Chris Beck is an American military veteran, unsuccessful political candidate, author, and ex-transgender activist. Beck began a gender transition at age 47 and made additional gender changes at age 56 following a religious conversion. Beck has gone on to be a prominent opponent of trans healthcare for people under age 25.
Background
Christopher Todd “Chris” Beck was born on June 21, 1966 and grew up on a farm.
Beck attended Virginia Military Institute from 1984 through 1987, then earned a bachelor’s dergee from Alfred University in 1989. Beck enlisted in the Navy and went through SEAL training in 1991. Beck served as a member of the counter-terrorism unit United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), also known as SEAL Team Six. Beck took part in 13 deployments, including seven combat deployments. Over a 20-year career, Beck earned numerous military awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Beck retired from the Navy in 2011. Beck founded Healing Grounds, a nonprofit aimed at supporting combat veterans through therapeutic landscaping, gardening, and peer support.
Beck married twice and has two children from the first marriage.
Gender transition and additional gender changes
In 2013, Beck began taking hormones and came out as transgender, using the name Kristin Beck. That year, Beck released the memoir Warrior Princess. In that book, Beck described the arduous gatekeeping process for trans healthcare through Veteran Affairs (VA).
After coming out, Beck made a number of media appearances, including interviews with Dr. Phil and Anderson Cooper. Beck was the subject of the 2014 CNN documentary Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story.
In 2016, Beck ran for Congress to represent Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Beck came in second to Steny Hoyer in the Democratic primary.
Beck stopped taking hormones in 2016. In December 2022, Beck described living “in hell for the past 10 years” and announced a religious conversion. Beck began doing media appearances to urge others not to transition, describing the transgender community as a “cult.” Beck began claiming the VA “offered hormones after an hour-long meeting,” contradicting statements in the 2013 memoir.
Beck has since embraced a number of esoteric, idiosyncratic, and conspiratorial beliefs centered around Messianic Christianity. In January 2026, Beck burned all medals and decorations earned in the military, calling them idols. Beck was motivated by US military operations to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Beck expressed regret for serving in the military and urged active-duty servicemembers to “get out of Babylon.”
References
Urquhart, Evan (January 18, 2023). The Atlantic Provides a Misleading Picture of Detransition. Assigned Media https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/atlantic-article-misleads-about-detransition
Urquhart, Evan (January 21, 2023). Trans “Detransition” Is Real. But It’s Not the Crisis Many Seem to Think. Slate https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/01/trans-detransition-facts-research-study-atlantic.html
Ghosh, R. (December 12, 2022). Who Is Chris Beck? Retired Navy SEAL Who Came Out as Transgender is Transitioning Back after Calling Sex Change ‘Worst Mistake of My Life.’ International Business Times https://www.ibtimes.sg/who-chris-beck-retired-navy-seal-who-came-out-transgender-transitioning-back-after-calling-sex-68092
Staff report (July 10, 2019). Kristin Beck: On Coming Out as Transgender After Being a Navy SEAL. Profiles in Pride https://profilesinpride.com/kristin-beck-coming-out-as-transgender-navy-seal/
Bushatz, Amy (October 31, 2017). Transgender Navy SEAL Applies for Job in Trump Administration. Military.com https://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/11/25/transgender-navy-seal-applies-for-job-in-trump-administration.html
Cupp, S.E.; Moorhead, Jeremy (August 11, 2015). Transgender Navy SEAL running for Congress. CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/11/politics/transgender-navy-seal-congress-kristin-beck-outside-with-insiders/
Cahn, Dianna (September 4, 2014). Transgender SEAL is subject of CNN documentary. The Virginian-Pilot https://www.pilotonline.com/2014/09/04/transgender-seal-is-subject-of-cnn-documentary-2/
Staff report (October 21, 2013). Kristin Beck: Non Sibi Sed Patriae. Flaunt https://www.flaunt.com/blog/people-kristin-beck-2 original url https://www.flaunt.com/people/kristin-beck/ [archive]
Hughes, Stewart (August 1, 2013). The US Navy Seal who went from Chris to Kristin. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23464947
Vittorio Hernandez (June 6, 2013). Former Navy SEAL Member Shares Sex Change Journey in Warrior Princess Memoir. International Business Times https://www.ibtimes.com.au/former-navy-seal-member-shares-sex-change-journey-warrior-princess-memoir-video-photos-1310246
Grove, Lloyd (June 6, 2013). Kristin Beck, the SEALs’ Warrior Princess Who Came Out as Transgender. Daily Beast http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/06/kristin-beck-the-seals-warrior-princess-who-came-out-as-transgender.html
Stanglin, Doug (June 5, 2013). A Navy SEAL’s biggest secret: Life as a transgender. USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/04/seal-team-6-transgender-memoir-warrior-princess/2388431/
Miller, Katie (June 4, 2013). OutServe Magazine Praises Memoir of Transgender Navy SEAL. OutServe Magazine https://outservemag.org/2013/06/outserve-magazine-praises-memoir-of-transgender-navy-seal/
Sieczkowski, Cavan (June 4, 2013). Kristin Beck, Transgender Navy SEAL, Comes Out In New Book. The Huffington Post https://www.huffpost.com/entry/transgender-navy-seal-kristin-beck_n_3383015
