Army veteran was first non-binary US citizen


Born Jamie Shoupe, and later named Elisa Rae Shupe, is America's first non-binary citizen.

Joined the military after high school. Shupe retired in 2000 as a sergeant first class with a number of military decorations; they earned two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals and eight Army Achievement Medals.

After their discharge they moved to Pittsburgh. In 2016 they petitioned the courts for a non-binary designation and received it, the first person in the US to do so.

Shupe died by suicide at a Veterans Affairs hospital building in Syracuse, New York. Her body was wrapped in a transgender flag.