Taking on the world one step at a time, it’s all just another mission for former Navy Seal Kristin Beck, whose life was highlighted by Shippensburg University faculty and staff last week.

Beck served 20 years on 13 deployments, has received medals such as the Purple Heart and was also a member of the counter-terrorism unit Seal Team 6. Beck, formerly Chris Beck, underwent the transition process from male to female after she came out publicly in 2013 as having a new identity. She has appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 and various other popular publications.

The film, “Lady Valor,” included footage from Beck’s time in the Navy Seals, and was shown to the public on March 22 in SU’s Memorial Auditorium. It discussed her military career in detail and how her life has changed from then to now. With the support of her rescue dog, Beck spent the majority of film living out of a small RV, traveling around the country to spread her message —human rights.

“I didn’t know it was going to be that [big deal of a deal to the media], I just wanted to tell some of my story, and maybe set an example for some of the younger generation just saying, I’m a human, I deserve dignity and respect,” Beck said in the opening scenes of CNN’s documentary.

The viewing of the film was a part of the LGBTQ+ Concerns Committee’s initiative this year to shed some light on LGBTQ issues in the military, specifically looking at the experiences of transgender individuals who serve or have served in the military.

“Given our campus is home to a thriving ROTC program, we thought this would be a highly relevant and timely topic,” said Jayleen Galarza, SU professor of social work and gerontology. “The U.S. government has repealed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ related policies; however, this doesn’t mean that issues have been fully resolved. It is still uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe for LGBTQ identified folks to live fully as themselves and serve. As a committee, we felt it was important to raise awareness of these concerns, given that many students are seeking careers in the military.”

Students from a variety of majors came out to the event Tuesday, including junior social work major Casey Thompson.

“I thought the film was very interesting, that even with all the things she went through overseas it doesn’t compare with the struggle of acceptance today in the U.S.,” Thompson said. “I feel that transgender people should have the same rights with healthcare that men and women have under the government.”

Despite backlash for bringing her story to the national spotlight, Beck said this is an opportunity for her to educate people. She even joked and talked of her new ventures — becoming a shaman. 

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