Bradley Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst sentenced on Wednesday to 35 years in prison for leaking classified military documents to Wikileaks, announced on Thursday's "Today" show that the soldier has gender identity issues and wants to receive hormone therapy as soon as possible.  

Manning also wants to be referred to as Chelsea and with female pronouns, but has not yet legally changed names.

"As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me," Manning said through a statement read by defense attorney David E. Coombs. "I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible.  I hope that you will support me in this transition."

A spokesperson at Fort Leavenworth, where Manning is being held, said that the Army does not provide hormone therapy, but that all soldiers imprisoned at the military prison are "treated equally regardless of race, rank, ethnicity or sexual orientation."

Manning's attorney said that legal action to force the Army to provide hormone therapy could be pending. The ACLU said it was a potential violation of the 8th Amendment.

Watch the exclusive interview on NBC's Today here. Read more about Bradley Manning at NPR and the New York Times.

Reach Executive Producer Colin Hale here. Follow him on Twitter.