Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Army to Provide Chelsea Manning Reassignment Surgery
Chelsea Manning is pictured dressed as a woman in this 2010 photograph. Courtesy U.S. Army/Handout
Your tax dollars at work:
Army officials have informed Chelsea Manning that they will provide her with gender transition surgery, her lawyer tells BuzzFeed News.
A lawyer for Manning, the ACLU’s Chase Strangio, spoke with Manning on Tuesday after she was informed of the military’s decision. Manning, serving a 35-year prison sentence for violating the Espionage Act, received a recommendation from her psychologist in April that she receive surgery related to her gender dysphoria.
“I am unendingly relieved that the military is finally doing the right thing. I applaud them for that. This is all that I wanted — for them to let me be me,” Manning said in a statement provided by her lawyers.
“But it is hard not to wonder why it has taken so long. 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,” Manning continued in the statement. “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.”
Did the Army make the right call or is this another example of political correctness gone wild?
Published in Culture
This is insanity.
Heck, I got mad when a Korean War vet tried to get me to champion his cause for a new liver on taxpayers dime (I’m sorry, sir, and I do appreciate your service, but the bullet in your leg from 1951 did not cause your cirrhosis). There is no way Manning’s surgery is to remedy injuries incurred in the line of duty.
It’s nice to see Manning accepting this graciously without further criticism of the Army.
Traitors used to get the death penalty.
Are you kidding me?
Now that we have established that we can do this to prisoners, let’s try it with some of the folks at Gitmo. I think that threat would work better than water boarding.
Oh man you beat me to it.
Now they get their genitals surgically removed and they’re called a hero…
I’m sure the Army had nothing better to do with our money…
Also, I seem to recall Julian Assange was a villain for the whole Pentagon leaks. Suddenly he has the DNC email leaks and suddenly he starts getting good press with Fox News along with praise from Hannity. I don’t normally agree with Media Matters (which I was reluctant to link), but sometimes a broken clock is right twice a day.
Conspiracy theory:
There’s something somewhere that states that military prisoners are (only?) entitled to necessary healthcare.
This decision was made to establish a precedent where a sex change is “necessary” surgery according to the law.
Are they taking bids?
A) Once again, permission and state funding are two different things.
B) Becoming more woman-like in a men’s prison seems… unwise.
Once he’s had the surgery, I presume he’ll qualify for a women’s prison.
I hope it’s tougher there for
him. . . WhateverI’d rather fool around with him /her instead of Chelsea Clinton. I kid.
I think Chelsea Clinton’s kinda hot, ackshully. Awful, but hot.
We have different tastes. I think she looks like a laughing horse but she is far more equanimous than her mom so that’s natural.
Well, come on now, we owe it to him for his service to our country … oh wait.
The Army did not cause him to be born a biological man. The Army is not responsible for him remaining a biological man. Even if he is castrated and operated on to give him the appearance of a woman, he will still be a biological man. Should he be released at some time in the future, he will be completely free to turn himself into a she, or whatever he desires. Until then, the Army should not be facilitating his desire to be something other than what he is. A side note: if Mr. Manning comes down with a sickness while in custody, the Army will be required to treat him for his sickness. If his desire to be a woman is identified and accepted generally as a sickness, then perhaps the Army might be required to treat it. However, as long as the trans-lobby maintains that this is a “healthy” condition that is not indicative of any sickness or mental illness, then the Army has no reason to treat it.
Hopefully he lives to regret this decision. According to Dr. McHugh of John Hopkins, this is a surgical solution for a mental problem, and there is a good chance he will not be enriched by this.
We can only hope. He should be on bread and water and spend his days turning big rocks into little rocks. His only medical care should be as is required for life and health to fulfill his term in prison. Would the Army provide a nose-job because he doesn’t think himself pretty enough? This is utterly ridiculous. As is feeding his mental illness in calling him “her” and “she.” World turned upside down indeed.
I am pretty sure this statement makes you one of the basket of deplorables that HRC is discussing.
Step right up Zir…..
Craig:
This whole Manning (unfortunate surname given the surgery he will undergo) sex change while doing time in an Army Prison for espionage is so absurd it could be a Monty Python sketch
Chelsea de-mannds the operation?
Irresistible headline: Chelsea’s Un-manning Approved by Department of Defense
Stick him in with the guys and let him rot.