Soldier’s Girl

There was an article on ABC (no not that one, but Australian Broadcast Company) about Calpernia Addams,

Calpernia Addams: American actress and transgender activist on changing discriminatory hearts and minds from military to Hollywood
American actress and transgender activist Calpernia Addams is a woman of many talents who has fought for justice on many levels. Born male, she served as a specialist combat medic with the US Navy and Marines before beginning her sex transition.
One Plus One
By Peta Yoshinaga
March 3, 2015

But the entertainer learned early in life that expressing herself resulted in punishment.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, her parents were Christian fundamentalists.

She likens the church to a cult.

"We weren't allowed to see modern movies, listen to modern music. Women were not allowed to wear make-up or colour their hair," she told Jane Hutcheon on One Plus One.

"Wearing gold was vanity, so my parents did not wear wedding rings.

"It was just a strange way to grow up."

Discouraged from college because her parents believed "education led one away from God", Addams later joined the Navy.

She served in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm as a specialist medic taking care of sailors, marines and prisoners of war.

After her service, Addams went to her first drag show where she saw glamorous performers on stage who turned out to be transsexual women.
"I was gobsmacked, I thought 'wow it's possible', if they can do it then why can't I?" Addams said.

She began her sex transition in her 20s, which ended in sexual reassignment.

While working at the drag show she met PFC Barry Winchell and the two started dating. He was murdered by a fellow servicememeber because of Barry’s “homosexual tendencies.”

The incident was made into the movie “Soldier’s Girl”