (FtM) community it’s more along the lines of 80/20 (80% date women, 20% date men).
As to me, I date women. And I served in the Army. For those interested I was working at Pan Mun Jom in ’76. Leave that one for the google hounds.
Served the country with honor.
This is America. Live as you may.
@21 Hack
Your link stated that “it” was an Army Ranger, and they’re all fags, we knew that already. I was saying you won’t see this out of Army Special Forces. Given that, I will proceed to Fire For Effect 😀
Ok Jonn, now we need to get this important topic put up.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335015/Female-Israeli-soldiers-disciplined-unbecoming-behaviour-posing-pictures-dressed-underwear-combat-fatigues.html
Don’t. Really. Care.
It’s his penis, if he wants to detach it … go right ahead.
Okay, she did her time, served honorably, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to assume she was probably a bad ass. If this is what makes her happy now that her service is done, good for her. She’s earned the right to be happy. I’d be happy to buy her a beer at the VFW.
But that being said, if the LGBT lobby wants MHS or Tricare to pay for this surgeries…that’s a pill that could be bit harder to swallow. I’m not downplaying what these individuals are feeling, but in a strictly “physical” they don’t require surgery. In my twenty years as a military medic, I’ve met plenty of servicemembers/retirees who are denied a variety of treatments because no matter how much treatment would improve their quality of life, the treatment is still considered elective. I’ve had military mental-health providers recommend airmen get braces because their horribly crooked teeth are the root-cause of the severe depression…but DOD will not pay for braces. I have to tell fixed-income retirees on a weekly basis that Tricare will only partially pay for dental work(even the older ones who were promised free dental for life). So I’m all for equality, when DOD picks up the tab for ALL procedures to improve “quality of life”, then I have no problem with them paying for gender re-assignment surgery.
Just goes to show that mental illness can affect anybody, including elite Navy SEALs. Begs the question on whether the US Navy needs to screen their SEALs better in the future.
Ok, not that I really care what he/she ends up as, but my info is that the VA …
will be paying for the gender change.
Do WE really need to pay for this????
@28 Looks like real girls to me. I can live with that. I’ll take the little blonde.
“Where’s the fetus gonna gestate?!? In a box?!?”
@ 32, no the VA does not pay for gender reassignment surgery…. though on an off the wall note, if he/she was a convicted murderer incarcerated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Prison system, the Commonwealth would be forced to pay for it… My point? I don’t know if I have one, but I guess if a Federal Judge has decided that a State Government must pay for a scumbag murdering loser to have his surgery paid for, then I have to say if that is to be the case I would much rather see my tax payer money got to assisting a real Hero who laid their life on the line for me and my family than said murdering scumbag… I digress though.
The VA does provide for counseling and medical care related to reassignment, but not the actual operation.
I am not sure where I stand on this to be honest as far as accepting it. I have worked with someone who was a Veteran and was Trans Gender… I had a real hard time accepting someone getting their dick cut off so that they could become female and be a lesbian. It just made no sense. It completely confuse things beyond homosexuality and gender identity.
To this Hero though, welcome home, hope your life turns out to be what you want it to be.
i know,,off topic but,,,McCain has gone full retard/libtard.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/04/18729878-john-mccain-women-should-avoid-military-service-until-sexual-misconduct-crisis-solved?lite
Ummm… @31 – really? They need better mental health screening? Just what is it that makes you say this? He served with honor. He was a badass. He did nothing detrimental to the mission, and held his feelings inside until he left the military. What is it that you think the Navy needs to screen their SEALs better for?
In reply to FC2 Dewclaw and to EX-PH2: I wholeheartedly agree with you about the left forcing obedience to their prejudices onto the military. I don’t think that Beck is trying to do that though.
If Kristin is proposing changes to the military’s policy with regard to transgender people I would not be hostile to such ideas as I would be if they were proposed by the left as the impetus for the change would be coming from someone who genuinely cared about the military.
I wasn’t accusing you of anything Ex-PH2, I hope that you don’t feel that I was. I can’t speak for Beck but I don’t think that the consequences that you talk about matter much in the face of the feeling that you are the wrong gender.
