Manning declared her new identity the day after sentencing
US President Barack Obama has commuted Chelsea Manning’s sentence for leaking documents to Wikileaks in 2010.
The 29-year-old transgender US Army private, born Bradley Manning, will be freed on 17 May instead of her scheduled 2045 release.
She was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for her role in leaking diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy group.
The leak was one of the largest breaches of classified material in US history.
The commutation reduces Manning’s sentence but is not a pardon, which some campaigners had called for.
Manning’s uncle, Kevin Fox, referring to Chelsea as a man, told the BBC the family was “over the moon”.
“It’s sooner than we expected – we didn’t expect his case even to be looked at for another three or four years,” Mr Fox said.
Manning twice attempted suicide last year at the male military prison where she is being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
She also went on a hunger strike last year, which she ended after the military agreed to provide her with gender transition treatment.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.