J.K. Trotter (Jun 3, 2013). The Latest Navy SEAL Book Could Impact the Military’s Transgender Rules. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/national/2013/06/transgender-navy-seal-memoir/314663/ original url http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/06/transgender-navy-seal-memoir/65823/
McDonough, Katie (June 3, 2013). SEAL Team 6 veteran comes out as transgender: The military currently bans trans service members, but a new memoir could open the policy to scrutiny. Salon https://www.salon.com/2013/06/03/what_a_transgender_womans_navy_seal_past_could_mean_for_the_military/
Snow, Justin (June 3, 2013). Pentagon marks LGBT Pride Month while omitting trans servicemembers. Metro Weekly https://www.metroweekly.com/2013/06/pentagon-marks-lgbt-pride-mont/ original url http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2013/06/pentagon-marks-lgbt-pride-month-but-omits-transgen.html
Ferran, Lee (June 3, 2013). Transgender Navy SEAL ‘Warrior Princess’ Comes Out. ABC News https://abcnews.com/Blotter/transgender-navy-seal-warrior-princess/story?id=19314231#.UbKiy9iv_Kf original url https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/transgender-navy-seal-warrior-princess/story?id=19314231#.UbKiy9iv_Kf
Anti-trans coverage
MacKinnon, Kinnon; Valdes, Daniela (January 18, 2023). Take Detransitioners Seriously. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/detransition-transgender-nonbinary-gender-affirming-care/672745/
Kamman, Samantha (December 12, 2022). Detransitioning Navy SEAL says VA prescribed hormones after 1 hour: ‘Destroyed my life.’ Christian Post https://www.christianpost.com/news/detransitioning-navy-seal-says-transition-destroyed-my-life.html
Colton, Emma (December 11, 2022). Retired Navy SEAL Chris Beck, who came out as trans, announces detransition: ‘destroyed my life.’ Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/us/retired-navy-seal-made-famous-coming-out-trans-announces-detransition-destroyed-my-life
Wise, Talia (December 6, 2022). Former Navy SEAL Trans Poster Boy Announces DeTransition: ‘Transgender Ideology Is Cultish.’ CBN News https://cbn.com/news/us/former-navy-seal-trans-poster-boy-announces-detransition-transgender-ideology-cultish
Books
Beck, Kristin; Speckhard, Anne; Shepherd, William [foreword] (2013). Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy Seal’s Journey to Coming Out Transgender. Advances Press, ISBN 978-1935866435
Beck, Chris (2023). A Book of Staves (The Maker’s Path). Traitmarker Books, ISBN 979-8868984952
Media
After religious conversion
Light in the Wilderness Ministries with Blaize Saunders, Craig Corsi, and Chris Beck (). #11 – The Prodigal SEAL Finds His True Identity in The Messiah | Chris Beck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO2VT8Z7vb4
The Shawn Ryan Show with Shawn Ryan and Chris Beck (March 6, 2023). Chris / Kristin Beck – Transgender Navy SEAL Transitions To Woman Then Back To Man | SRS #50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PfsANvaueQ
The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast with Mikhaila Peterson (December 29, 2022). ‘Detransitioned’ Navy SEAL Opens Up About Gender Dysphoria | Chris Beck EP 175. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnCTp7-NwY
CBN News (Dec 10, 2022). Former Trans Navy SEAL Announces DeTransition, Says ‘Transgender Ideology Is Cultish.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCDYXSnuq0w
Fox News / Tucker Carlson Tonight with Tucker Carlson and Chris Beck (December 12, 2022). ‘Detransitioned’ Navy SEAL: They hide the fact that I exist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6rIyfChY9M
The Robby Starbuck Show with Robby Starbuck and Chris Beck (December 1, 2022). The Real Story with Chris Beck – Trans Navy SEAL Detransitions, Warns Young People & Exposes The VA! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4XBqxrYVoo
While identifying as trans
The Joe Rogan Experience with Joe Rogan and Kristin Beck (June 1, 2022, posted June 27, 2024). Joe Rogan Experience #1827 – Kristin Beck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM8lp6y9c4U
Modern Hero (December 22, 2018). Chief Beck – The story of an American Hero. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtEtA3aMiEY
GQ (December 17, 2015). How to Win in a Bar Fight, According to Retired Navy SEAL Kristin Beck | GQ. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE3OB1aMQj0
Dr. Phil with Kristin Beck (September 22, 2015). Former Navy Seal Explains Growing Up Transgender — Dr. Phil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw36wpTgrVo
CNN (August 13, 2015). The transgendered former Navy SEAL running for Congress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFY3IxglnXE
Inside Edition (August 6, 2015). Purple Heart Day: Meet Transgender Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcxFFPvSQes
Xtra Magazine with Kristin Beck (April 21, 2015). Trans Woman and Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck Tells Her Story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYhon8mgM1g
CNN (August 29, 2014). Lady Valor Kristin Beck: ‘It’s natural to me no… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3ncfJbPwhk
Wolfe Video (2014, posted April 28, 2025). Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story | Full Movie | LGBTQ+ | Wolfe Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8QpNK2p1A4
CNN with Anderson Cooper and Kristin Beck (June 6, 2013). Transgender ex-SEAL: I want some happiness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r21OdLSTfQY
Resources
Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)
- Chris Beck
- transdatalibrary.org/person/chris-beck
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Military Wiki (military-history.fandom.com)
Kristin Beck (valor4us.com) [not archived]
Healing Grounds (healinggrounds.org) [archive]
X/Twitter (x.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)