Transgender Law Center (TLC) executive director Kris Hayashi issued the following statement about the release of Chelsea Manning from prison today:
“We congratulate Chelsea Manning on her release from prison today and wish her well in her new life. Her inhumane treatment in prison – solitary confinement, denial of medical care, punishment for suicide attempts, serving in a male facility – is sadly the typical experience of transgender people who are incarcerated, particularly transgender women of color. TLC remains committed to fighting for all those who are incarcerated.”
Chelsea Manning was sentenced to 35 years in an all-male prison for releasing classified information with the intention of raising public awareness around the impact of war on innocent civilians. Last year, Transgender Law Center joined Chelsea’s lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union, along with several other LGBT organizations, in a letter calling on the President to grant Chelsea Manning clemency. Her sentence was commuted by then-President Obama in January, resulting in today’s release.