US: ACLU threatens to sue US Military over Chelsea Manning’s lack of treatment
The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to several top military officials Monday, stating they will sue the US Military if Chelsea Manning’s gender dysphoria continues to go untreated.
Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison after disseminating classifed information via WikiLeaks.
Manning came out as transgender shortly after sentencing. She is currently being held in an all-male military prison.
The letter by the ACLU details the several requests Manning has made to receive gender-affirming treatment.
The letter states that Manning has “done everything possible to pursue treatment over the course of nearly a year and her requests have been ignored.”
The statement goes on to say: “The Army’s failure to comply with the treatment recommendations and protocols or Ms. Manning’s diagnosed Gender Dysphoria violates her well-established constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.”
ACLU lawyers state in the letter that they demand a reponse in writing by 4 September from the military stating they will provide Manning with “all medically necessary treatment.”
The ACLU states in the letter that this includes “clothing and grooming standards consistent with her female gender and hormone therapy.”
If the military does not respond or refuses to treat Manning, the ACLU states they will pursue legal action.
