Please don't refer to him as "it." I think, as rational humanists (those who have abandoned neither reason, nor a belief in human dignity), it is our duty to affirm Mr. Manning's humanity (which includes his inborn masculinity). The irrational, humanity-hating left don't care about "transexuals" enough to stop them from emasculating, or butching, themselves. We shouldn't join them.
The current fad of calling transvestites "transexuals" leaves me uncertain as to how to refer to them. Decades ago, when tennis playing eye doctor Renee Richards stopped being a he and became a she, she underwent gender reassignment surgery so that she indeed became a she. I have no problem referring to Dr. Richards as "she."
People like Bradley/Chelsea Manning and Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner, on the other hand, have not undergone surgery ... and Jenner apparently doesn't intend to. My view is that they still have male equipment, so they are male. But they want to be considered female ... although they are NOT female. The English language has limited provisions for dealing with this. We have masculine, feminine, and neuter. So what do you call anything that's not masculine or feminine? If it's not "he" or "she," it's "it."
I understand your view and I support your holding it. I'm just trying to acknowledge that PVT Manning doesn't want to be a "he." But PVT Manning isn't a "she," therefore the only choice left if I wish to acknowledge that PVT Manning doesn't want to be a "he" is "it."