Chelsea Manning, who as U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning was convicted of leaking secret information, sued the government, claiming she’s being deprived of hormone therapy and other treatment tied to her transgender status.
Manning experiences “escalating anxiety, distress and depression” due to lack of “medically necessary treatment,” according to a complaint in Washington federal court, filed on her behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Manning, who is serving a 35-year sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, has been diagnosed with “gender dysphoria,” a mismatch between a person’s biological sex and gender identity, Manning’s lawyers said in the complaint.
They seek a court order for hormone therapy, permission to follow female grooming standards for dress and hair length, and treatment by a qualified specialist.
Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale, a Pentagon spokesman, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment on the suit.
A Kansas judge in April approved Manning’s request for a name change from Bradley to Chelsea. Manning was convicted of leaking classified documents about the military.
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