Handout / Reuters
Chelsea Manning, who is serving a 35-year sentence, claims that the military is paying mere "lip service" to her request and is still denying her gender-reassignment treatment. "In my daily life, I am reminded of this when I look at the name on my badge, the first initial sewed into my clothing, the hair and grooming standards that I adhere to, and the titles and courtesies used by the staff," Manning said in a statement to NBC News. "Ultimately, I just want to be able to live my life as the person that I am, and to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin." In July, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that he had approved an Army recommendation to begin early stages of gender reassignment, however Manning's lawyer says the military has failed to follow through and that they are preparing to sue. The Army refused to comment on when treatment would begin.