Chelsea Manning ends hunger strike after US army agree to provide gender treatment
By Will Stroude
Chelsea Manning has ended her hunger strike after being assured by the US army that she will be provided with appropriate treatment for her gender dysphoria.
The former soldier, who is currently serving a 35-year-sentence after being convicted in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents, embarked on a hunger strike on September 9 after she was “driven to suicide by the lack of care for [her] gender dysphoria.”
In a statement posted to the Free Chelsea Manning website, Manning spoke of their relief at the US military “doing the right thing,” with regards to her gender dysphoria.
“This is all that I wanted – for them to let me be me,” she said.
“But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long,” she added. “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. 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.”
Whilst Manning will receive gender surgery, she still faces the possibility of indefinite solitary confinement following a suicide attempt in July.
Evan Greer, campaign director of Fight for the Future (the group behind FreeChelsea.com) criticised the punishment Manning is potentially facing, saying: “Now that the Army is acknowledging Chelsea deserves this treatment, it’s even more outrageous that they’re still threatening her with solitary confinement for charges related to her own suicide attempt.
“It was the government’s refusal to grant Chelsea access to needed health care that led to her suicide attempt in the first place.”
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