Whistle-blower Bradley Manning wants to live as a woman
Published: 2013 August 22 21:43:17 (4746 Views)
WikiLeaks whistle-blower Bradley Manning has apparently said he wants to live out the rest of his life as a woman.
Manning, who yesterday was jailed for 35 years for his role in the biggest leak of classified information in US history, says he now wants to be known as Chelsea.
In a statement read out on USA Today by his lawyer, the US soldier said: 'As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me.
'I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition.'
During his court martial, Manning's defence team said he had struggled with gender identities as a gay soldier, and this had contributed to his decision to pass on the documents to WikiLeaks.
Last month the 25-year-old was found guilty of 20 charges ranging from espionage to theft for leaking more than 700,000 military logs and diplomatic cables to Julian Assange's mass disclosure website while working in Iraq in 2010.
US government prosecutors, who failed to get Manning convicted on a charge of aiding the enemy, had sought at least a 60-year jail term, while his defence argued for no more than 25 years.
Due to time already served, Manning could be eligible for parole in nine years.
During his court martial, Manning apologised for hurting the US, having earlier claimed he wanted to shine a light on 'bloodlust' in the army.
Assange, holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, said the sentence was a 'tactical victory' and predicted there will be '1,000 more Bradley Mannings'.
Bradley Manning's full statement:
'I want to thank everybody who has supported me over the last three years. Throughout this long ordeal, your letters of support and encouragement have helped keep me strong. I am forever indebted to those who wrote to me, made a donation to my defence fund, or came to watch a portion of the trial. I would especially like to thank Courage to Resist and the Bradley Manning Support Network for their tireless efforts in raising awareness for my case and providing for my legal representation.
'As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back.
'Thank you,
'Chelsea E Manning.'
- Metro
Manning, who yesterday was jailed for 35 years for his role in the biggest leak of classified information in US history, says he now wants to be known as Chelsea.
In a statement read out on USA Today by his lawyer, the US soldier said: 'As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me.
'I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition.'
During his court martial, Manning's defence team said he had struggled with gender identities as a gay soldier, and this had contributed to his decision to pass on the documents to WikiLeaks.
Last month the 25-year-old was found guilty of 20 charges ranging from espionage to theft for leaking more than 700,000 military logs and diplomatic cables to Julian Assange's mass disclosure website while working in Iraq in 2010.
US government prosecutors, who failed to get Manning convicted on a charge of aiding the enemy, had sought at least a 60-year jail term, while his defence argued for no more than 25 years.
Due to time already served, Manning could be eligible for parole in nine years.
During his court martial, Manning apologised for hurting the US, having earlier claimed he wanted to shine a light on 'bloodlust' in the army.
Assange, holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, said the sentence was a 'tactical victory' and predicted there will be '1,000 more Bradley Mannings'.
Bradley Manning's full statement:
'I want to thank everybody who has supported me over the last three years. Throughout this long ordeal, your letters of support and encouragement have helped keep me strong. I am forever indebted to those who wrote to me, made a donation to my defence fund, or came to watch a portion of the trial. I would especially like to thank Courage to Resist and the Bradley Manning Support Network for their tireless efforts in raising awareness for my case and providing for my legal representation.
'As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back.
'Thank you,
'Chelsea E Manning.'
- Metro
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