December 12, 2022: Frankie Perez
In 2004, after graduating from Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, and hoping to escape an abusive household, Frankie Perez enlisted in the Air Force in search of a better life. Throughout his military service, Perez traveled extensively, encountered new experiences and reached many realizations regarding his own identity. Although Perez was assigned female at birth, he later recognized that he identified as male and began his transition journey.
Throughout basic training in San Antonio, Texas, Perez pushed his physical capabilities. While serving at his first base in Spokane, Washington, he learned more about diversity as he was surrounded by new ideas, people and cultures he had not previously experienced. He began reexamining the world around him as well as his place in it.
In 2008, Perez deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was stationed in Qatar as a services specialist, helping to ensure the success of counterterrorism objectives to surveil and combat violent extremists in the region. After serving on active duty, Perez reenlisted in the Air Force Reserve and attended Airman Leadership School.
In 2015, Perez deployed to Djibouti, Africa, for Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment, he was promoted from staff sergeant to technical sergeant and received an Air Force Achievement Medal as a services specialist in the 870th Air Expeditionary Squadron.
It was after this deployment that Perez returned home and underwent gender-affirming treatment. He had proudly served as a female airman for several years, but “realized something was missing.” While stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California, other personnel became aware of his transitioning process. Perez describes the first instance he was called “sir” by his troops as though a “weight was lifted” off his shoulders.
In 2016, Perez was honorably discharged after 10 years of service to focus on his civilian career and ongoing studies at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. By 2017, he planned to reenlist in the Air Force, however, was unable to because of the ban on transgender members of the military. Perez became a vocal opponent of the ban and an advocate for transgender soldiers, often interviewing with local news outlets voicing his opposition. Regarding his years of dedication and service to his country, he stated, “If I’m giving you my life, then take all of me, not just parts.”
In 2020, Perez graduated from UNLV with a bachelor of arts in Gender and Sexuality Studies, which he plans to utilize to become a therapist specializing in the LGBTQ+ community. He currently resides in Las Vegas and is a foster parent to five children, whom he plans to adopt. With the transgender ban now lifted, Perez would love to reenlist in the Air Force to assist in the ongoing conflicts in the world, especially in Ukraine.
We honor his service.
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Writers: Yvonne Parkinson, Kim McAdams
Researcher: Kennady Hertz
Editors: Alexander Reza, Alexandra Kaiser
Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley
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