PERSON: Shane Ortega

Veteran

Shane Ortega is a retired American Soldier who served in the U.S. Army , a former U.S Marine. Staff Sergeant whom served at Wheeler Airfield in Oahu, Hawaii in the Army’s 25th Infantry Division. He was a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Honolulu and competed at the professional level of bodybuilding placing 4th in fall 2015. Born in Patuxent River, Maryland to military parents and assigned female at birth, Ortega never considered any other career. His father served in the U.S. Navy while his mom served in the Navy and Army. Two of his uncles served in Vietnam, every male in his family had historically served in every major war. He also knew he wasn’t female when he was very young, “I’ve known since I was a child. While still in Monacan High School outside Richmond he signed up for Marine boot camp and left for “boot” two days after graduating in 2004.

Ortega had fought for LGBT rights since 2008. He co-founded support organizations and lobbied with legislators, often using his open own personal experiences and performance record to help advance the cause for transgender and LGBT service members. He fought for the repeal of DADT*, equal opportunity protections for LGBT members, the repeal of women in combat roles and the lighting of the ban on transgender military service. To accomplish this, he worked diligently for years with the military chain of command and the ACLU.

— wikiwand.com