Calpernia Sarah Addams (born February 20, 1971) is an American author, actress, musician and spokesperson and activist for transgender rights and issues.

Biography

Addams grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She served as a Hospital Corpsman with the Navy and United States Marine Corps. During her last year in the military, she came out as a transgender woman. Addams chose the name "Calpernia" from the William Shakespeare play Julius Caesar (a variant spelling of Caesar's wife Calpurnia) and its appearance on a tombstone in the film The Addams Family.

In 1999, while working as a performer, Addams began dating PFC Barry Winchell. Word of the relationship spread at Winchell's Army base where he was harassed by fellow soldiers and ultimately murdered. Winchell's murder and the subsequent trial resulted in widespread press and a formal review of the U.S. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) military policy, ordered by President Bill Clinton. The case became a prominent example used to illustrate the failure of DADT to protect LGBT service members. Addams' and Winchell's romance and the crimes of their abusers are depicted in the film Soldier's Girl, released in 2003. Addams was portrayed by Lee Pace. A subsequent New York Times article, "An Inconvenient Woman", documented the marginalization and misrepresentation of transgender sexuality even by gay rights activists.



^ Addams, Calpernia (2002). Mark 947: A Life Shaped by God, Gender, and Force of Will. Writers Club Press.

^ Jonny McGovern, Linda James, Martin Beauchamp (March 11, 2008). "Gay Pimpin' with Jonny McGovern" (Podcast). Retrieved March 11, 2008.

^ U.S. v. Fisher, 58 M.J. 300 (U.S. Armed Forces Court of Appeals June 17, 2003).

^ France, David (May 28, 2000). An Inconvenient Woman. New York Times

^ Black, Chris (December 13, 1999). Pentagon to review 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. CNN

^ Becker, Elizabeth (February 2, 2000). Pentagon Orders Training to Prevent Harassment of Gays. New York Times

^ Pear, Robert (December 12, 1999). President Admits "Don't Ask" policy Has Been Failure. New York Times

^ Clines, Francis (December 9, 1999). "Killer's Trial Shows Gay Soldier's Anguish". New York Times. NYTimes. Retrieved February 23, 2008.