Chelsea Manning Told She Will Receive Gender Transition Surgery

[Cecilia Tanaka]

Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) tweeted at 8:31 PM - 13 Sep 2016 :

Unending relief: .mil does right thing; just let me be me
https://t.co/wO8Nf1xwMx

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Chelsea Manning Told She Will Receive Gender Transition Surgery, Her Lawyer
Says
The military’s decision — which the military will not confirm — follows a
recommendation made by Manning’s psychologist more than five months ago.

Originally posted on September 13, 2016, 22:24 GMT
Updated on September 13, 2016, 23:56 GMT
Chris Geidner
BuzzFeed News Reporter

WASHINGTON — Army officials today informed Chelsea Manning that they will
provide her with gender transition surgery, her lawyer tells BuzzFeed News.

A lawyer for Manning, the ACLU's Chase Strangio, spoke with Manning on
Tuesday after she was informed of the military's decision. Manning, serving
a 35-year prison sentence for violating the Espionage Act, received a
recommendation from her psychologist in April that she receive surgery
related to her gender dysphoria.

“I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right
thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted – for them to let
me be me,” Manning said in a statement provided by her lawyers.

"But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long. Also, why were such
drastic measures needed? The surgery was recommended back in April 2016.
The recommendations for my hair length were back in 2014," Manning
continued in the statement. "In any case, I hope this sets a precedent for
the thousands of trans people behind me hoping they will be given the
treatment they need."

Strangio said that Manning was told on Tuesday that the military made a
determination that the Department of Defense's instruction for "In-Service
Transition" applies to her. Additionally, according to Strangio, Manning
was shown a treatment plan that included information about surgery and the
medical team necessary to move forward with that surgery.
Strangio added, however, that Manning was told that she must continue to
keep her hair short, as required under male grooming standards, until she
receives the surgery.

Asked to confirm the information provided by Manning's lawyer, Army
spokesperson Wayne Hall told BuzzFeed News only, "We cannot and will not
discuss the medical needs of individuals."

The decision ends a hunger strike that Manning began on Sept. 9, but it
does not, at this point, end a hearing scheduled for Manning on Sept. 20
relating to charges resulting from Manning's suicide attempt earlier this
summer.

"Thankfully the government has recognized its constitutional obligation to
provide Chelsea with the medical care that she needs and we hope that they
will act without delay to ensure that her suffering does not needlessly
continue," Strangio said in a statement.
Strangio added, however, that Tuesday's news doesn't alleviate all of the
concerns of Manning's lawyers. First, he said, they will continue to
monitor the situation to see how quickly the military moves forward with
the recommended surgery. Second, Strangio noted, "Certainly, we're going to
move forward with our litigation on the hair issue, as that remains a
matter of concern." Finally, Strangio said it is the hope of Manning's
lawyers that "all charges related to her suicide attempt and the
investigation that followed are dropped."

No prison inmate — at the state or federal level — has received gender
transition surgery. The issue of gender has been highly charged, leading to
extensive litigation even in more traditionally liberal states like
Massachusetts and California. Although a settlement reached in a California
case brought by the Transgender Law Center provided for surgery for Shiloh
Quine, Quine's lawyers told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday that the surgery is
set for this fall but has not yet happened.

Activists opposed to Manning's imprisonment updated an ongoing petition
after the announcement of Tuesday's news, stating, "Chelsea Manning ends
hunger strike after Army agrees to provide her with needed health care. But
they're still threatening to punish her for attempting to take her own
life."

UPDATE
This report has been updated with information about health care for
transgender people in prison and activists’ efforts on Chelsea Manning’s
behalf.
2016-09-13 19:56:27

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I am singing "She is a Lady" and I bet that Steve Kinney is very happy and
singing to celebrate too, hihi!  ;)

I love Chelsea.  I love you, Steve.  And I love the cypherpunks list!  <3
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