Manning Faced Homophobic Harassment from Soldiers

New reports indicate that Bradley Manning, the soldier allegedly behind leaking classified government documents to WikiLeaks, had experienced antigay bullying and homophobia from his fellow service members.

Manning disclosed the bullying in instant messages from 2009, which he wrote while he was stationed at Fort Drum in upstate New York, according to New York magazine.

"It took them a while, but they started figuring me out, making fun of me, mocking me, harassing me, heating up with one or two physical attacks," Manning wrote to Zachary Antolak, 19.

In his online life, the intelligence analyst was openly gay but also spoke of considering gender-reassignment procedures. He consulted with a gender counselor online who told the magazine that Manning was "very solid" on his desire to go forward with necessary surgeries.

Manning is being held in a military facility in Kansas as he awaits court-martial.