Chelsea Manning headed to Harvard as visiting fellow

Whistleblower and transgender activist Chelsea Manning is planning to speak as part of the Harvard Institute of Politics’ 2017-2018 Visiting Fellows program, the university announced on Wednesday.
At Harvard, Manning will join former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, who were both also announced as fellows on Wednesday. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was also announced as a fellow earlier this month.
According to Harvard’s website, Manning’s talk will center around “issues of LGBTQ identity in the military.”
“This expanded group of Visiting Fellows will be able to fulfill the Institute’s mission of engaging students in discourse on topical issues of today, including local politics with Mayor Sly James, election cybersecurity with Robby Mook, White House communications with Sean Spicer, and issues of LGBTQ identity in the military with Chelsea Manning,” IOP Fellows co-chairs Emily Hall and Jason Ge wrote.
Manning was convicted in 2013 of releasing confidential military and State Department documents, but her 35-year sentence was commuted by then-President Obama to seven years, starting at the beginning of her confinement in 2010.
{mosads}In his statement, Obama said that Manning’s sentence was “disproportionate” to those faced by other whistleblowers.
Manning has been active in advocating for LGBT and other causes since being released earlier this year. In July, she protested Trump’s decision to ban transgender people from the armed forces at a rally at the White House.
In a statement on Harvard’s web site, the Institute of Politics wrote that the latest additions to the Fellows program would bring “thought-provoking viewpoints” to the school.
“Broadening the range and depth of opportunity for students to hear from and engage with experts, leaders and policy-shapers is a cornerstone of the Institute of Politics. We welcome the breadth of thought-provoking viewpoints on race, gender, politics and the media,” IOP Acting Director Bill Delahunt said.
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