The same military that let's commanders vacate rape sentences is continuing the 'othering' of private Manning by releasing a photo of him dressed as a woman. Manning who was tortured for months on end for signing a letter Brianna is being pilloried again for violating gender norms.
Papakie followed another witness, Marine Corps Master Sgt. Craig Blenis, who testified Sunday that Manning's sexual orientation was among the factors that led him to recommend Manning remain on injury-prevention status despite two psychiatrists' repeated recommendations that his conditions be eased.
Blenis referred to a letter Manning had signed "Breanna Manning," an alias he had used on occasion. The defense revealed at a hearing last year that Manning had written to a supervisor in Baghdad before his arrest, saying he suffered from gender-identity disorder. He included a picture of himself dressed as a woman and talked about how it was affecting his ability to do his job and think clearly.
A former brig counselor, Blenis said the letter was a "red flag" for potential self-injury. He said he considered it along with Manning's acknowledged history of suicidal thoughts shortly after his arrest, and his odd behavior at Quantico such as dancing alone in his cell and licking the cell bars during what the defense has characterized as a sleepwalking episode.
The fact that the military even has counselors that think being Transgender is a sign of mental instability shows their lack of current understanding of gender dysphoria. Like the "cure the Gay" Fundaloons that think it is appropriate to use ECT on children because of the DSM even having that category, the military is misusing the DSM classification in order to vilify.
In releasing the photo of Manning dressed as female the military is putting Manning in danger while in custody. Not only by his captors but by his fellow detainees.
Let us not forget the President has already declared him guilty and every twist and turn of the trial has shown that the military justice system will obey the Commander in Chief's edicts.
Manning, , who was apparently considering transitioning to become female, eventually came out to the therapist and emailed Worsley a photo of himself dressed as a woman, wearing a blonde wig and lipstick.
The photo was attached to a letter titled 'My problem', in which Manning described his problems with gender identity and his hopes that a military career would 'get rid of it'.
In a web chat in May 2010, he also said that he was 'waiting to redeploy to the US, be discharged... and figure out how on earth I'm going to transition'.
Although I've never been drawn to hyperfeminity many Transgender women I have known are drawn to hypermasculinity prior to transition. And it appears Manning was following a similar path in being in the military in an effort to conform to our societies rigid gender norms.
Manning's need to feel comfort in presentation has been viciously and disdainfully punished by a military that treats any woman as nothing more than chattel for the male solders urges.