slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Paul Szoldra
Business Insider,
Wednesday, July 26, 2017

A retired Navy SEAL Team 6 hero who is transgender had a message for President Donald Trump after he announced the US military would bar transgender people from serving.

"Let's meet face to face and you tell me I'm not worthy," Kristin Beck, a 20-year veteran of the Navy SEALs, told Business Insider on Wednesday. "Transgender doesn't matter. Do your service."

Beck said Trump's abrupt change in policy could negatively affect many currently or wanting to serve in the military. The RAND Corporation estimated in 2016 that there were between 1,320 and 6,630 transgender people serving. Many of them just want to serve their country like everyone else, Beck said.

"Being transgender doesn't affect anyone else," Beck said. "We are liberty's light. If you can't defend that for everyone that's an American citizen, that's not right."

Beck is not just your average service member. Born Christopher Beck, she served for 20 years in the Navy with SEAL Teams 1, 5, and, eventually, the elite 6. She deployed 13 times over two decades, including stints in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. She received the Bronze Star award for valor and the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat. (Those were among Beck's twenty-seven awards/medals/commendations)

"I was defending individual liberty," she said. "I defended for Republicans. I defended for Democrats. I defended for everyone."

In a series of tweets, Trump said the decision was based on the costs of medical services that transgender service members could use. But "the money is negligible," Beck said. "You're talking about .000001% of the military budget.

"They care more about the airplane or the tank than they care about people," Beck said. "They don't care about people. They don't care about human beings."

When asked about potential problems with unit cohesion or war fighting, Beck said those were not issues that would arise from transgender service members, but from leadership.

"A very professional unit with great leadership wouldn't have a problem," Beck said. "I can have a Muslim serving right beside Jerry Falwell, and we're not going to have a problem. It's a leadership issue, not a transgender issue."

Wolf counselor Loc: Heart of Texas

Sorry slatt, I'm with the Trumpster on this one.

pickmeup Loc: Mid Michigan

cohesion is not about leadership its about interpersonal relationships. No doubt the confused retired Seal is bending ideas to fit his thinking.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Trump's right. I respect the seal and anyone else who serves. Let them serve as the gender they are. When they decide to "change"
that should be on them. Not the armed forces.

confused one

Thrown out upon turning 17, I spent 3 long years in the army. There is no way.
Think of the law suits that would be filed for various kinds of discrimination, court orders saying so many
have to be promoted to meet a quota etc.
I saw many vicious incidents in the military fueled by alcohol, racism and cracking under pressure. We were so called
brothers in arms with many of us carrying strong dislikes for some members of our own platoon, me included.
That was 1964-1967. Common sense tells me it's far more complicated these days with widespread drug use, stated political views and
ever growing racial tensions.
About the Seal named above. I wonder how many of his fellow Seals today would share his opinion.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

This man/woman needs to get a grip on reality.

It's not about him/her.

It's about America. The military is not there for the benefit of individual serviceman.

The military is there to protect America.

All Patriot should put their personal wishes aside for the benefit of the country.

Is this person trying to get a gig on CNN or what?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Wolf, I just read this story today, and was taken aback. It's not so much a matter of whether I am for or against Trump's decision....I simply find Kristen Beck an exceptional individual. Having read a capsulization of her life's story, I found myself wondering how many more like her are out there. Admittedly, her transformation came after retiring from the Navy, but....twenty years of dedicated service while languishing in personal turmoil.

I equate her personal anguish/sacrifice, somewhat, to that of Bruce Jenner. Both individuals had led highly successful lives before they gave in to what had to have been an extremely tough transition. No one should doubt eithers courage in doing so. I wish them both luck in their current lives.

BTW, I read that Ms. Beck challenged Steny Hoyer for his congressional seat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Beck

wuzblynd Loc: thomson georgia

👍👍👍👍👍

bahmer

Same here and they can remove all homosexuals and lesbians as well then remove all of the Muslims before we have another Fort Hood incident.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

I wish them a successful life as well.

I didn't know but, I can't say I'm surprised, that this person is running for office.

Ricktloml

I guess the question is did Christopher serve, or Kristin. Did he/she serve as a transgender, or take on this cause after retirement.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I corrected my earlier misstatement, Dave. She ran in the primaries for this past election and lost.

Mr Bombastic

He. Not she. He was born and served as a male. He can call himself whatever he wants, but he is still a he. You cannot change your sex. Anyone who thinks differently has a mental disorder.

bahmer

I think that Trump has in mind a military that is fit and ready to go to battle and win the battle and not to look like the California queer parade that they have every year.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

Well. There's always next time. Trans is the new Black.