'I am Chelsea Manning,' says jailed soldier formerly known as Bradley • Hacker News Board

Re: 'I am Chelsea Manning,' says jailed soldier formerly known as Bradley

#51

Post by sp332 » Thu, Aug 22, 2013, 2:27 PM UTC

ZanyProgrammer wrote: post #49

sp332 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, I got my articles confused. According to http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/22/convict... Leavenworth provides psychiatric therapy but not hormone therapy. I'm not sure where Manning is hoping to get it, but it's not clear that it's going to be taxpayer-funded.

Ooh, the magic words 'taxpayer funded' how about we also refuse to 'taxpayer fund' insulin for diabetic service members, or anti depressants for soldiers suffering from PTSD? Not gonna supply Lexapro on my dime!

I didn't say we shouldn't fund it. I said Leavenworth doesn't provide it. edit: wait, were you replying to nhangen?

Re: 'I am Chelsea Manning,' says jailed soldier formerly known as Bradley

#52

Post by ZanyProgrammer » Thu, Aug 22, 2013, 2:33 PM UTC

nhangen wrote: post #25

sp332 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Manning preferred to be female well before the leaks or the trial. Also, the Army/taxpayers are paying for Manning's housing, food, clothes, and therapy even outside of prison.

Typically, they would not provide hormone therapy because a) it is not essential for the job (they pull teeth instead of fix them for crying out loud) b) this is typically something that would lead to a medical discharge and in some cases, dishonorable discharge because it wasn't listed in the health questionnaire at time of application.

And yet, the military will pay for off post prescriptions to be filled, via Tricare.

Re: 'I am Chelsea Manning,' says jailed soldier formerly known as Bradley

#53

Post by nhangen » Thu, Aug 22, 2013, 2:50 PM UTC

objclxt wrote: post #31

nhangen wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how the taxpayers should pay for this. One of the reasons the comments are so negative is because it feels like a smokescreen and/or a last attempt at sympathy. I don't care if he wants to become a girl, but he should wait until his/her time is served. I wonder if military prisons are monitored/protected any better than civilian prisons when it comes to that 'other' stuff.

> I don't see how the taxpayers should pay for this [...] I don't care if he wants to become a girl, but he should wait until his/her time is served. Gender identity disorder / gender dysphoria is a genuine medical condition classified in the DSM (IV and V). For many sufferers it is not a matter of simple "wanting" to change their gender. If you accept that gender dysphoria is a medical condition (as most in the medi…

Taxpayers pay for the military, so I would assume that by extension, they would pay for this treatment.

Re: 'I am Chelsea Manning,' says jailed soldier formerly known as Bradley

#54

Post by nhangen » Thu, Aug 22, 2013, 2:52 PM UTC

sp332 wrote: post #51

ZanyProgrammer wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ooh, the magic words 'taxpayer funded' how about we also refuse to 'taxpayer fund' insulin for diabetic service members, or anti depressants for soldiers suffering from PTSD? Not gonna supply Lexapro on my dime!

I didn't say we shouldn't fund it. I said Leavenworth doesn't provide it. edit: wait, were you replying to nhangen?

Probably, and in either case, my argument would be that Manning no longer receives benefits provided by the Army (as a result of his sentence) and thus would not qualify for Tricare.

My argument against this is that I believe prisons should only be held responsible for keeping people safe, sane, and secure. If it is deemed that HRT is necessary for keeping him sane, then I might change my stance.

Re: 'I am Chelsea Manning,' says jailed soldier formerly known as Bradley

#55

Post by nhangen » Thu, Aug 22, 2013, 3:24 PM UTC

ZanyProgrammer wrote: post #48

nhangen wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not what I'm arguing against, I'm stating that hormone therapy should not be paid for by the military. That said, if he wants to be recognized as a woman, that means he wants to be placed in prison with other women, which is clearly an issue. IMO the military has no choice but to place him in a male facility and call him whatever he wants to be called.

You are aware, aren't you, that the military already pays for all sorts of prescription drugs for service members? What difference is there between estradiol/spironolactone on the one hand, and every other prescription drug that is paid for off post with Tricare or filled at an on post hospital? Except your revulsion towards transsexuality of course.

You're reading into it and you're overstepping. I have no such revulsion.

I was in the military, so I'm quite aware of the programs they offer. My point, if you'll read it, is that Manning no longer qualifies for those benefits, and that said benefits should not be offered by the prison system.