VIDEO & PHOTOS: They Served With Honor: Human Rights Campaign Hosts Retirement Ceremony for Transgender Servicemembers

WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign Foundation on Jan. 8 hosted an event commemorating the retirement of transgender members of the Armed Forces at the HRC Equality Forum in Washington, DC. The event was presided over by General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army (Ret.) and featured U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, and others.

“This ceremony is unprecedented — not because their careers fell short in any way, but because they shined so brightly in a military that cast them aside as unworthy.” said Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith (Ret.), Master of Ceremonies of Thursday’s event. “For every one of them, there are thousands of other transgender service members who were denied the opportunity to even reach this moment of retirement, despite records that mark them as among the best of the best.”

“Trans servicemembers … are on the front lines canaries in the coal mine of our democracy as to who can be seen as not just American, but among the best that America has to offer,” said Shawn Skelly, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness and member of HRC’s Board of Directors

“I want to begin by apologizing to our [trans] servicemembers and reiterating that your service and commitment to our nation does not go unnoticed,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “I am sorry this administration has chosen to target you for no reason other than cruelty.”

“Each of you answered the call to serve. Each of you met the standards. And each of you served and led with integrity, professionalism and courage,” said Rep. Sarah McBride. “Each of you are brave, honorable and committed patriots who also dared to have the courage to say out loud that you’re transgender.”

“As I read the biographies of each of our retirees today, one thing came across to me,” said Frank Kendall, former Secretary of the Air Force. “It was how similar these read to those of all other retirees, and to others still serving. … It is a huge injustice, and an enormous loss to our nation that [they] … are not being allowed to continue to serve their country in uniform.” 

“This isn't complicated,” said Gen. Stanley McChrystal. “But I do recognize that it's hard. And I feel that it's very, very important … to the servicemembers, I can't express my gratitude for all you've done.”

“Being transgender never kept me from deploying, and I never failed to fulfill my duties. Living authentically proved far more truthful and beneficial to not only myself but also my units than pretending to be someone else,” said Chief Petty Officer (Ret) Jaida McGuire, Coast Guard. “Every command I served under seemed proud to have me on their crew, and - even though I never planned to become a Chief Petty Officer - I now wear the anchor with immense pride.”

“I did this for 20 years,” said Sergeant First Class (Ret) Cathrine Schmid, Army. “Twenty years of showing, maintaining and keeping the standard not because it’s some abstract rule written on a page but because it protects the people who sign their name on the line. Twenty years of believing that if you do right, if you lead right, if you demand integrity from yourself before you demand it from anyone else, then maybe you end up building something that matters.”

“We all wanted to leave our service better than we found it, to leave something our kids would be proud to take up and make better themselves, a legacy of proud authentic service,” said Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Erin Krizek, Air Force. “Now I have been separated from the Air Force, not because my performance, commitment, or ideals have been found lacking, but because the policy changed on who could serve.”

“I’ve had the privilege of serving during a period of enormous cultural change,” said Commander Blake Dremann, US Navy. “From the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, to women in submarines … pushing the assumptions and navigating change is challenging, often exhausting, but deeply engaging.”

“Our uniforms are not coming off because we failed in our duty, but because we did it so well that the blazing starfire of what it represented could not be hidden away,” said Colonel Bree B. Fram, US Space Force. “But taking off the uniform is not the same as walking away from the fight. We may be done with our military service. We are not done serving.”

The servicemembers being honored were:

• Colonel Bree B. Fram, US Space Force. Colonel Fram’s final assignment was Chief, Requirements Integration Division at Headquarters, Space Force and co-lead of the Joint Space Requirements Integration Cell with the Joint Staff. In her previous assignment, she served as Chief, Acquisition Policies and Processes Division for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. She deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, commanded at the squadron level, and was a defense legislative fellow on Capitol Hill. Bree is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College and holds masters degrees in astronautical engineering and national security studies.
• Commander Blake Dremann, US Navy. Commander Dremann was the Deputy for Supply Support Systems for the Australia, UK, US Submarine Agreement Integration and Acquisition at Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard. Dremann’s personal decorations included the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (4).
• Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Erin Krizek, Air Force. Lieutenant Colonel Krizek concluded a distinguished 20-year Air Force career as the Deputy Director of Operations for the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, where she supported more than 2,200 personnel across six bases. Prior to this assignment, she served as Assistant Director of Operations for two major airborne command-and-control squadrons at Robins AFB, GA.
• Chief Petty Officer (Ret) Jaida McGuire, Coast Guard. Chief McGuire, a retired Chief Health Services Technician (HSC) in the U.S. Coast Guard, is known for her work in promoting inclusivity and advocating for servicemembers, as highlighted in a video shared by the U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic. Her decorations included the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4), Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Coast Guard Recruiting Service Ribbon, Coast Guard Cmdt Ltr Of Commendation Ribbon, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, Coast Guard Good Conduct Ribbon (6).
• Sergeant First Class (Ret) Cathrine Schmid, Army. SFC Schmid enlisted in the Army in 2004 as an 11B Infantryman in the Oregon Army National Guard before transitioning to active duty in 2005. Her key assignments included service as a Counterintelligence Agent with the 66th Military Intelligence Group in Kaiserslautern, Germany; training cadre for Military Transition Teams with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas; and a Signals Intelligence NCO with the 2nd Infantry Division G2 ACE at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. Her awards and decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (5th award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd award), the Army Achievement Medal (6th award), and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action—working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.