Politics

Bradley Manning’s “Breanna Manning” Gender Identity Issues Blamed For His Crimes

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Recognize the person in the pic? It’s Bradley Manning in a “selfie” picture he took dressed as a woman, which he sent to a supervisor over his gender identity issues.

From Xeni Jardin:

One of the big reveals over the last few days of the trial: “My Problem” [PDF] an email Manning sent on Saturday, April 24, 2010 to his then-supervisor, former Master Sgt. Paul Adkins. The message amounted to a confession that Manning was transgender, and felt unable to transition within the military environment in Iraq.

The email [PDF] begins:

This is my problem. I’ve had signs of it for a very long time. It’s caused problems within my family. I thought a career in the military would get rid of it. It’s not something I seek out for attention, and I’ve been trying very, very hard to get rid of it by placing myself in situations where it would be impossible. But, it’s not going away; it’s haunting me more and more as I get older. Now, the consequences of it are dire, at a time when it’s causing me great pain it itself.

Attached to the email is the self-portrait shown above, of Manning presenting as a woman, in a wig and make-up.

It’s odd that many are defending and excusing his acts by saying his gender confusion was part of the reason he committed them:

And yet, on the other hand, they cry foul if anyone dare suggest that having gender issues may make one emotionally unstable, and unfit for military service.

Whatever he calls himself, Bradley or Breanna, Manning is guilty.

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