Brynn Tannehill is a military veteran who felt that the United States military’s discriminatory policies forced her to make a choice between continuing serving her country and living openly as a transgender woman. Brynn was born and raised as a boy, but that never felt right, and so she came out as transgender, transitioned, and now lives every day as the woman she has long known herself to be. Brynn has become a vocal advocate for the transgender community, in particular transgender soldiers, because of her own experiences and previous fears about openly serving her country.

“The reason I ended up being an advocate is because that moment, that horrible ‘Sophie’s Choice’ moment, is something that nobody else should have to face,” Brynn said. “Nobody should have to choose between bringing their full selves to work and the career they love and  they’ve dreamed about.”