This op-ed piece by Pvt. Manning was published today in the Guardian.

I am a transgender woman and the government is denying my civil rights.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/08/chelsea-manning-transgender-rights

"A doctor, a judge or a piece of paper shouldn't have the power to tell someone who he or she is. We should all have the absolute and inalienable right to define ourselves, in our own terms and in our own languages, and to be able to express our identity and perspectives without fear of consequences and retribution. We should all be able to live as human beings – and to be recognized as such by the societies we live in.

"We shouldn't have to keep defending our right to exist."

Quote from: Tysilio on December 08, 2014, 01:02:36 PM
"A doctor, a judge or a piece of paper shouldn't have the power to tell someone who he or she is. We should all have the absolute and inalienable right to define ourselves, in our own terms and in our own languages, and to be able to express our identity and perspectives without fear of consequences and retribution. "

Regardless of what one thinks about Manning or what she did, I hope everyone agrees these are powerful words.

I want to shout them from the rooftops.

I really feel bad for her, but at the same time I think that what she did can end up dragging us down. There is a certain sentiment that she is transitioning to escape something, even if most people cannot define what that something is.

That said, I believe that she should be entitled to all of the appropriate medical and mental health treatment that she needs, including trans healthcare, while she is in state custody.

We just had a thread on this topic a few days ago get locked once it went off the rails. Let's please keep this one on topic.

She did the crime and now she's doing the time.  That part I have no beef with. 

What I fear is that if she becomes seen as a spokesperson for the trans community, we will all end up getting painted by that same ugly brush.   Getting seen in a positive light is hard enough as is, and the fact that she is an exception, not the rule is too often swept under the rug by the media that profits by sensationalizing us and pandering to the mouth breathers that walk among us.   We need more of Janet Mock and Laverne Cox.

That being said, denying her HRT is cruel and barbaric.   If they can give insulin to diabetics or lithium to bipolar inmates, they should really give her estrogen.

I think Chelsea is painted with the ugly brush BY us more than us being painted with the ugly brush because of her. More people like Janet Mock and Laverne Cox would be nice, but a lot less bigotry within our community would go further.

Quote from: Jill F on December 11, 2014, 04:33:17 PM

What I fear is that if she becomes seen as a spokesperson for the trans community, we will all end up getting painted by that same ugly brush.   Getting seen in a positive light is hard enough as is, and the fact that she is an exception, not the rule is too often swept under the rug by the media that profits by sensationalizing us and pandering to the mouth breathers that walk among us.   We need more of Janet Mock and Laverne Cox.

That being said, denying her HRT is cruel and barbaric.   If they can give insulin to diabetics or lithium to bipolar inmates, they should really give her estrogen.

Agreed. Fully agreed.

I deleted a bunch of posts on this thread. Do not misgender anyone on this site for any reason you will get in serious trouble for doing so.  You are free to state your opinion on this issue, you should not diverge off into sub discussions that veer from the topic.

That being said why does anyone care what  such a a politically biased group thinks about transgender people, you are not going to change their views no matter what you say. It's that simple. They will Despise us no matter what we do, no matter who speaks for us. They are irrevelant. The only way what they say matter is if you value their opinion, and if that is the case you have more serious issues to deal with than transgender ones.

We need to target the middle and the left, the right is a lost cause; luckily they are also a declining group and as the years go by will have less and less influence anyway.

The funny thing is, while those of us with freedom ought to be writing the Op/Ed pieces about transgender civil rights, the job is left to Chelsea Manning rotting in her prison cell.

Quote from: Susan on December 13, 2014, 07:55:48 PM
I deleted a bunch of posts on this thread. Do not misgender anyone on this site for any reason you will get in serious trouble for doing so.  You are free to state your opinion on this issue, you should not diverge off into sub discussions that veer from the topic.

That being said why does anyone care what  such a a politically biased group thinks about transgender people, you are not going to change their views no matter what you say. It's that simple. They will Despise us no matter what we do, no matter who speaks for us. They are irrevelant. The only way what they say matter is if you value their opinion, and if that is the case you have more serious issues to deal with than transgender ones.

We need to target the middle and the left, the right is a lost cause; luckily they are also a declining group and as the years go by will have less and less influence anyway.

Corner an animal and it gets more dangerous. I worry what the radicals will do when they feel more and more of their privilege and power dwindle. They are in decline but the US just saw the GOP massacre the Democrats across the country so they aren't gone yet and can still do a lot of damage.

What Ms Manning did or didn't do is her cross to bear, I will not allow anyone to continue to attack her on that basis.  If you don't believe she is a good representative for the community that's fine but keep it to your self. I don't want to see it posted on my site any more.

Personally I think what she did was an act of supreme courage, patriotism, and sacrifice. Our government has crossed the bounds of legality and is actively engaged in violating the Constitution, and the rights guaranteed to the citizens of our country under it. Cowards ignore these type of actions and allow it to keep going on; Patriots step up and do something about it.

You may disagree with how Ms Manning went about it,  but again keep it to your self.