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Laughing Mirror

(4,185 posts)

108. Chelsea Manning's statement, since you brought it up

Mon Aug 26, 2013, 10:35 AM

Aug 2013

Subject: The Next Stage of My Life

I want to thank everybody who has supported me over the last three years. Throughout this long ordeal, your letters of support and encouragement have helped keep me strong. I am forever indebted to those who wrote to me, made a donation to my defense fund, or came to watch a portion of the trial. I would especially like to thank Courage to Resist and the Bradley Manning Support Network for their tireless efforts in raising awareness for my case and providing for my legal representation.

As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back.

Thank you,

Chelsea E. Manning

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I've been moving all week and missed the Chelsea Manning wars here. [View all] WilliamPitt Aug 2013 OP

Many of us have been deeply edified and educated by the conversation. k&r Little Star Aug 2013 #1

Indeed, folks need to distinguish ignorance, insensitivity, and malice as separate things. NYC_SKP Aug 2013 #2

And to distinguish honest ignorance from willfull ignorance. arcane1 Aug 2013 #16

You know, I've been to the Czech Republic Three Times... jberryhill Aug 2013 #3

Same here as far as Korea is concerned GP6971 Aug 2013 #4

Always remember which gu your dong is in jberryhill Aug 2013 #6

Always n/t GP6971 Aug 2013 #15

Praguephobia wercal Aug 2013 #8

I encourage you to look carefully at where the heat has been. Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #24

I guess you missed this little gem ... Summer Hathaway Aug 2013 #53

I have seen the thread - Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #56

Bullshit. Summer Hathaway Aug 2013 #65

When you are in a thread discussing the transition (as that thread was) Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #80

Well I saw lots of posts about how vicious some posts were... wercal Aug 2013 #59

If you are going to suggest that the people complaining were innocently Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #61

Well I can't look at everything that was hidden wercal Aug 2013 #102

The tone of that first OP sets my teeth on edge. Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #109

Well I am relatively new to typing the pronouns... wercal Aug 2013 #114

Absolutely. Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #115

It is hard when one is learning MuseRider Aug 2013 #5

So on Facebook you decided to speak about that of which you are 'crashingly ignorant'? Why? Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #7

He did ask a question. Ilsa Aug 2013 #11

Don't bother. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #17

Wow. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #28

Will isn't the one in this picture who is creepy. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #69

I was gratified to read your exchange with Bluenorthwest...it lets me know msanthrope Aug 2013 #41

We should start a support group. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #42

Yeehaw! Circle the wagons! Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #46

Careful Will...hanging out with a noted authoritariancryptofascist will only get you in trouble. nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #50

"There has never been a time when I came away from an exchange with Bluenorthwest without feeling.." dionysus Aug 2013 #58

DU used to be Ilsa Aug 2013 #72

There are many to the Right of Conservative around here, passing themselves off as "Democrats". RC Aug 2013 #106

The 'question' came with the assertion that it is about 'happiness' and as such the 'question' was Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #25

You're really stretching. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #26

And you are a constantly aggressive writer, Will, never skip a chance to insult others Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #31

The only bad reaction I got on DU was from you. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #33

Not the only criticism however, and you got blasted on FB and you characterize the reasons as Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #37

Did you get a chance to see the sheep party yet? snooper2 Aug 2013 #112

He posted a question and stated that he learned from it. cui bono Aug 2013 #13

See post #17. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #18

You would think that would be the case. Liberal Veteran Aug 2013 #60

I can't speak for Mr. Pitt but... mwooldri Aug 2013 #63

I am so done with you and your hate. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #68

Best Wishes for your family in your new home. May Brigid bless the house where you dwell KittyWampus Aug 2013 #9

Well, now you DO know. MNBrewer Aug 2013 #10

I don't get why you are proud of lacking knowledge and having a limited life experience. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #12

Proud? WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #22

you are fairly advanced in liberal life to have zero knowledge about these things. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #36

"I did not know so many are so deeply uninformed." WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #39

That's what I thought when I read his post, too Politicub Aug 2013 #40

Thank you, Bluenorthwest, for sticking with this... Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #45

