By Tracy Connor

A year after requesting gender-reassignment treatment, convicted national-security leaker Chelsea Manning says the military has given her nothing but "lip service." In an exclusive statement to NBC News, the former Army private once known as Bradley Manning said life in the military lockup at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, has restricted her ability to express her gender identity. "For example, in my daily life, I am reminded of this when I look at the name on my badge, the first initial sewed into my clothing, the hair and grooming standards that I adhere to, and the titles and courtesies used by the staff. Ultimately, I just want to be able to live my life as the person that I am, and to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin."

Manning is serving a 35-year sentence after being convicted of sending classified documents to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. She became the first military inmate to ask for treatment for gender dysphoria and went public with her decision to live life as a woman in a TODAY interview last August. She asked for a treatment plan that would consider three measures: dressing and living as a woman, hormone therapy and possible surgery.

Last month, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved an Army recommendation to begin the early stages of gender reassignment, including counseling and approval to dress as a woman, officials said. But Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, said in a statement that the military has failed to carry out the recommendation and that he is prepared to sue. "The military's failure to comply with the treatment recommendations and protocols for Chelsea's diagnosed gender dysmorphia violates her well-established constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment," Coombs wrote.

The Army declined to say when treatment might begin.

"The Department of Defense has approved a request by Army leadership to provide required medical treatment for an inmate diagnosed with gender dysphoria. I can't discuss the medical needs of an individual," Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Alayne Conway said.

"In general terms, the initial stages of treatment for individuals with gender dysphoria include psychotherapy and elements of the 'real life experience' therapy. Treatment for the condition is highly individualized and generally is sequential and graduated."

First published August 22 2014, 1:48 AM

Tracy Connor is a senior writer for NBC News. She started this role in December, 2012. Connor is responsible for reporting and writing breaking news, features and enterprise stories for NBCNews.com. Connor joined NBC News from the New York Daily News, where she was a senior writer covering a broad range of news and supervising the health and immigration beats. Prior to that she was an assistant city editor who oversaw breaking news and the courts and entertainment beats.

Earlier, Connor was a staff writer at the New York Post, United Press International and Brooklyn Paper Publications.

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Chelsea Manning Says Military Still Denying Gender ...

After a year of a continuously requesting gender reassignment treatment, Chelsea Manning, convicted national security leaker formerly known as Private Bradley Edward Manning, said she's got nothing but "silence" and then "lip service" from the military.

Manning, 26, was diagnosed four times with gender dysphoria and doctors have recommended "immediate medical treatment," for her, according to a statement by Manning's lawyer, David E. Coombs.

But in a recent public release statement, Manning said she's been forced to live uncomfortably in her own skin, despite her constitutional right to be provided medical treatment for gender dysphoria.

"For example, in my daily life I am reminded of this when I look at the name on my badge, the first initial sewed onto my clothing, the hair and grooming standards that I adhere to, and the titles and courtesies used by the staff," read a statement by Manning sent to NBC News.

Manning's lawyer has stated that they are willing to sue if the military doesn't cooperate soon.

"The military failure to comply with the treatment recommendations and protocols for Chelsea's diagnosed gender dysphoria violates her well-established constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, read a statement by Coombs.

The military issued a statement but was unable to give any specifics on Mannings case.

"The Department of Defense has approved a request by Army leadership to provide required medical treatment for an inmate diagnosed with gender dysphoria. I can't discuss the medical needs of an individual," Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Alayne Conway said to NBC. In general terms, the initial stages of treatment for individuals with gender dysphoria include psychotherapy and elements of the 'real life experience' therapy. treatment for the condition is highly individualized and generally is sequential and graduated."

Manning is serving a 35-year-sentence in prison after releasing classified national security information to the public through the website WikiLeaks. Since her arrest, she has not requested to be moved to a civilian or female security facility.

"Prison is prison regardless of whether you are military or civilian, and regardless of what gender you are," wrote Manning.

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Chelsea Manning says she’s being denied gender ...

Manning's doctors have deemed her transition-related care medically necessary, but a new statement from the Wikileaks source says Defense Department promises are just lip service.

Despite reports that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel had approved Wikileaks source Chelsea Manning's request to begin hormone therapy while in military prison, a new statement from the incarcerated trans woman says she hasn't received any such treatment.

"This time last year, I publicly asked that I be provided with a treatment plan, to bring my body more in line with my gender identity," Manning wrote in a statement provided to NBC News this week. "Unfortunately, despite silence, then lip-service, the military has not yet provided me with any such treatment."

Manning then reiterates an argument often advanced by her attorney, pointing out that denial of treatment deemed medically necessary constitutes a violation of her basic rights. Last month, the Associated Press reported that the Department of Defense was considering allowing Manning to transition while incarcerated, but the only sources named were anonymous, and judging by Manning's latest statement, there has been no further progress from the Department on the issue.

