Chelsea Manning: Lest We Forget – TransGender Friendship Club

I just watched an interview with Nancy Hollander, the lawyer representing Chelsea Manning. In 2013 Manning was sentenced to 35 years in military prison for disclosing classified information to Wikileaks while Manning was working for the United States Military in Iraq. Ms Hollander says the punishment doesnt fit the crime and is leading Chelseas appeal.

If you are not familiar with Chelsea Mannings story, I urge you to read up. I have my own opinions of the crimes shes said to have committed but thats not the focus of my blog. Shes an interesting and valuable human being and worth keeping up with.

In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Army, Pfc. Bradley Manning poses for a photo wearing a wig and lipstick. Manningemailed his militarytherapist the photo with a letter titled, My problem, in which he described his issues with gender identity and his hope that a military career would get rid of it. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)

During the time she served in the ranks she presented as Bradley Manning, a young male soldier. It was during her ordeal of pre-trial torture and shortly after the trial that she was moved to reveal her true gender. It was ironic that in the midst of her confinement she exercised her freedom to be honest, transparent and authentic. She announced her name as Chelsea Elizabeth Manning and so began living her truth.

As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me, Manning says. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female.

According to a memo obtained by USA TODAY, its a first for the Army, Chelsea Manning has been approved for hormone therapy for transition to a woman at the Armys Fort Leavenworth prison.

Chelsea has been confined for 5 years now but she is very active.

Writing in the Guardian last December, Manning set out her view of gender identity as one of the great civil rights issues of modern day.

According to the editor in chief of Guardian US, Katherine Viner, Ms. Manning will write on war, gender and freedom of information.

In addition to being a contributing opinion writer for the Guardian, Chelsea has also given her first full length interview to Cosmopolitan Magazine.

To your kindness-based life.

Stephanie

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Chelsea Manning: Lest We Forget - TransGender Friendship Club