Dainna Cicotello

1948-2018

Dainna served our country in the US Navy for over a decade. She transitioned in 1978. Over the years, she served the Denver community by presenting at panels, trainings and by doing consulting work on transgender-related issues. Dainna taught classes at several trans-themed conferences such as the International Conference of Transgender Law and Employment Policy, the International
Foundations for Gender Education, Southern Comfort, the Texas T Party and Fantasia Fair.

Dainna was part of the working group in the early 90’s that sought to create a modern definition of the term transgender that would satisfy the trans stakeholders and constituent groups at the time. She was a frequent spokesperson with her daughter Laurie on many television and radio programs and at conferences.

Dainna and her spouse Mary Cicotello made headlines as the first couple in the United States to stay married through the transition of one partner. The couple were married in 1969 and stayed together for 46 years until Mary’s death in 2015.