Chelsea Manning Welcome Home Fund breaks $170,000

I have known Chelsea as her attorney, advocate and friend for several years. The money will be deposited directly into her bank account, which is being managed by her current power of attorney. Upon her release on May 17th, she will have full control over all funds donated.*

Chelsea Manning is a 29 year-old transgender woman and long-time leader in the LGBT community. She is a transparency activist, Guardian columnist, whistleblower and she is our close friend and family member.

For the past seven years, Chelsea has been incarcerated. She survived solitary confinement, systemic denial of health care and years of being separated from her friends and community. Through it all she has remained a steadfast voice for liberty and justice and an inspiration to so many. We now have a chance to show our appreciation for all that she has given us.

Following the commutation of her 35 year sentence, Chelsea will head home to Maryland on May 17, 2017 and we, her closest friends and family, are raising money to meet her survival needs.

The majority of Chelsea’s adult life has been spent under the control of powerful institutions. Upon her release she will need logistical, emotional, and financial support to safely transition into the free world. For the first time in her life, Chelsea will have the opportunity to live freely as her authentic self, to grow her hair, engage with her friends, and build her own networks of love and support. We want her to have the tools to do that and to overcome the years of abuse she has experience in custody.

Funds raised will be used to pay for Chelsea’s rent, utilities, health care, clothing and other living expenses for the first year after she is released.

If you are interested in offering an in-kind donation or other support, please e-mail: CMreleaseneeds@gmail.com.

To learn more about Chelsea, check out her Twitter and Medium pages and her website .