Chelsea Manning Willing to Go to Court for Gender Procedures

In a letter published this week, she says her attorney will make a court filing if the military does not grant her requests.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

Read Full Bio

Trudy Ring

November 01 2013 3:35 PM EST

September 22 2017 7:16 AM EST

trudestress

Sorry to interrupt...
But we wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Your support makes original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Help us hold Trump accountable.

One-time Monthly

$19.67 $50 Other

$5 $19.67 $50

Pvt. Chelsea Manning says she'll go to court if the military does not provide her with hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery, in a document released this week.

In a letter posted on the Private Manning Support Network Web site, Manning says attorney David E. Coombs will represent her in efforts to obtain this treatment, and if administrative procedures within the Army are exhausted, will file suit in an appropriate court. He will also represent her in efforts to legally change her name from Bradley to Chelsea.

Manning has begun serving at 35-year sentence in a men's military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., after being convicted of leaking classified documents. Military officials have so far denied her any medical treatment related to gender transition, and have said they will not allow her to wear women's clothing while in prison. Name changes, however, will be allowed.

Coombs told the Associated Press yesterday that he had nothing to add to Manning's letter. He had said earlier that he hopes the military will "do the right thing" and that the matter will not have to go to court.