Pride Parade Honors Chelsea Manning as Grand Marshal

Soldier imprisoned in WikiLeaks case honored as honorary grand marshal.

Chelsea Manning is an honorary grand marshal after all.

The imprisoned former United States Army intelligence analyst last year was named as a possible grand marshal for the annual San Franciso Pride Parade.

However, her name was dropped from contention following an outcry over extending an honor to a person some call a traitor.

Manning changed her name from Bradley and announced her new gender identity as a trans woman following a conviction and imprisonment for leaking secret cables to WikiLeaks.

More outcry followed from supporters who said Manning is a whistle blower -- along with "thousands" of supporters marching in the parade last year.

This year's honor is a way to make up for a "mishandling" of last year, organizers told The Advocate.

In a statement issued from prison, Manning said that she is "honored."

“As a trans woman, I appreciate the Pride movement’s significant role in bringing together diverse communities and elevating the public profile of the fight for queer rights," the statement read. "I have always enjoyed attending Pride celebrations given the opportunity, and I'm deeply honored to receive this title.”

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