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Chelsea Manning 'denied gender dysphoria treatment' | Chelsea Manning 'denied gender dysphoria treatment' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US military has yet to offer Pte First Class Chelsea Manning sex change treatment despite medical recommendations, her lawyer has said. | The US military has yet to offer Pte First Class Chelsea Manning sex change treatment despite medical recommendations, her lawyer has said. |
Defence secretary Chuck Hagel approved treatment for a condition known as gender dysphoria in July. | Defence secretary Chuck Hagel approved treatment for a condition known as gender dysphoria in July. |
But lawyer David Coombs says her requests for hormone therapy and other accommodations have been "ignored". | But lawyer David Coombs says her requests for hormone therapy and other accommodations have been "ignored". |
The soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning is serving a 35-year sentence for leaking secret files to Wikileaks. | The soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning is serving a 35-year sentence for leaking secret files to Wikileaks. |
"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," Pte Manning said in a statement to NBC News. | "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," Pte Manning said in a statement to NBC News. |
"Unfortunately, despite silence, and then lip service, the military has not yet provided me with any such treatment." | "Unfortunately, despite silence, and then lip service, the military has not yet provided me with any such treatment." |
Hair and grooming | Hair and grooming |
She adds that despite legally changing her name in April, she is not referred to as Chelsea at the military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she is currently held. | She adds that despite legally changing her name in April, she is not referred to as Chelsea at the military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she is currently held. |
"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," Pte Manning said. | "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," Pte Manning said. |
The Pentagon has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment. | The Pentagon has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment. |
Pte Manning was a low ranking intelligence analyst known as Bradley and living as a man when she leaked a vast trove of secret US military and diplomatic documents to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks. | Pte Manning was a low ranking intelligence analyst known as Bradley and living as a man when she leaked a vast trove of secret US military and diplomatic documents to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks. |
She was arrested in 2010 and jailed under harsh conditions. Last year she was tried in a court martial and found guilty of espionage, theft and violating computer regulations. | She was arrested in 2010 and jailed under harsh conditions. Last year she was tried in a court martial and found guilty of espionage, theft and violating computer regulations. |
On 22 August 2013 - one year ago - she announced through her lawyer that she wanted to live as a woman, declaring, "I am Chelsea Manning. I am female." | On 22 August 2013 - one year ago - she announced through her lawyer that she wanted to live as a woman, declaring, "I am Chelsea Manning. I am female." |
Pte Manning has been diagnosed by military doctors with gender dysphoria, the sense of one's gender being at odds with the sex assigned at birth. | Pte Manning has been diagnosed by military doctors with gender dysphoria, the sense of one's gender being at odds with the sex assigned at birth. |
Threat to sue | Threat to sue |
The US military is required to offer medical treatment to its soldiers, but Pentagon policy prohibits transgender people from serving openly in the military. | The US military is required to offer medical treatment to its soldiers, but Pentagon policy prohibits transgender people from serving openly in the military. |
Pte Manning will not be discharged from the military until she has finished her prison term. | Pte Manning will not be discharged from the military until she has finished her prison term. |
Chase Strangio, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representing Pte Manning, told the BBC there had been "no action" taken by the military on the treatment issue. | |
Pte Manning was only promised "rudimentary treatment" by the military, Mr Coombs told the BBC and they "have not spelt out what it is". | |
Mr Coombs has said said the military's knowledge of Pte Manning's gender dysphoria dates back to April 2010, when the soldier sent a supervisor an email titled "My Problem" and attached a photo of herself dressed a woman. | |
He and the ACLU sent a letter to the military last week demanding she start treatment "consistent with the recommendations of her treating doctors and an outside expert who evaluated her". | He and the ACLU sent a letter to the military last week demanding she start treatment "consistent with the recommendations of her treating doctors and an outside expert who evaluated her". |
If the military does not "adequately respond... we are prepared to pursue litigation to vindicate her constitutional rights" Mr Coombs added. | If the military does not "adequately respond... we are prepared to pursue litigation to vindicate her constitutional rights" Mr Coombs added. |