Nope. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #49

Note how deeply alone I am in crticizing your post? Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #51

Yep. You win. WilliamPitt Aug 2013 #55

No one wins in a converstaion like this, Will, and you know that. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #107

I appreciate you letting me know.. Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #74

I've stayed away from all the threads concerning this issue. DinahMoeHum Aug 2013 #14

You're not alone. GP6971 Aug 2013 #20

The heat has been largely directed at individuals Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #19

Very well said. n/t GP6971 Aug 2013 #23

+1 leftstreet Aug 2013 #27

This. n/t enigmatic Aug 2013 #29

Yes. nt Zorra Aug 2013 #44

This. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #100

I think a lot of us had to adjust to the news. Hydra Aug 2013 #21

JackBeck linked to an excellent essay on HuffPost Gormy Cuss Aug 2013 #30

My sympathies on the moving. aquart Aug 2013 #32

It's understandable to not get it, learn, and adapt gollygee Aug 2013 #34

You missed nothing worthwhile. Curmudgeoness Aug 2013 #35

In a heteronormative world.... Politicub Aug 2013 #38

When you go to the "why should I pay" argument, you are in right wing land... Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #43

Good point. Similar to 'why should I pay for their cable tv?' leftstreet Aug 2013 #48

I'm am going to... one_voice Aug 2013 #52

Yeah. Because most prisoners are child molesters. Snort. Try again. Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #70

Don't choke on your snorting... one_voice Aug 2013 #76

Happy prisoners are less inclined to repeat offending. Snort again. Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #77

Updated my post... one_voice Aug 2013 #79

Updating after the fact is the bomb. I love pre-arguments. It makes one look Luminous Animal Aug 2013 #81

I was updating as you posted... one_voice Aug 2013 #83

Prisons have the duty to provide medical care to prisoners. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #101

I said I wanted... one_voice Aug 2013 #103

I can give you the question about paying for the surgery dsc Aug 2013 #47

well said.... madrchsod Aug 2013 #54

In the old days here on DU you could ask a question to educate yourself... trumad Aug 2013 #57

^^^^This. - nt Liberal Veteran Aug 2013 #62

+ 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #75

Over the top Vanje Aug 2013 #78

Nope. The response from MANY LGBTs here was over the top. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #90

I dont think ALL of DU's LGBTs Vanje Aug 2013 #93

I find their all or nothing Niceguy1 Aug 2013 #97

Claiming that all members of a minority group 'spit at you' because some criticized you is uncool. Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #105

That's a little disingenous, Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #84

You got me wrong... trumad Aug 2013 #98

The intro sounded like DU is so different Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #99

Thats awfully unfair Vanje Aug 2013 #87

trumad, I've learned you can ask what time it is..... steve2470 Aug 2013 #89

It's great to see people being educated on this topic. (nt) Nye Bevan Aug 2013 #64

fwiw the honestly ignorant and open-minded here were treated well, on balance steve2470 Aug 2013 #66

I agree Vanje Aug 2013 #82

The problem with that theory (troll infestation) Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #85

some of the people were long-termers, true nt steve2470 Aug 2013 #86

This is why I don't put much value in post counts backscatter712 Aug 2013 #110

I've been found to be guilty of crimes against humanity for ONE time kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #67

sorry you were jumped on so quickly steve2470 Aug 2013 #73

Thank you. You guys KNOW you have a friend in me. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #88

imho (and sorry Skinner)..... steve2470 Aug 2013 #91

I agree. This place has a large population of trolls who are here only to kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #94

The overall Alexa traffic count has been going down for 2 years now (overall) steve2470 Aug 2013 #95

Mr. Pitt, thank you. mwooldri Aug 2013 #71

I don't think Chelsea / Bradley gives a rat's ass what any of us here on DU pnwest Aug 2013 #92

I think that this war started out as a veiled attack against another poster. Th1onein Aug 2013 #96

As has been said many times, Will, enlightenment Aug 2013 #104

I couldn't have said it better myself. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #113

Chelsea Manning's statement, since you brought it up Laughing Mirror Aug 2013 #108

I hear everyone moves in August or September in Boston. Baitball Blogger Aug 2013 #111