Digital Transgender Archive
Monica Helms was born on March 8, 1951, in Sumter, South Carolina. She served in the U.S. Navy from 1970 to 1978. In 1997, Monica underwent the process of transitioning and reapplied to the Phoenix chapter of the U.S. American Submarine Veterans Group but received significant resistance and was referred to a generic Veterans Group for women. Monica campaigned against the decision and became the first woman to ever join the organization. Monica then co-founded It’s Time Arizona, an Arizona-based organization advocating for equal treatment for trans people in the military. In 1999, she created the iconic transgender flag, which became a symbol of transgender pride. Her autobiography, “More than Just a Flag,” is a testament to her transformative journey and enduring impact on the LGBTQ community.
Item Actions
- View At
- https://theoutwordsarchive.org/interview/monica-helms/
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- Citation
- Cite
- Identifier
- 9g54xj08h
- Collection
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Audio and Video Clips and Transcripts
- Institution
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OUTWORDS
- Creator(s)
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Helms, Monica
MacCarthy, Jack
- Contributor(s)
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Price, Astra
- Date Created
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Nov. 5, 2021
- Dates Covered
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1970 to 1978
1997
1999
2014
- Genre
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Oral Histories
- Subject(s)
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It’s Time Arizona
TransAction
Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)
- Places
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Arizona
>
Maricopa County
>
Phoenix
Georgia
- Topic(s)
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Trans women
Transgender people in the military
Transgender political activists
- Resource Type
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Moving image
- Language
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English
- Rights
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In copyright
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