The Harvard Kennedy School revoked an invitation extended to Chelsea Manning, the transgender former U.S. soldier convicted of passing classified information to Wikileaks, to be a visiting fellow at the university, calling the invitation ‘a mistake.’

JUST IN: Harvard Kennedy School dean says “designating Chelsea Manning as a Visiting Fellow was a mistake” and withdraws Fellow title

— NBC News (@NBCNews)

The NYT :

“I see more clearly now that many people view a visiting fellow title as an honorific, so we should weigh that consideration when offering invitations,” Mr. Elmendorf wrote in  early Friday morning. “I apologize to her and to the many concerned people from whom I have heard today for not recognizing upfront the full implications of our original invitation.”

Ms. Manning was , the former White House press secretary, named on Wednesday as visiting fellows at the Kennedy School. Fellows travel to Harvard to meet with students and discuss politics and other topics.

Manning responded to the news, tweeting: “honored to be 1st disinvited trans woman visiting fellow  they chill marginalized voices under  pressure…so  says  &  bring “something to the table and add something to the conversation” and not me”.

honored to be 1st disinvited trans woman visiting fellow 😌 they chill marginalized voices under pressure 😎🌈💕

— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea)

so says & bring “something to the table and add something to the conversation” and not me 😎🌈💕

— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea)

Manning’s attorney Chase Strangio called the decision “disgraceful.”

Thoughts on Harvard's cowardly & disgraceful decision to withdraw 's fellowship.

— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio)

 
This article was originally published on Towleroad.