WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Bradley Manning, sentenced to 35 years in military prison for the biggest breach of classified U.S. documents in U.S. history, said in a statement on Thursday she is female and wants to live as a woman named Chelsea.
"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," Manning, 25, said in the statement read on NBC News' "Today" show.
"Given the way that I feel and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible," Manning said. "I also request that starting today you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun."
(Wow! – Stana)
Wow! As much empathy as I can muster for PFC Manning, I think this serves as a huge blow to the TG cause. Makes us look like a bunch of unstable, unpatriotic people. I hope I am wrong, but I think this just dredges up a lot of vitriol from uber-conservatives.
ReplyDeleteUber shmoober. That gang was already into typecasting and vitriol. I totally separate "his" deeds from HER needs. I am sympathetic to Chelsea and I agree with her lawyer that GID may have fueled some of her deeds via depression and clouded thinking. Been there myself, frankly.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patricia. The Fox News Right Wingers will have a field day with this.
ReplyDeleteShould I dare to think the PFC would have been someone's "bride" in prison anyhow?
A step backwards for transgender people who were already seen as mentally ill by many. I know we're all not the same but why do I think we'll get broad brushed in this whole scenario, I wish her well just the same.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patricia wholeheartedly! Just one more example of how people regardless of their intelligence will typecast us into the degenerate box. I also wish those on the left, would stop typecasting Fox News as Right Wingers! This is also one more example of the divide issues of our country. I walk Fox for my news, I saw this news report this morning and the only news I hears was the news about PFC and his proclamation of GID with a comparison that her defense lawyers will look at the recent case from Mass about Michelle Kosilek and how the defense lawyers will try to use that case as presidency to have Chelsea's needs met. In order to stop the hate is is necessary to react to the facts not the rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Bush lies and gets a second term. Bradley Manning whistle blows and gets 35 years? I'm confused...
ReplyDeleteBarak Obama lied and got a second term, too. And now he's starting a war because a middle eastern dictator used WMD, just like Bush.
DeleteI want to clarify my earlier remarks. I am EXTREMELY sympathetic with Chelsea and whether or not she was guilty of something under military law has been decided in court. I was against both of those wars although I have some problems with the leaks. That is an issue I will wrestle with and I believe an ethical case can be made that Chelsea's actions were right. My concern is that the average knucklehead will not be able (or will choose to remain ignorant) to separate Chelsea's transgenderism from the actions she took. It's important to look at history here. Much of the Red Scare of the late-1940s and early-1950s was also a Gay Scare, with homosexuals being forced out of positions within the US government due to their sexual preference. I don't think that history will repeat itself, but the inability to separate Chelsea's transgenderism from her actions (which reasonable people can agree or disagree about) is going to be something the TG community will likely have to deal with.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeletePatricia you have to stop caring what the uber conservatives think. There is no brain matter with them, strictly talking points. Could you count the lies of Romney? They love Bush even though he is responsible for over 4000 american deaths by lies. Or cheney who made a cool 35 million off the war. Chelsea is a truthteller, something so rare these days, just the thought of it puts you in jail. She is a patriot in my eyes and I don't care what others think.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the conservatives I worry about. They are a lost cause. It's the "middle" of society that has to concern us. I am optimistic, but if Chelsea's actions are packaged along with her transgenderism, it makes the community appear unstable and reflects on others. Maybe I am overreacting. I hope that I am.
DeleteStrict talking points and conservative thinking aside, society in general and at large for the most part, sees us as low-lifes and freaks already anyway! Society, in its general mind-set, seems to believe there is no mental angst in any of us, or any confusion, and we merely "feel" the way we do because of some other things, some other experiences. While that may or may not be true, or accurate for any of us, we will still feel the sting of society's thinking. Bradly M's stated desire has changed nothing.
ReplyDeleteMy personal solution is avoidance of negative members of society when possible. I have little reservation Bradley M may have held that same notion but he does not have that choice any longer. Period and amen! I'm reminded of Chris Beck and all he did for this nation as a sniper in the Navy and everything he did afterward, he is a true human being.
No one has come forward to pay for my desire to be a woman. If I'm to be a woman it's up to me how I achieve that, just the same as it is for every "conflicted" person on this planet. Everything has always been about cash, after all we do live in a material world, that hasn't changed and is only being a human, too.