{"id":302967,"date":"2021-03-24T19:16:04","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T23:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=302967"},"modified":"2021-03-24T19:16:11","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T23:16:11","slug":"dr-rachel-levine-becomes-first-openly-transgender-federal-official-confirmed-by-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dr-rachel-levine-becomes-first-openly-transgender-federal-official-confirmed-by-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes First Openly Transgender Federal Official Confirmed By Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdr-rachel-levine-becomes-first-openly-transgender-federal-official-confirmed-by-senate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=302967&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/fb_image-3318.jpeg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Dr. Rachel Levine became the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, making Levine the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Levine was confirmed 52-48 largely along party lines, with Sens.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"rollover-people\" data-behavior=\"rolloverpeople\">Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) defecting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) applauded Levine\u2019s confirmation. \u201cThe arc of history is long but it keeps bending in the direction of justice,\u201d he said. \u201cAs transgender Americans suffer higher rates of abuse, homelessness and depression than almost every other group, it\u2019s important to have national figures like Dr. Levine who, by virtue of being in the public spotlight, will help break down barriers of ignorance and fear.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"12.4\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">History made: Dr. Rachel Levine was just confirmed as the next Assistant Secretary for Health, becoming the first-ever openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate. <\/p>\n<p>Trans people are leaders, innovators and change-makers \u2014 and we deserve a seat at every table. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bNotSqaWDu\">pic.twitter.com\/bNotSqaWDu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HRC\/status\/1374837238509502473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 24, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Levine, who was formerly Pennsylvania\u2019s secretary of health, faced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlightpa.org\/news\/2021\/02\/rachel-levine-pennsylvania-nursing-homes-data-joe-biden-senate-confirmation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">accusations of incompetence<\/a> regarding Pennsylvania\u2019s handling of COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlong with the testing challenges from last spring, your state failed to adequately protect nursing home residents from the virus, and is making unacceptable mistakes in the vaccine distribution process,\u201d Sen.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"rollover-people\" data-behavior=\"rolloverpeople\">Richard Burr&nbsp;(R-NC) said at Levine\u2019s confirmation hearing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In August, Levine outraged even Democratic state lawmakers when Pittsburgh NBC affiliate WPXI <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/outrageous-pa-health-secretary-reportedly-cut-secret-deal-with-car-show-to-bypass-covid-19-restrictions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">uncovered legal documents<\/a>&nbsp;reportedly proving that Levine had come to a confidential settlement agreement with a car show in Harrisburg that allowed them to skirt the lockdown. Citing it as an \u201congoing legal issue,\u201d Levine refused repeated opportunities to explain why tens of thousands were allowed to shuffle through the car show\u2019s four-day event during a time when outdoor gatherings were limited to 250 people or fewer.<\/p>\n<p>Levine also recently clashed with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) regarding sex change surgeries for minors. As The Daily Wire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/very-complex-dr-rachel-levine-dodges-sen-pauls-question-about-sex-changes-for-children\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"40.496842105263\">\n<p><em>Dr. Rachel Levine evaded questions from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Thursday regarding Levine\u2019s support for giving children puberty blockers and sex-change surgeries.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>[\u2026]<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Paul warned that American culture is in the process of socially normalizing sex changes for minors, either through puberty-blocking hormones or surgery.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cDr. Levine, you have supported both allowing minors to be given hormone blockers to prevent them from going through puberty, as well as surgical destruction of a minor\u2019s genitalia,\u201d Paul grilled, noting the permanent effects of such measures. He cited a statistic from the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) that \u201c80 to 95 percent of pre-pubertal children with gender dysphoria will experience resolution by late adolescence if not exposed to medical intervention and social affirmation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Levine, who is transgender, dodged Paul\u2019s question [regarding] whether minors are capable of making a decision as life-altering as changing one\u2019s sex.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWell, senator, thank you for your interest in this question,\u201d Levine said. \u201cTransgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field with robust research and standards of care that have been developed. And if&nbsp;I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as the assistant secretary of health, I will look forward to working with you and your office and coming to your office and discussing the particulars of the standards of care for transgender medicine.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Paul noted Levine did not answer his question.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"10.50985915493\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RandPaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RandPaul<\/a>: &#8220;Do you support the government intervening to override the parents&#8217; consent to give a child puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and\/or amputation surgery of breasts and genitalia\u2026?<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecretaryLevine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SecretaryLevine<\/a>: &#8220;Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ylKokhTMwo\">pic.twitter.com\/ylKokhTMwo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dcexaminer\/status\/1364976284149800967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RandPaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RandPaul<\/a>: &quot;You&#39;re willing to let a minor take things to prevent their puberty, and you think they get back?! &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>None of these drugs have been approved for this. They&#39;re all being used off-label&#8230; There&#39;s no long-term studies. We don&#39;t know what happens to them!&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jI9zQlmNN4\">pic.twitter.com\/jI9zQlmNN4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dcexaminer\/status\/1364977620627070979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/outrageous-pa-health-secretary-reportedly-cut-secret-deal-with-car-show-to-bypass-covid-19-restrictions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2018Outrageous\u2019: PA Health Secretary Reportedly Cut Secret Deal With Car Show To Bypass COVID-19 Restrictions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i>member<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Rachel Levine became the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, making Levine the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2311107,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/fb_image-3318.jpeg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes First Openly Transgender Federal Official Confirmed By Senate","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-302967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/fb_image-3318.jpeg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes First Openly Transgender Federal Official Confirmed By Senate","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2311107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}