Kristin Beck is a former United States Navy 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. Beck served in the U.S. Navy for twenty years and is the first openly transgender former U.S. Navy SEAL. The Atlantic Wire, Salon, and Huffington Post have speculated that Beck's story may lead the Department of Defense to revisit its policies against transgender people openly serving in the U.S. military.
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I have to get back to work... won't be doing much more on this....
IF you want to buy the DVD of the film its at this link on SALE:
https://www.wolfevideo.com/products/lady-valor-the-kristin-beck-story/?R=1466
THANK YOU
Kristin
What are your thoughts on reducing the mortality rate amongst the transgender community? It seems like it is more dangerous to be transgendered (suicide + partner/dating violence) than it is to be a soldier.
THIS is the best question so far.
This is a problem and I wish so much that people, the haters, the bigots and the people who don't get "Transgender" would watch the film tonight or even watch or look up the info on the web.
The amount of violence against transgender women is atrocious and needs to stop.
how do we do that?
EDUCATE and INFORM each other.
take a look around and learn something about each other and you will find that we are pretty cool and JUST LIKE YOU.
"I hear you're a master of camouflage and quick insertions..."
It sounds as if you are experienced?
I'd like to know how your fellow SEALs have reacted to you being transgender, generally speaking. Have most been supportive or not? And was there one particularly positive reaction that sticks out the most for you?
The best response from my SEAL team commander was "I have known Chris for 20 years, that sister is my brother."
Meaning ONCE A SEAL always a SEAL
If I happen to meet a transgender former Navy SEAL at a bar, what pickup line should I use?
haha, just say hi and be respectful... be respectful just like you would to everyone you meet for the first time.
Will you wipe them the fuck out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth?
People who harass me.... I will just try to share some of my story in some way to see if they are able to evolve further than cavemen who see the constant need to hate...
If that doesn't work then I move on.
The haters will hate and all of that hate will catch up to them and be their demise.
I think we've all found ourselves in this situation at least once or twice, right?
haha, you're ok...
Totally, I'm especially respectful when it comes to people who can kill me...
So... uh... hi...
hi
Hope I don't come off as crass, am genuinely interested; when did you start 'feeling' like a woman? Before or after your SEAL career?
How, if any, did your Military service affect coming out as a transgender?
I was always like this and felt gender neutral maybe. In the end none of this really matters and we all need to chill out on the DIFFERENCES of each other and start thinking about who we are all the same... I am a human and deserve dignity and respect. Just like anyone else.
Ain't nobody gonna successfully harass a Navy SEAL.
haha, you'd be surprised :)
BUT the harassment is mostly from behind a keyboard and anonymity of the internet
How have your boys adapted? How did they react at first?
Very difficult, but we are getting there :)
thank you
He's referencing a piece of internet history. I can't say I know the full story, but there's a long paragraph that shows up every now and then that goes as follows:
"What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in gorilla warfare and I’m the top sniper in the entire US armed forces. You are nothing to me but just another target. I will wipe you the fuck out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fucking words. You think you can get away with saying that shit to me over the Internet? Think again, fucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of spies across the USA and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your life. You’re fucking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can kill you in over seven hundred ways, and that’s just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the United States Marine Corps and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable ass off the face of the continent, you little shit. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little “clever” comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue. But you couldn’t, you didn’t, and now you’re paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shit fury all over you and you will drown in it. You’re fucking dead, kiddo."
Sorry for the wall of text, and thank you for the AMA!
Who wrote that paragraph above? Doesn't sound like a authentic "SEAL" sounds like a gamer who played CALL OF DUTY way way too much.
Lots of team guys saying you didn't go through Green Team and were a WARCOM LNO. Doubt it means much to the average reddit user but care to respond?
Green team is the top qualification for the "door kickers" and its true, I didn't do green team. I was recruited for a special job at the team and did that job.
How did your other Navy SEALs comrades react to this?
I have about 75% support on this journey and 100% support as a HUMAN and as a SEAL team brother.
Can you elaborate on your comment?
The comment about Jesse was a bit tongue in cheek... He kind of broke the SEAL code when he went after Chris Kyle and then after Chris was killed(trying to help someone with PTSD issues), Jesse further broke the code and continued the suit against the widow of Chris Kyle... that is just wrong.... but that is all just opinion and doesn't count for much.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to be part of the solution... I want to run for political office and try to help us get back on track as a country. I want to see the politicians start working TOGETHER instead of all this fighting on capitol hill that seems to be the norm.
Most people are far more bigoted in the abstract than they are with a real human being.
Thats very true... and people are way more bigoted and outright nasty on the internet and animosity of the web...
How long can you hold your breath underwater?
