A lawyer for Chelsea Manning said
Tuesday that the Army has agreed to provide Manning with medical
treatment for her gender dysphoria.
Manning is serving a 35-year prison
sentence for violating the Espionage Act. She began a hunger strike
on September 9 to protest her treatment at the U.S. Disciplinary
Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Manning's American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) lawyer, Chase Strangio, said in a statement that the
Army had agreed to provide Manning with gender transition surgery.
Manning's psychologist recommended the surgery in April. The Army
has not confirmed the news.
“I am unendingly relieved that the
military is finally doing the right thing,” Manning said in an ACLU
statement. “I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted –
for them to let me be me.”
“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 added. “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.”
The ACLU went on to say that it
continues to press for Manning to be allowed to grow her hair long
and for the military to drop charges related to a suicide attempt in
July.