Chelsea Manning has been legally allowed to change her name. Photo: Reuters

Former US soldier Bradley Manning, who is serving 35 years in prison for turning over classified files to WikiLeaks, can exchange the name Bradley for Chelsea to reflect her desire to be treated as a woman, a judge in Kansas ruled on Wednesday.

Manning's name is legally changed to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, according to the decision handed down by Leavenworth County District Judge David King. Manning will be issued a new birth certificate to reflect the name change. Manning's gender remains male but Manning identifies as a woman.

In a statement issued after the ruling, Manning said she hopes her actions help lead the military and other institutions to recognise the needs of transgendered individuals, including a need for specialised healthcare.

Escorted into US courthouse in 2013. Photo: AP

"If I'm successful in obtaining access to trans healthcare, it will not only be something I have wanted for a long time myself, but it will also open the door for many people, both inside and outside the military, to request the right to live more open, fulfilled lives," Manning said.

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Manning was sentenced to prison in August for violating the Espionage Act and other offences such as leaking more than 700,000 classified military and government documents, plus battlefield video, in the biggest breach of secret data in US history.

Military parole rules could allow Manning to be out of prison in seven years, according to her legal counsel. She is serving her sentence in all-male detention facilities at the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Manning has repeatedly stated her desire to live as a woman and has requested hormone replacement therapy in prison, but so far army officials have denied those requests, and said that Manning will continue to be treated as a man despite the name change.

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US court allows Chelsea Manning to legally change name from Bradley

LEAVENWORTH, Kan., April 23 (UPI) -- The soldier convicted as Bradley Manning of giving classified documents to Wikileaks can legally call herself Chelsea Manning, a Kansas judge said Wednesday.

Manning, an enlisted soldier who served as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, is currently serving a 35-year military sentence at Fort Leavenworth.

In a statement after the decision, Manning said her new name is "a far better, richer, and more honest reflection of who I am and always have been -- a woman named Chelsea."

It is unclear what effect the court order will have on Manning's treatment in the military justice system. Courthouse News Service reported before the sentencing that a Fort Leavenworth spokeswoman said the facility does not provide any special medical treatment for transgendered inmates.

Manning is seeking hormone treatments to become a woman biologically.

The Defense Department announced last week that Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan had approved Manning's sentence, refusing to reduce it.

Manning is a hero to many people and a villain to others. Supporters say that the leaks, including thousands of pages of diplomatic cables and military documents, shed light on U.S. operations in Iraq and on despotic regimes around the world.

The leaks may have helped kickstart the "Arab Spring" demonstrations in North Africa and the Middle East. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stepped down in 2011 amidst angry protests after Wikileaks released U.S. cables detailing his lavish lifestyle.

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Bradley Manning granted right to change first name to Chelsea

hide captionThe soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning was dressed as a woman in this 2010 photograph.

The soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning was dressed as a woman in this 2010 photograph.

The ex-Army intelligence analyst responsible for the biggest leak of classified material in U.S. history is now officially known as Chelsea Elizabeth Manning.

A Kansas judge on Wednesday granted the name-change request by the soldier formerly known as Bradley Edward Manning, who is serving 35 years in prison at Fort Leavenworth for giving secret documents to WikiLeaks. Manning, who identifies as female, has been diagnosed by Army behavioral specialists as having gender identity disorder.

Reuters reports that "Manning will be issued a new birth certificate to reflect the name change" approved by Leavenworth County District Judge David King.

According to The Associated Press, Manning was not present at the hearing, but issued a statement saying it was "an exciting day."

"Hopefully today's name change, while so meaningful to me personally, can also raise awareness of the fact that we (transgender) people exist everywhere in America today, and that we have must jump through hurdles every day just for being who we are," Manning said.

The AP says:

"The decision clears the way for official changes to Manning's military records, but it would not compel the military to treat Manning as a woman. That includes transferring Manning to a prison with a woman's unit.

"The only impact of the district court ruling was changing Manning's name on military records, but not his confinement status, Army spokesman George Wright said.

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Judge OKs WikiLeaker Manning's Name Change To 'Chelsea'

Former U.S. soldier Bradley Manning, who is serving 35 years in prison for turning over classified files to WikiLeaks, can exchange the name Bradley for Chelsea to reflect her desire to be treated as a woman, a judge in Kansas ruled on Wednesday.