Four and a half minutes. Anyone can do this, it just takes practice.
How are you? I am a transgender too, for a long time, also in that grey area, and NJ father of 3 boys.
Very best of luck to you.
Thank you. Good luck to you. :)
do you think being Trans impacted your decision to join the military ?
No, I was born this way and on this journey.... I am a Sheepdog.
I'm a 16 year old kid, any advice on how to become a SEAL?
Advice for becoming a SEAL...
Rule number one: Take care of yourself! Again this is the number one.
Don’t show up broken and injured to anything in life, if you do they will break you totally and you will not make it.
Wear the best running shoes you can afford, change them often, they wear out. Go to a running store and have them fit you to your foot and style of walking/running.
Don’t run in boots, you will do that when you arrive. Remember rule number one.
To break your boots in... wear them into water till fully soaked then do light chores wearing them till they dry. Do this 3 times. Wear 2 pairs of socks when you do this to protect your feet(remember rule number one).
Your goals as a Target:
Running down to 8 minutes per mile for 6-8 miles.
Swimming get 2 miles in 60min wearing fins. (find some good slip on surface swim fins, not diving fins they are to stiff, you have to build up to stiff fins... remember rule number one).
Run 3 times a week or swim 3 times a week, not both.
Did I ever tell you to REMEMBER rule number one, take care of yourself. If you need a couple days off then take them to recover, heal yourself. If you body is telling you something then listen…
Eat well, your body needs it.
They say eat a rainbow; meaning eat carrots, orange, lettuce green, meat brown, other foods yellow/red/purple etc. Most Americans eat brown all day every day, Mcdonalds and other junk...check it out, you will see how bad people eat.
Twice a week do this workout:
25 pull ups(if you can't do them in a row then drop down and then do them after you take a few seconds rest(GET 25 pull-ups), rest 4 min, then 80 push ups in 2min, rest 4 min, then 80 sit-ups in 2 min then run 2 miles in 16 minutes.
Read the books:
"A Message to Garcia" (do the job don't ask to many questions, figure it out)
"The Ranger Handbook", (pay attention to small unit tactics and leadership)
"The Moon is a harsh Mistress", (leadership and how to organize...)
"Defense of duffer drift" (memorize this book.... if you ever want to go.)
"The soldiers Load"
Enders Game(good grand tactics and fun easy read, movie... not so much.)
One last note: Be able to read a map and use a compass, use a pace count and contour navigation skills. If you don’t know what these are then look them up and practice with a friend in a national forest near you. When out doing practice long range navigation always have a plan and leave that plan with a friend who can “rescue” you if needed.
NEVER QUIT…. YOU CAN DO IT… YOU CAN DO ANYTHING (I did).
You said in your video you love your shoes. What's your favorite pair and style? (stilettos, open toe, platform)
It has been a very fast transition since I've started this journey. I joke that last year in my teens I was into high-heels and fashion. A year later I think of myself in my 30's and I'm into flats. Next year in my 40's I'll probably be into flip-flops and jeans like my GF. As far as designers go my favorite is DVF.
How has being transgendered impacted your SEAL physique and muscle memory? Could you still do the things SEALS are required to do? On a more personal note, what has your dating life been like recently?
Muscle memory will always be there, we call it instincts. Physically I do fine but have some loss of strength and definition, but doesn't that happen to all of us as we get older.
I have a girlfriend named Heather and she is awesome!
Hi there! I saw that you posted a photo on Twitter of you standing in front of the Team One sign. Was it known as "No Fun One" when you were there, or is that something that has evolved since?
Also, what do you think about integrating women into the Teams?
Thank you for doing an AMA! I am enjoying reading your responses.
I think allowing women to join the teams is good as long as the standard remains the same. Lowering the standard is not good, it is there for a reason to select the best.
Cant wait to watch your documentary tonight. When I grew up, nobody knew how to deal with anyone who was transgender even though there has been a few in the small town of 1200 over the years. Do you think schools should address it? What is the best way to make people understand more. (Desert Storm veteran who learned more about the world through the military and shed the small town thinking years ago) Proud of you!
Schools NEED to address the issue of mental wellness of EVERYONE. If a kid is transgender then that is something that if addressed will help that kid deal with him or herself in a productive way instead of being unhappy. The suicide rate and bullying is out of sight and its because IT IS NOT ADDRESSED.
Talk to each other and learn who we are.
How can I support you and people like you on their journeys?
Just be nice. If you have questions for them then ask, always be respectful and they will answer. :)
Hooyah shipmate. Proud of what you are doing. Since it's a AMA here is my question. Glock or beretta?
neither... Berretta breaks when you shoot over 4000 rounds and Glock is clunky.
SIG is my choice pistol