Chelsea Manning

[lycheeblossom]

Has anyone found a source for information about Chelsea Manning's coming out/impending transition that avoids rampant misgendering?

[musicofthenight]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/22/bradley-manning-woman-chelsea-gender-reassignment

I feel a lot more comfortable talking about her knowing her preferred pronouns.

I really hate what she's done.  I hate how it will set back trans* rights in the military.  I hate how she recklessly put the allies of her country (and mine) at risk.  That raw intelligence exposed misdeed that should have been exposed, but it also outed informants putting them and their families at risk.

That's putting it too gently.  Those documents risked little girls in Afghanistan getting raped for their fathers speaking to the US.  She broke her oath betrayed my country's honor.

But I also hate what happened to her.  I hate the horrible things my country has allowed to happen.  I hate that military justice has prosecuted spies before war criminals.  I hate the fuel this gives to transphobia.

Not much good has come out of the whole situation.

[bethany]

I only seen one news report on her. They used the male pronouns a lot. I have not gone looking for any reports on her, just came across one on facebook and watched it. I won't get into how I feel about her whole story.

[Devlyn]

Not too much about the impending stuff, but Wikipedia does a pretty good job on the history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Manning

[suzifrommd]

Whatever she's done, no trans woman should have to come out with the eyes of the entire world upon her.

I feel for her.

[Sara Murphy]

Savannah Guthrie interviewed one of the lawyers on the Today show this morning.  The first half of the interview, when talking only about the trial, used male pronouns.  However, as soon as Guthrie read Mannings statement and continuing with follow up questions it was an immediate and complete switch to female pronouns for the rest of the interview.

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqIJ3RxZSNjAAgVH7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTByZ2N0cmxpBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMg--?p=today+show+bradley+manning+lawyer&vid=94640475ab743e7797926d4ba1188b43&l=2%3A54&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVA.347972175709%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmE0p8AIuurM&tit=Bradley+Manning+Now+%26%2339%3BChelsea+Manning%26%2339%3B.+Will+Sue+Army+for+Sex+...&c=1&sigr=11av7i6dn&age=0&fr=moz35&tt=b

[FTMDiaries]

There is a heck of a lot of misgendering all over the media. It seems like she was forced to show her hand because somebody outed her without her consent, in an attempt to perform a character assassination.

I should also point out that there were plenty of people in the media who knew about her for several months before the story broke, but they kept it low-key. That had to change when that early pic of her dressed - which she probably sent to her CO in confidence - was leaked to the media.

I've also noticed a sudden explosion of trans* stories in the British media. We've suddenly become a hot topic again. Very few of these stories are supportive or positive, and all of them are accompanied by the usual bigoted comments.

Whether you agree or disagree with what she's done, this is likely to be the single most important trans* story in the media for the immediate future. It would be helpful if as many people as are willing to help, would keep an eye on these media outlets and contact them whenever they step out of line. There are discrimination laws in many places that forbid transphobia: if you have such laws, and you spot transphobia in the media, please do whatever you can to nip it in the bud.

[Ltl89]

Chelsea Manning has my full support in this particular regard.  Even if one disagrees with her tactics, one can still support her transition and desire to be identified as female.  However, I suspect she will find it difficult to transition in a military prison.  They don't cover hormone therapy and SRS.  Likely, this will end up in a lawsuit.  To be honest, I doubt she will win.  Perhaps in public opinion, but not in the courts.  Nevertheless, I hope I am wrong as I don't feel anyone should be denied treatment for Gender Dysphoria. 

On a side note, I was talking to somebody close to me about "Bradley" Manning today and asked if they heard that she came out as Chelsea.  The reply I received was "is that the football player".  Turns out this person never heard about "Bradley" Manning, Wikileaks, or Julian Assange.  I found this to be more shocking then Chelsea's coming out and plans to transition,lol.

