CLEVELAND — For three Northeast Ohio military veterans, Veterans Day 2021 is extra special. It is the first year in which transgender individuals can openly serve as their identified gender with no restrictions, following the lifting of a ban by President Joe Biden earlier this year.
Dedicated former servicemembers like Eliana Turan, Robyn Montgomery, and Ayron Evans are local transgender veterans who chose to share their story with 3News.
"[We're] making it known that we do exist, and that we are here. And we do serve," said Evans.
Montgomery humbly called herself, "a below-average soldier," but she did an extraordinary thing. In 1999, the Army medic was in the back of a transport truck when it flipped over. Montgomery rushed to help stabilize two dozen injured soldiers.
"Evidently, because of what I did, I was able to prevent someone from becoming a quadriplegic," she said.
"I really helped a lot of people, and I know I save a lot of lives," Turan said proudly of her service in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division. She served in western Europe to support anti-terrorism intelligence in London, and as a member of the National Guard, she assisted in rescue efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
All three were forced to keep their true selves hidden while serving our country.
"It was hard to serve your country knowing who you are -- yet fearing for your life," said Evans.
They are among an estimated 134,000 American veterans who are transgender, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality. 15,000 are currently active military. One study found that 20-percent of transgender Americans have served in the military, and are twice as likely to serve their country than the general population. Yet many struggle to enjoy the very freedoms that they fought to protect.
"There are parts of the country -- there are certain parts of Ohio that I can't go to, because I'm trans," said Montgomery.
But progress toward acceptance gives Evans much hope. "Now being able to wear that uniform proudly, and being able to yell from the top of their lungs that they're trans? That is beautiful to me!" exclaimed Evans.
"At the end of the day," said Turan, "if I'm in a life or death situation, and I know you're going to be there for me, and I can rely on you -- I don't care who you are," she said.
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Editor's note: The video in the player above is from a previously published, related story.