Manning's name is legally changed to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, according to the decision handed down by Leavenworth County District Judge David King. Manning will be issued a new birth certificate to reflect the name change. Manning's gender remains male but Manning identifies as a woman.

In a statement issued after the ruling, Manning said she hopes her actions help lead the military and other institutions to recognize the needs of transgendered individuals, including a need for specialized healthcare.

"If I'm successful in obtaining access to trans healthcare, it will not only be something I have wanted for a long time myself, but it will also open the door for many people, both inside and outside the military, to request the right to live more open, fulfilled lives," Manning said.

Manning was sentenced to prison in August for violating the Espionage Act and other offenses such as leaking more than 700,000 classified military and government documents, plus battlefield video, in the biggest breach of secret data in the nation's history.

Military parole rules could allow Manning to be out of prison in seven years, according to her legal counsel. She is serving her sentence in all-male detention facilities at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

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Transgender ex-US soldier convicted of WikiLeaks crimes granted name change

Created: 04/18/2014 10:31 PM By: Danielle Todesco, KOB Eyewitness News 4

An Albuquerque defense attorney has cases all over the world, and now she's picked up a case the whole world will be watching.

Nancy Hollander is heading up the appeal for Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley Manning.

Manning, a former army soldier, was convicted last year of leaking the largest set of classified documents ever.

"We're going forward," Hollander said. "We're ready for this fight. It's going to be a fight, it's an uphill battle. We have the entire government of the United States against this one little person with us between her and the government."

Chelsea Manning was sentenced to 35 years for leaking classified documents about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the public.

Hollander says Manning did plead guilty to some of the charges against her, but she says she did not violate the Espionage Act, and that's just one thing they'll fight in an appeals court.

So how did a local lawyer pick up such a high profile case?

Hollander has made a name for herself by handling some high profile cases, including accused terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay.

"Chelsea wrote to me after she was convicted. I received a letter one day asking if I'd be interested doing her appeal," Hollander said.

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Local attorney handling high-profile Manning case

A 35-year prison sentence for espionage isnt stopping former Army Pvt. Bradley Manning from becoming an honorary grand marshal of the San Francisco Pride parade.

Manning, who now prefers to be referred to as Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, released a statement from Fort Leavenworth prison: As a trans woman, I appreciate the Pride movements significant role in bringing together diverse communities and elevating the public profile of the fight for queer rights.

I have always enjoyed attending Pride celebrations given the opportunity, and Im deeply honored to receive this title.

Not all military activists and service members were happy with the choice.

They will reap what they sow. You reap lawlessness, dont expect it to help you in the end. They have once again spit in the face of the LGBT Military community, all in the name of senseless ideology. Once again, shame on San Francisco Pride, said San Diego-based LGBT military activist Sean Sala, a local news station reported.

Mr. Sala organized a boycott last year when San Francisco Pride bestowed the same honor on Manning.

The American Military Partner Association, a resource and support network for LGBT military spouses and their families, also weighed in, the Associated Press reported. Its president, Stephen Peters, said Mannings actions are not representative of many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

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Bradley Manning named honorary grand marshal of San Francisco Pride parade

WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) -- A general has refused to reduce the sentence on the former U.S. Army intelligence analyst convicted as Bradley Manning of leaking classified documents.

The Pentagon said Monday that Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan approved the 35-year sentence, rejecting a request for clemency. Manning, who now goes by the name Chelsea and has said she is female, is being held at the U.S. Military Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth.

Manning was convicted by a military judge of leaking 250,000 diplomatic cables and 500,000 military documents to WikiLeaks while serving in Iraq. Published material from his leaks is credited with helping kickstart the Arab Spring demonstrations since it included U.S. cables giving an unflattering picture of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Col. Denise Lind acquitted Manning of aiding the enemy but found him guilty of most other charges and sentenced him to 35 years.

Nancy Hollander, Manning's lawyer, said she had not expected much from the automatic military appeal process. She said she plans to continue appeals.

President Obama has said he will not make any decision on executive clemency until Manning's appeals are exhausted, a process that could outlast his presidency.

Manning is seeking court approval of the name change in Kansas.

