Chelsea Manning

I was in a lot of pain, and I was going through a lot of changes in my life, and I was kind of going through an identity crisis. And I was just kind of like, I don't know what's going on.

I had this idea that if I were to just dump all of this information out into the public, that it would start a public debate.

I felt like I was being treated like a disposable asset, rather than a human being.

I'm not a traitor. I'm not a spy. I'm not a criminal. I'm a whistleblower.

I just felt like I had this information that was so important, and it was just sitting there, and I was just like, I have to do something with this.

I wanted people to see the truth, regardless of who it hurt.

I knew that what I was doing was going to be controversial, but I felt like it was the right thing to do.

I want to be able to live my life as a woman, and I want to be able to do that in a way that respects my identity.

I'm still a human being, and I still have feelings, and I still have a life that I want to live.

I feel like I'm finally able to breathe now.

I'm not trying to be a hero. I'm just trying to be myself.

The feeling of being able to walk outside and feel the sun on my skin and the fresh air was just incredible.

I just want to be seen as a person, not as a symbol.

My gender transition is not a joke. It's not a political statement. It's my life.

I believe that information should be free, and that people have a right to know what their government is doing.

I felt like I had a moral obligation to release this information.

I'm tired of being silenced. I'm tired of being ignored.

I don't regret anything I've done.

I just want to live a normal life.

I'm still learning who I am, and I'm still figuring things out.