Bradley Manning: 'I Am Chelsea Manning. I Am a Female'

Just a day after being sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, Private Bradley Manning released a statement expressing his desire to live out the rest of his life as a woman.

"As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female," reads a statement Manning released exclusively to NBC News.

The statement reads that Manning would like to begin implementing the change at once.

"Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible," the statement reads. "I hope that you will support me in this transition." Read more...