Chelsea Manning Wins Fight to Be Called “She”

In a legal fight overs pronouns, chalk one up for gender rights.

Chelsea Manning, the Wikileaks leaker formerly known as Bradley Manning, will now be referred to as she or a gender-neutral pronoun in all future court proceedings.

This is an important victory for Chelsea, who has been mistreated by the government for years, said Mannings attorney Nancy Hollander in a statement. Though only a small step in a long legal fight, my co-counsel, Vincent Ward, Captain Dave Hammond, and I are thrilled that Chelsea will be respected as the woman she is in all legal filings.

What this means, in effect, is that the US military must stop referring to Chelsea Manning as a man.

In September of last year Manning sued the US Department of Defense, claiming she had been denied access to medically necessary treatment in connection with a gender disorder.

She brings this action to compel defendants to treat her serious medical needs consistent with their obligation under the Constitution, said the lawsuit. Mannings lawyers claimed that lack of hormonal treatment would cause Manning to suffer continued pain, depression and anxiety and that she is at an extremely high risk of self-castration and suicidality.

Manning accused the military of stalling.

But then last month, the DoD gave in.

After carefully considering the recommendation that (hormone treatment) is medically appropriate and necessary, and weighing all associated safety and security risks presented, I approve adding (hormone treatment) to Inmate Mannings treatment plan, wrote Col. Erica Nelson in a memo.

Above: Army Image of Chelsea Manning, in 2012, when known as Bradley Manning

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Chelsea Manning Wins Fight to Be Called “She”