HEALTH
Health Leader Rachel Levine Nominated for HHS Role
Levine is slated to make history as the fi rst out trans federal offi cial in the country
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
Pennsylvania’s out transgender
health secretary,
Rachel Levine, has been
nominated by the Biden
administration to serve as assistant
secretary for health at the Department
of Health and Human Services
(HHS). Pending Senate confi
rmation, Levine is slated to make
history as the fi rst openly transgender
federal offi cial in the US.
As a top health offi cial in Pennsylvania
Levine has spearheaded
the state’s public health response
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Wolf appointed
her as secretary of health
after she previously served as the
state’s physician general.
Levine is set to serve under incoming
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra,
whose position also must be
confi rmed by the Senate. The offi -
Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s health secretary, joins the Biden administration.
cials will be tasked with leading an
agency that became a key tool in
the Trump administration’s broad
assault on queer rights — especially
trans rights. HHS unraveled
trans health protections implemented
REUTERS/ DANIEL SHANKEN
under Section 1557 of the
Affordable Care Act, which banned
discrimination in healthcare, and
in 2017 ordered the removal of condoms
from a fact sheet intended to
teach women and girls about safe
sex and HIV/AIDS prevention.
President-elect Joe Biden described
Levine as a “deeply qualifi
ed” choice to help lead the administration’s
health efforts.
“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring
the steady leadership and essential
expertise we need to get people
through this pandemic, no matter
their zip code, race, religion,
sexual orientation, gender identity,
or disability — and meet the public
health needs of our country in
this critical moment and beyond,”
Biden said in a written statement.
As physician general, Levine
sought to combat Pennsylvania’s
opioid crisis by developing opioid
prescription guidelines for doctors
and signing an order permitting
cops to carry Naloxone, an overdose
reversal drug.
Levine is a graduate of Harvard
College and the Tulane University
School of Medicine. Levine completed
her training in pediatrics and
adolescent medicine at New York
City’s Mount Sinai Medical Center,
which is among the leading facilities
in LGBTQ health. Levine’s research
covers wide-ranging topics
like the opioid crisis, medical marijuana,
adolescent medicine, eating
disorders, and LGBTQ medicine.
Several queer groups applauded
Biden’s selection, including the National
LGBTQ Task Force.
“Dr. Levine is imminently qualifi
ed to serve as assistant secretary
at Health and Human Services,”
Rhea Carey, executive director of
the group, said in a written statement.
“Her work in Pennsylvania
was exemplary and impactful to
the health of all Pennsylvanians.
When the National LGBTQ Task
Force praised the nomination of
Pete Buttigieg as transportation
secretary, we said it should the ’the
fi rst of many fi rsts,’ and this is exactly
what we meant.”
Carey continued, “We are thrilled
that Dr. Levine has been nominated,
especially at HHS, where
the LGBTQ community has been
under serious attack by the outgoing
administration. She has served
Pennsylvania well and when the
Senate confi rms her, she will serve
the country well, attending to the
health needs of all Americans.”
Although widely respected by
colleagues and researchers alike,
Levine has been targeted by anti-
LGBTQ harassment. Last May, a reporter
from a Pittsburgh radio station
repeatedly misgendered Levine
during a daily coronavirus briefi ng,
according to PennLive. This incident
was one of many attacks on
the offi cial’s gender. That summer,
she responded to her harassers.
“I want to emphasize that while
these individuals may think that
they are only expressing their displeasure
with me, they are, in fact,
hurting the thousands of LGBTQ
Pennsylvanians who suffered directly
from these current demonstrations
of harassment,” said Levine,
according to PennLive. “Your actions
perpetuate the spirit of intolerance
and discrimination against LGBTQ
individuals, and specifi cally transgender
individuals.”
Levine is the latest LGBTQ
politician to join the ranks of the
Biden administration including
Gautam Raghavan, an out gay
Indian American heading the Offi
ce of Presidential Personnel, and
US Transportation Secretary Pete
Buttigieg.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
Bringing down the gavel on the best barrister
Virtual Event
April 6th, 2021, 7pm
Submit your nomination to
dmattone@schnepsmedia.com
or call Demetra Mattone @ 917-272-4213
JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 10, 2 24 021 | GayCityNews.com
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