"Treatment is, as a matter of law, about medical necessity," she writes. She goes on to detail the strictly regimented gender presentation mandated by military prison policy, and notes that these requirements including the name sewn onto her clothes, pronouns used to refer to her, and grooming standards to which she must adhere restrict her ability to express herself based on her gender identity.

Manning's statement also clarifies that she has never requested to be transferred to a civilian facility a request which Manning's attorney accused the Pentagon of strategically leaking to cover up its unwillingness to grant the requests Manning has made. Manning has requested access to standard care for gender dysphoria, with which several military doctors have diagnosed her and deemed such treatment medically necessary. The treatment Manning has requested includes access to hormone therapy, and she has made no indication of seeking any gender-affirming surgeries.

Manning is currently serving out a 35-year sentence for leaking classified documents to the public via the WikiLeaks website, and officially came out as transgender last August after she was sentenced. She has since been diagnosed by a number of military doctors with gender dysphoria, an incongruence between one's assigned gender and the one with which they identify. Hormone replacement therapy is one of a number of recommended courses of treatment for gender dysphoria, as outlined by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health'sStandards of Care, and as supported by the American Medical Association.

Manning's attorney has previously indicated the possibility of filing anEighth Amendment lawsuit if the military continued to deny his client the treatment. However, the Army has been resistant to providing that treatment, pointing to a military regulation that determines any transition-related treatment, or even a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, as grounds for discharge and evidence of a "mental illness."

But in Manning's case, she cannot be discharged from the Army while she is serving out her sentence. This leaves the military with limited options: deny her treatment in a military prison and face legal challenges, or treat her in a military facility and set a new precedent.

"Ultimately, I just want to be able to live my life as the person I am, and to be able to be comfortable in my own skin," Manning writes.

Link:
Chelsea Manning Isn't Getting Treatment, Despite Gov't ...

Manning's doctors have deemed her transition-related care medically necessary, but a new statement from the Wikileaks source says Defense Department promises are just lip service.

Despite reports that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel had approved Wikileaks source Chelsea Manning's request to begin hormone therapy while in military prison, a new statement from the incarcerated trans woman says she hasn't received any such treatment.

"This time last year, I publicly asked that I be provided with a treatment plan, to bring my body more in line with my gender identity," Manning wrote in a statement provided to NBC News this week. "Unfortunately, despite silence, then lip-service, the military has not yet provided me with any such treatment."

Manning then reiterates an argument often advanced by her attorney, pointing out that denial of treatment deemed medically necessary constitutes a violation of her basic rights. Last month, the Associated Press reported that the Department of Defense was considering allowing Manning to transition while incarcerated, but the only sources named were anonymous, and judging by Manning's latest statement, there has been no further progress from the Department on the issue.

"Treatment is, as a matter of law, about medical necessity," she writes. She goes on to detail the strictly regimented gender presentation mandated by military prison policy, and notes that these requirements including the name sewn onto her clothes, pronouns used to refer to her, and grooming standards to which she must adhere restrict her ability to express herself based on her gender identity.

Manning's statement also clarifies that she has never requested to be transferred to a civilian facility a request which Manning's attorney accused the Pentagon of strategically leaking to cover up its unwillingness to grant the requests Manning has made. Manning has requested access to standard care for gender dysphoria, with which several military doctors have diagnosed her and deemed such treatment medically necessary. The treatment Manning has requested includes access to hormone therapy, and she has made no indication of seeking any gender-affirming surgeries.

Manning is currently serving out a 35-year sentence for leaking classified documents to the public via the WikiLeaks website, and officially came out as transgender last August after she was sentenced. She has since been diagnosed by a number of military doctors with gender dysphoria, an incongruence between one's assigned gender and the one with which they identify. Hormone replacement therapy is one of a number of recommended courses of treatment for gender dysphoria, as outlined by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health'sStandards of Care, and as supported by the American Medical Association.

Manning's attorney has previously indicated the possibility of filing anEighth Amendment lawsuit if the military continued to deny his client the treatment. However, the Army has been resistant to providing that treatment, pointing to a military regulation that determines any transition-related treatment, or even a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, as grounds for discharge and evidence of a "mental illness."

But in Manning's case, she cannot be discharged from the Army while she is serving out her sentence. This leaves the military with limited options: deny her treatment in a military prison and face legal challenges, or treat her in a military facility and set a new precedent.

"Ultimately, I just want to be able to live my life as the person I am, and to be able to be comfortable in my own skin," Manning writes.

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Chelsea Manning Isn't Getting Treatment, Despite Gov't 'Lip Service'