Manning Gender Preference Puts US Media in Quandary

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON, August 23 (RIA Novosti) – Bradley Manning, the US Army private now in prison for leaking classified military secrets, has launched a pivotal nationwide debate for journalists with what would seem to be a relatively straightforward request: “He” now wants to be known as “she.”

“I am Chelsea Manning. I am female,” Manning said in a sworn statement read Thursday by his attorney, David Coombs, on NBC’s “Today” show.

“I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun,” Manning wrote, adding, “I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible.”
The statement had a handwritten signature that read “Chelsea E. Manning.”

But for a prison inmate facing a lengthy term behind bars, it’s just not that simple.
The request itself may well challenge societal discomfort and push US military policies far beyond the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” standard that, until September 2011, barred declared homosexuals from serving in the military.

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http://en.rian.ru/world/20130824/182939496/Bradley-Manning-Gender-Preference-Puts-US-Media-in-Quandary.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. I just saw two lawyers on CNN repeatedly referring to Manning with male pronouns.

I guess they don't read DU.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I don't expect our media to catch on anytime soon.

I hope they make me a liar.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. The piece at the link uses male pronouns and defends that use in a most bigoted way

Just as point of fact.

[libodem]

3. Glad to see this formal announcement

Makes it more clear what originated all the current conversation. I missed it the first time around.

My best to Chelsea may she be released soon to begin her transformation. She is one brave woman to have withstood all the torture and confinement.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. It's her gender identity, not a perference. This is a source that sounds like it is from the 18th

Century. This piece reeks. Reeks.

[Catherina]

6. Flimsy transphobic, 18th century excuses. Shame on NPR especially.

In addition to Slate, some prominent news outlets including The Huffington Post, New York magazine and MSNBC have started using the female terms when talking about Manning.

Other outlets including USA TODAY, The Boston Globe, CNN, National Public Radio (NPR) and The New York Times (NYT) have not.

“Until Bradley Manning’s desire to have his gender changed actually physically happens, we will be using male-related pronouns to identify him,” said NPR spokeswoman Anna Bross in NYT.

Shame on them. It's not that difficult. The National Lawyers Guild handled it beautifully. This statement is at the top of one of their recent articles dated August 21, before Chelsea's request).

(Update): In her public statement issued on 8/22/13, Pvt. Manning disclosed that her name is now Chelsea Manning, and that she is a female. The NLG will honor her request to use her correct name and pronouns, in support of her transition.

https://www.nlg.org/news/blog/35-years-manning-40-years-disintegrating-democracy