Kristin Beck: A Model of Courage
Last Thursday at Juniata, I had the opportunity to hear the courageous story of Kristin Beck, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who came out as a transgender woman at the age of 45.
Kristin she knew that she identified as a woman when she was in 3rd grade. She got caught wearing her sister’s dress a few times and received punishment from her parents for not fitting gender norms. She joined the Navy SEALs so that she could “protect herself, build armor, and hide her true identity from others.” Kristin did not come out publicly until 2013, because of the social stigma surrounding transgender people in the previous generations. She said, “This is who I am. This is what I got to do. I’m going to start living my life how I want.”
Many people were shocked by her dramatic physical changes since she had gone from a macho-looking Navy SEAL to looking like a “Barbie doll.” Kristin explained that change doesn’t always have to be this drastic and that even changing your major could help you become closer to the person that you want to be. “Live your dreams. We get one life. Go for your dream, and work hard,” said Beck.
Kristin has become a civil rights activist since retiring from the Navy SEALs, and is running for Congress. If elected, she will be the first transgender person in Congress; however, Kristin expressed that she doesn’t want to be looked at as the “first transgender,” but rather as an “American.” She said that her mission is the same now as it was when she was a Navy SEAL: To build bridges. As a Navy SEAL, Kristin physically built bridges in countries around the world, but as a civil rights activist, Kristin hopes to build bridges between people of all different backgrounds. “I want to fight for peace at any cost,” said Beck.
Kristin Beck’s story is not only inspiring for other people who are struggling with gender identity but is also inspiring for our population as a whole. We often face discouragement from others when wanting to express ourselves in a way that might not fit societal norms. Kristin serves as a model of hope for those of us just waiting to take that next step in discovering our true selves.