An image of Manning sent in a April 24, 2010, email coming out to her supervisor (Photo: Chelsea Manning, via U.S. Army file).
Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier behind one of the largest leaks of classified information in history, has begun a hunger strike to protest the military’s refusal to let her grow her hair as part of her treatment for gender dysphoria.
Manning began the hunger strike just after midnight on Saturday, Sept. 10, according to NBC News. She is currently serving a 35-year sentence at the all-male U.S Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for leaking classified information to the online site Wikileaks.
“I need help. I am not getting any,” Manning said in a statement. “I have asked for help time and time again for six years and through five separate confinement locations. My request has only been ignored, delayed, mocked, given trinkets and lip service by the prison, the military, and this administration.”
In addition to refusing any food or beverages other than water and her prescribed medications, Manning has also vowed not to cut her hair as the male inmates do. Although the Army began providing Manning with hormones last year after her lawyers sued, it has consistently refused to allow her to grow her hair beyond the length recommended for male prisoners. For many people with gender dysphoria, growing out one’s hair as part of embracing one’s gender identity is often considered a part of treatment, just as any hormone therapy or gender confirmation surgery would be.
The U.S. Army has not responded to requests for comment on Manning’s hunger strike.
Manning also revealed that she had submitted a “do not resuscitate” order, effective immediately, should she die in the course of her hunger strike. In a statement, she acknowledged the possibility of permanent incapacitation and death that could result if she continues the hunger strike and the Army refuses to budge from its position on allowing her to grow out her hair. Nonetheless, she insisted that the strike was a “peaceful act.”
“I intend to keep it as peaceful and non-violent, on my end, as possible,” she said in a statement. “Any physical harm that should come to me at the hands of military or civilian staff will be unnecessary and vindictive.
“Until I am shown dignity and respect as a human again, I shall endure this pain before me. I am prepared for this mentally and emotionally,” she continued. “I expect that this ordeal will last for a long time. Quite possibly until my permanent incapacitation or death. I am ready for this.”
Lia Thomas, the former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who became the first transgender woman to win an NCAA title, has lost her challenge to overturn a policy banning transgender female athletes from competing as women in elite competitions.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Thomas's request for arbitration with World Aquatics, the governing body in swimming and diving events, effectively dashing any hope she had of competing in the Olympics or elite global competitions, reports The New York Times.
The Lausanne, Switzerland-based international body, established to settle disputes related to elite sporting competitions, ruled that Thomas did not have standing to bring the case because she was not a member of its member federation -- USA Swimming -- prior to bringing her challenge.
Billionaire Elon Musk said his estranged transgender daughter was figuratively "killed" after she received gender-affirming care, prompting him to adopt gender-skeptic and anti-transgender views.
The CEO of Tesla and Space X, and owner of X, was speaking with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson as part of a podcast interview.
Peterson asserted that psychiatrists encouraging minors to transition were "contemptible cowards," comparing them to "the Nazis."
Musk agreed, saying that California Gov. Gavin Newsom's stance on transgender issues, including his decision to sign a bill into law preventing school officials from "outing" trans youth to their parents, was part of the reason he was relocating his company headquarters from California to Texas.
Several state chapters of the Libertarian Party are attempting to block Chase Oliver, the party's official presidential nominee, from the ballot because of his hands-off stance on access to gender-affirming care.
Oliver won the party's nomination at its national convention in May, following seven rounds of balloting. Mike ter Maat, a former police officer, won the vice presidential nomination.
Oliver has previously said he hopes to get at least 2% of the vote in the presidential race and "continue to be a fly in the ointment of the two-party system."
He was critical of Donald Trump appearing at the Libertarian convention, where the former president was booed and jeered at by many convention attendees. He has also been critical of Democratic President Joe Biden and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
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