Chelsea Manning: Free Chelsea Manning!

The Next Stage of My Life

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 defense 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

Chelsea’s mailing address remains:
Commander, HHC USAG
Attn: PFC Bradley Manning
239 Sheridan Ave, Bldg 417
JBM-HH, VA 22211

Via a statement Chelsea gave to her lawyer, David Coombs. 

As ever and always, thinking of you, Chelsea, with thanks, solidarity, respect and much love.
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• What If Chelsea Manning Were Russian? An excellent piece by Michael Arria on the double standards and hypocrisy of those all-American gay boys, James Kirchick and Dan Savage.

Update: Trans Media Watch respond to Chelsea Manning coming out. Daily Mail and Independent good, others not so...

Update2: And a list of which media are using Chelsea's preferred pronoun, and who isn't...

Update3: Send Chelsea Manning a book!