US military finally gives go-ahead for Chelsea Manning gender transition

Feb 13 2015
Written by Nick Duffy

The US military has finally approved Chelsea Manning for access to hormone therapy, according to reports.

Manning was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in military prison after disseminating classified information via WikiLeaks, and the same year revealed she would transition behind bars.

In August 2014, it was claimed that then-Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel approved plans to start her treatment – but Manning said the claims were untrue, and she was still denied medical transition.

However, a memo earlier this month shows that Manning’s treatment has finally been given the go-ahead at Fort Leavenworth military prison.

A February 5 memo from Colonel Erica Nelson said: “After carefully considering the recommendation that (hormone treatment) is medically appropriate and necessary, and weighing all associated safety and security risks presented, I approve adding (hormone treatment) to Inmate Manning’s treatment plan.”

Transgender people are still barred from serving in the US military – under a code that still classifies transgender people as mentally ill.

Chuck Hagel previously said the ban should “continue to be reviewed”, and that he was “open” to the idea of allowing trans people to serve.

Mr Hagel recently stepped down from his role, to be replaced by new Defence chief Ashton B Carter – who is yet to comment on the ongoing ban.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which prevented openly gay people from serving in the military, was repealed in 2011.