'Warrior Princess' Kristen Beck Speaks Oct. 6
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2015) — Kristen Beck, known as the Warrior Princess — a reference to the title of her book, “Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL’s Journey to Coming out Transgender” — will speak at the University of Kentucky at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Room 106 White Hall Classroom Building. Her visit is sponsored by the Office for Institutional Diversity, Office of LGBTQ* Resources.
Beck had a stellar 20-year career as a decorated Navy SEAL before her retirement in 2011, without ever “coming out” to her fellow soldiers. During her years in the military, she took part in 13 deployments, including seven combat deployments serving in a counter-terrorism unit. She received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
She initiated gender reassignment preparations in 2013. "Warrior Princess," the story of her years in the military and her decision to seek gender reassignment, has received glowing accolades.
Although the U.S. military has lifted restrictions on sexual orientation, even sending a memo in recognition of LGBT Pride Month, transgender individuals still cannot join any branch of the U.S. military.
Written with Anne Speckhard, a psychologist of Georgetown University School of Medicine, “Warrior Princess” was published in 2013. Speckhard was researching coping mechanisms used by SEALs when she met Beck. In an interview later with the Huffington Post, Speckhard said Beck expressed a desire to die honorably as a soldier "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.”
Beck recently announced her candidacy to represent Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. Visit her website at http://www.beck4congress.us or a Washington Post article about her candidacy.
MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Hairston, 859-257-3302, gail.hairston@uky.edu