The former Bradley Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years for the largest leak in U.S. history, is now Chelsea Manning.

MSNBC reports:

"As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me,” Manning said in a statement read during an exclusive TODAY show interview with lawyer David Coombs. “I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way I have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible.”

While Fort Leavenworth, the prison where Manning will serve her sentence, does not offer hormone therapy, Coombs told host Savannah Guthrie he would fight to ensure his client received the medical treatment she needed. He also said he and Manning had not discussed sex reassignment surgery, and that getting her access to the needed hormones is his priority at this time.

Fine by me if Manning has hormone therapy and sexual reassignment surgery–as long as the taxpayer does't pick up the tab. But it looks like Manning is planning to have the taxpayer do just that.

I'm not sure Fort Leavenworth is the best place to transition from being a man to being a woman. But, hey, it's his or her choice.

I'm also not sure that sexual reassignment surgery qualifies as "needed" medical treatment. But that's not my business either–as long as taxpayers aren't involved.

It is my business, Girl Friend, if taxpayers get stuck with the cost.