The film Soldier's Girl is based on the true story of Private First Class Barry Winchell, a soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. In the film, Winchell, played by Troy Garity, falls in love with transgendered nightclub performer Calpernia Addams, played by Lee Pace.
Their relationship is met with resistance and hostility from Winchell's fellow soldiers, who cannot accept his attraction to a transgendered person. Winchell is physically and verbally abused by his peers and even his superiors turn a blind eye to the harassment he faces.
The situation comes to a tragic climax when Winchell is brutally beaten to death in his sleep by a fellow soldier, who had been encouraged and incited by others in the unit who disapproved of Winchell's relationship with Addams.
The aftermath of Winchell's murder is a sobering examination of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which prohibited openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals from serving in the military. The film shines a light on the discrimination and violence that LGBTQ+ service members faced at that time, and the heartbreaking consequences of those attitudes.
Soldier's Girl received critical acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of a difficult and painful subject matter, as well as for the powerful performances by its lead actors. It stands as a poignant tribute to Barry Winchell and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community.