[spacerace]

NYT's public editor made an interesting post about pronouns and name switches in the media:

http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/the-soldier-formerly-known-as-bradley-manning/?smid=tw-share&_r=0

As for Manning - I don't consider what she did to be exactly the same thing as what Snowden did in terms of whistle-blowing , but I don't think she was treated fairly before the trial and the whole ordeal revealed a lot about the government that it is good for the public to know.

I do not think she is a traitor, but really - come on. She is not really the transgender poster child I think any of us want.

[Ltl89]

NYT's public editor made an interesting post about pronouns and name switches in the media:

http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/the-soldier-formerly-known-as-bradley-manning/?smid=tw-share&_r=0

As for Manning - I don't consider what she said to be exactly the same thing as what Snowden did in terms of whistle-blowing , but I don't think she was treated fairly before the trial and the whole ordeal revealed a lot about the government that it is good for the public to know.

I do not think she is a traitor, but really - come on. She is not really the transgender poster child I think any of us want.

Whatever one may think of Snowden, I myself have not formed a full opinion on his case, I will say that it is ironic that the poster boy for individual freedom and government accountability has no problem taking refuge in Putin's Russia.  Sort of ironic and goes against everything he stood for. 

As for Manning, this "could" help with transgender prisoners.  Many trans inmates don't have the political clout and legal resources to fight for transition related medical care.  While it's a long shot at best, it could raise the issue and make a difference.  Having said that, this could hurt the societal perspective of trans civilians.  Well, have to see how it plays out.

[~RoadToTrista~]

Wait, the person who leaked all that military information is trans? Random!

[lycheeblossom]

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

I do not think she is a traitor, but really - come on. She is not really the transgender poster child I think any of us want.

Even as a supporter of her actions, I'm compelled to agree. Those who malign her behavior and are ignorant of/misinformed about trans* identities are not likely to become more tolerant in response to her transition.

[spacerace]

http://healthland.time.com/2013/08/22/i-am-chelsea-manning-why-gender-isnt-so-easy-to-identify/

http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/08/why-is-it-so-hard-to-call-chelsea-manning-she.html

many people reacted negatively to this article:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/22/how-will-chelsea-manning-be-treated-in-prison.html

[aleon515]

Here  http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/08/22/i-am-chelsea-manning-to-live-as-a-woman/
You'd expect Melissa Harris Perry to be sensitive, but the imbedded Today show video doesn't do so well, though was it widely known then? Not sure.

--Jay

[Taka]

Whatever one may think of Snowden, I myself have not formed a full opinion on his case, I will say that it is ironic that the poster boy for individual freedom and government accountability has no problem taking refuge in Putin's Russia.  Sort of ironic and goes against everything he stood for.

somewhat ironic. but the usa seem to love to call itself a land of freedom. not sure where this freedom lies if they feel such a need to spy on its own citizens (not saying any other country is all that much better). russia is a lot more honest about not really believing in that freedom, and is also the first country i'd go to if i happened to be hunted by the cia. russia will most definitely do its best to keep any american spies outside its borders, i have a feeling my own country wouldn't.

in the case of manning, i'm not too sure what to think. they might become a good martyr, but then again they might not. at least the whole world will now be following a transgendered person's life in prison, i can't say i've heard about anyone else before.

weather manning's actions were treason or not, is something i don't wish to discuss here. i think that should be left for another forum. there is the politics forum here, might be a place to try unless we're stopped by a mod or admin.

[lorena]

I am sorry for her. I can only imagine how hard it will be and how many people will try to make it as hard as possible on her....I just wish she had made better choices before (I makes me uncomfortable to thing how many "hatters" are probably liking GD with leaking information). In any case, if the psychologist and other specialist who evaluated her were right, then she needs to be given the opportunity to be herself....

[Dreams2014]

I just wrote a blog post about all of this actually. I'd really appreciate it if anybody would give it a read and tell me what you think. This is my personal blog, but I also have it on a youth political blog as well and have been posting on twitter. http://libertyforuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/chelsea-manning-and-why-transgenders.html