I think that the hostility of some on the right to homosexuality gives the left a great deal of ammunition to use against us.
@28
In a statement, the military said the women had acted in a manner showing ‘unbecoming behaviour’ for Israeli soldiers, adding: ‘The commanding officers disciplined the soldiers as they saw fitting.’
Does anyone else hear that “bow chicka wow wow” music?
What if a transgende male to female enlists, What PFT gender standards is she tested by ? Still has male muscles and bones. Joe
@40: If they’re well past the operation, I believe their musculature is ‘female’, courtesy of the estrogen treatments. If they’re in the midst of the operation, chances are they wouldn’t be allowed to enlist for medical reasons.
He was a he while he served and served honorably, now he is a she and out of the Military. So tell me what exactly the Military has to do with it? She’s earned the right to her retirement plus any and all medical that the average person would get when they retire from service. Do I think the VA should offer sex reassignment surgery or the things that go along with it? That one I don’t know. I don’t know enough about how the VA works and what services they offer to the common Vet.
But now what I do know a little something about and would like a say in is how we are parading our sex lives around in front of the world. I can honestly tell you I’ve never walked up to someone and said “Hi, my name’s Kris. I fuck guys”. I think what we do behind close doors should not be an identifying characterization to who we are. The media is all about announcing who someone has sex with and who they worship when talking about them, and I’m over it. I don’t think those 2 things are anyone’s business but your own and should never be discussed when talking about an action you made. I’m very much for everyone having the same and Equal rights but let’s not confuse a right with a privileged. You have the right to be happy and have sex with whom ever you choose without harm coming to you and I fully support this right. Maybe I’m trying to make the world something it’s never been or never will be, but I’d like for a person’s actions to stand for who they are and not who they sleep with. I guess I’m old school here and was raised to never talk about 3 things in mixed company. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go yell at some kids to get off my lawn.
I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to write a book. I didn’t realize my comment was so long. If you chose not to read it, basically what I was trying to say is, I’d like for a person’s character to define them.
wonder how she pissed in the bush standing up all those years.
I had a niece. She is becoming a nephew. And she just got engaged to a guy, who is becoming a lady.
Frankly I don’t care, but it is funny as hell when I have to try and remember pronouns.
Now that I think of it, wouldn’t this union be perfectly alright with the marraige extremists? I mean technically it is a man and a woman getting married, they are just switching around naughty bits is all…
@44 During the Iraq War I taught the female soldiers that to pee standing up all you needed was a water bottle with a 45 degree cut in the bottom. Hold that under the naughty bits and the bottle at a downward angle (cap off!) and you too could pee standing up.
Granted one of our more enterprising mechanics decided she could do it over the railing on the LMTV while we were on Thunder Run in the middle of the desert…
Turns out wind pressure across the cap can cause some hilarious back spray, and some also equally hilarious sounds.
Quagmire’s dad?
at this point is anyone surprised that a member of the LOUD professionals is writing another book?
@37: For one hiding a secret like that put him in a situational where he could have been easily been blackmailed. One his security clearance you think he actually disclosed that even though it specifically asks whether or not you have ever been or are in engaged in any conduct which will make your employer look bad. I think moonlighting on the side as a female living a secret life pretty much qualifies for that especially when you’re in a tier 1 unit.
I hope the guy seeks help, but from the looks of it he’s just furthering his illness and I doubt it’s going to help him in the long run.
It’s crazy that society encourages self destructive behavior like this, but on the other hand scolds you for other self destructive behavior.
@40 You reminded of something I had not thought about. I was a recruiter for four years, and I always told my applicants that the only Rx medication the could take on a regular basis was birth control pills. I couldn’t send someone to MEPS if they were taking Rx medication for allergies, skin problems, chronic headaches etc. If someone required daily medication, then they had a “pre-existing” medical condition and therefore couldn’t go to MEPS. Now once someone joins they can get all the Allegra and skin cream they want provided the condition doesn’t manifest until after Basic Training. But post-op TG folks require hormone therapy for the rest of their lives. I would think to be fair across the board, hormone therapy would also count as a pre-existing condition and should DQ someone from MEPS.