Kristin Beck Fires Back Following Mike Huckabee’s Transphobic Comments
Kristin Beck, the openly transgender retired Navy SEAL, had some cutting words for Mike Huckabee following his transphobic remarks during the GOP Debate last night.
When asked his opinion on the evolution of policies for LGBT soldiers in the U.S. military, specifically whether or not transgender soldiers should be allowed to serve openly, Huckabee said that the military is not a “social experiment”.
“The purpose of the military is to kill people and break things. It’s not to transform the culture by trying out some ideas that some people think would make us a different country and more diverse. The purpose is to protect America.”
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Beck, who was live tweeting the debate, quickly fired back a response. “I am twice the man you’ll ever be,” Beck tweeted.
@GovMikeHuckabee I was the best of the best #NavySEAL …. I am twice the man that you could ever be!#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/BfAan4Yva5
— “Chief” Beck ??? (@valor4us) August 7, 2015
Beck added to her comment on Facebook today, saying, “The military is not a social experiment, but we do promote equality and fight for LIBERTY including ‘individual liberty’ and Being transgender NEVER made me less capable in the Navy SEALs.”
Mike Huckabee has come under fire for transphobic remarks before. In January, Huckabee referred to transgender Americans as a “threat,” then followed up with an offensive joke.
“Now I wish that someone told me that when I was in high school that I could have felt like a woman when it came time to take showers in PE. I’m pretty sure that I would have found my feminine side and said, ‘Coach, I think I’d rather shower with the girls today'”.
Being called out by Ms. Beck is an appropriate consequence to his most recent remarks, as she is one of the most prominent openly transgender American soldiers, and was the first openly transgender Navy SEAL. Kristin had a stellar service record prior to retiring, receiving numerous decorations including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with a “V” for valor.
Kristin Beck has been an outspoken activist for transgender rights since coming out in 2013, particularly for the right of the nearly 16,000 transgender American soldiers currently in the military to serve openly.
Recently, Kristin Beck has decided to take her fight to Washington. Ms. Beck announced in July that she is planning a 2016 campaign to challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Steny Hoyer.
“I’m gonna keep on fighting because this is where I need to be. We need patriots. We need veterans. I have no strings attached and no fear at all,” said Beck.
[Image via Fusion.net]
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