Chelsea Manning sues federal government for gender dysphoria treatment

On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of US Army Private Chelsea Manning. The lawsuit asks for treatment for Manning's gender dysphoria, which she was diagnosed with in 2010 while she was stationed in Iraq.

Manning was court-martialed last year for handing a cache of classified documents over to Wikileaks, which most famously resulted in the notorious Collateral Murder video. She was convicted in July 2013 of espionage, theft, and computer fraud, but she was acquitted of aiding the enemy, which was one of the most serious charges. Manning is currently serving 35 years in prison and resides at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

Manning and her lawyers have repeatedly tried to secure treatment for Manning's condition. In May of this year, it seemed as if the Pentagon would allow a transfer of Manning from a military to a civilian prison so that she could get treatment, which includes hormone therapy, permission to follow female grooming standards, and access to a doctor trained to deal with her condition, according to the Los Angeles Times. In July, the Army's request to transfer Manning to the Federal Bureau of Prisons was rejected. At the same time, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved an Army recommendation to initiate a 'rudimentary level of gender treatment,' Manning's complaint reads.

Manning's complaint asks that the United States District Court of the District of Columbia rule that refusing to treat Manning's gender dysphoria violates the Eighth Amendment, order that Manning receive treatment, and cover her attorney's fees, as well as any "other relief thattheCourt deems just and proper."

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Chelsea Manning sues federal government for gender dysphoria treatment