[Politico]

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General rejects clemency appeal for Manning in leak of classified documents

A U.S. Army judge has upheld the conviction and 35-year prison sentence for the WikiLeaks informant formerly known as Private Bradley Manning.

Manning, now known as Chelsea Manning, was convicted in July of 20 crimes, but acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy. After sentencing, Manning declared a desire to live as a woman, having been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two military mental health experts.

The decision to uphold the findings of Manning's 2013 court martial will automatically send the case to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when he gave the pro-transparency site WikiLeaks 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts.

The trove included a 2007 video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people, including two journalists.

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Manning's Conviction Upheld in WikiLeaks Case

Military LGBT activists are "astounded" that San Francisco Pride parade organizers chose Chelsea Manning - a.k.a. Army Pvt. Bradley Manning - as honorary grand marshal.

A military judge in 2013 found Manning guilty of espionage for handing over top secret government documents to Wikileaks, an anti-secrecy group, according to the Washington Post.

On Monday, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, the commanding general of the military district of Washington, upheld that conviction - and the 35 year sentence that went along with it.

According to the Chelsea Manning Support Network website, Manning was experiencing gender dysphoria and had "gone through a process of gender questioning and exploration for years." On August 22, 2013, Manning announced...

...that she would like to begin to be known publicly by the name of Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, pursue hormone therapy and be referred to with female pronouns.

San Diego-based LGBT military activist Sean Sala organized a national boycott last year against San Francisco Pride when Manning was chosen as grand marshal then. Sala was quick to criticize SF Pride's announcement this year that Manning would once again be honored:

"I could make a statement grand and tailored for the decision but the bottom line is this: after the national backlash last year, the fact that SF Pride would do this once again is just astounding.

"They will reap what they sow. You reap lawlessness, don't expect it to help you in the end. They have once again spit in the face of the LGBT Military community, all in the name of senseless ideology. Once again, SHAME on San Francisco Pride."

The Associated Press reports Stephen Peters, president of the American Military Partner Association, was also disappointed in Manning's selection as grand marshal:

[Peters] says Manning's actions don't represent other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in uniform and that another choice would be more appropriate.

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San Francisco Pride Names Pvt. Bradley Manning Of Wikileaks Infamy As Parade Grand Marshal

An Army general has upheld Private Chelsea Manning's conviction and 35-year prison sentence for giving reams of classified U.S. government information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, the Army said Monday.

The approval by Maj. Gen. Jeffery S. Buchanan, commander of the Military District of Washington, clears the way for an automatic appeal to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.

Manning's appellate lawyers, Nancy Hollander and Vincent Ward, told supporters Sunday in Washington that they expect to argue that the sentence unreasonable. It is the longest prison term ever given by a U.S. court for leaking government secrets to the media. They said they also expect to argue that Manning's speedy trial rights were violated, that the Espionage Act was misused and that high-ranking commanders improperly influenced her case.

The 26-year-old Crescent, Okla., native, is serving her sentence at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. She was sentenced in August for six Espionage Act violations and 14 other offenses for leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents, plus battlefield video, while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq in 2009 and 2010.

Buchanan, as commander of the jurisdiction in which the trial was held, could have thrown out or reduced the court-martial results. He approved the findings Friday, the Military District of Washington said in a written statement.

Emma Cape, campaign organizer for the Chelsea Manning Support Network, said Buchanan "has ignored the many grave injustices in this case."

She also called for protests of the Obama administration's refusal to consider Manning's request for presidential clemency until after the appeals have played out a process that could take years.

During Manning's trial last summer at Fort Meade, Md., military prosecutors called her an anarchist hacker and traitor who indiscriminately leaked information she had sworn to protect, knowing it would be seen by al-Qaida. It was among the largest leaks of classified information in U.S. history.

Manning supporters call her a whistleblower who exposed U.S. war crimes and diplomatic hypocrisy. Manning has said she hoped the leaks would spark debate about the role of the military and U.S. foreign policy in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Manning, then known as Bradley Manning, was convicted in July of 20 crimes but acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, which carried a life sentence. After sentencing, Manning declared a desire to live as a woman named Chelsea, having been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two military mental-health experts.

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Manning's conviction, 35-year sentence upheld