Chelsea Manning, the soldier serving 35 years a military prison for the largest leak of classified materials in U.S. history, has been approved to receive hormone therapy to aid in her transition to female.
Formerly known as Bradley Manning, Chelsea Manning said the day after her sentencing in August 2013 that she wanted to be a woman and last year filed a lawsuit in federal court charging that she "has been denied access to medically necessary treatment" for her
gender disorder," CNN reported.
But now USA Today confirmed that U.S. Army Col. Erica Nelson approved Manning's treatment at Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas on Feb. 5.
"After carefully considering the recommendation that (hormone treatment) is medically appropriate and necessary, and weighing all associated safety and security risks presented, I approve adding (hormone treatment) to Inmate Manning's treatment plan," Nelson, the commandant of the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks, wrote in a memo.
Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union representing Manning, said that the memo was a victory for Manning and her rights.
"We are thrilled for Chelsea that the government has finally agreed to initiate hormone therapy as part of her treatment plan," Strangio stated, according to CNN. "This is an important first step in Chelsea's treatment regimen and one that is in line with the recommendations of all of her doctors and the basic requirements of the Eighth Amendment."
Manning was the first military inmate ever to request treatment for gender dysphoria, which included allowing her to dress and live as a woman, as well as receive
hormone therapy and possible surgery, NBC News reported.
In July 2014, former defense secretary Chuck Hagel approved an Army recommendation for Manning to start the beginning stages of gender reassignment, which also included counseling and dressing as a woman, officials told NBC News.
But Strangio insists there are still some things the Army is denying.
"The military continues to refuse to let Chelsea grow her hair like other female prisoners, a critical part of her treatment plan that has been recognized by her doctors," he said.
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