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Posted on 01/19/2021 2:21:10 PM PST by lightman
Dr. Rachel Levine is no stranger to derision due to her gender identity.
A transgender woman, Levine, Pennsylvania’s Health Secretary, in many ways has reflected back undercurrents of transphobic tendencies in this country.
The transgender community has historically fended off personal assails, attacks on its civil rights, and the troubling rates of homicide of transgender or gender non-conforming people. Levine, perhaps unwittingly at times, has served as a role model for the transgender community in Pennsylvania, negotiating hostile attacks even as she tended to the life and death issues of the coronavirus pandemic.
That is one of the main reasons why President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Levine to be his assistant secretary of health is resounding across the transgender community. It’s a recognition and an affirmation of a sexual identity that has historically been assaulted and marginalized - literally and figuratively - both at the mainstream and public official levels.
“She will absolutely be a mentor and a positive model for countless trans and LGBTQ people in the country,” said Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of The Pennsylvania Youth Congress, an trans advocacy group. “She never paid much attention to all these haters. She is laser focused on her mission to help all people live healthy, full lives. That’s what she will remain committed to. Whenever anyone asks her how she is doing with these situations, she says she is focused on her job and that’s all that matters, and that’s absolutely correct.”
Levine, who has emerged as the public face of Pennsylvania’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, is poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
“Dr. Levine is a Pennsylvania treasure and now the nation will benefit from her expertise,” Goodman said. “As she has in Pennsylvania, she will remain laser-focused on the mission to safeguard the health and well-being of all people. She will continue to provide specific attention to the health of vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ people. I’ve known Dr. Levine for over a decade and have always been inspired by her leadership, authenticity, and wisdom.”
In recent years, the transgender community has had to push back on a campaign to strip their members of civil rights.
In 2017, just a few weeks into his White House tenure, President Donald Trump rolled back Obama-era guidances on allowing transgender school students to use bathrooms of choice. Last year, amid the pandemic, the Trump administration reversed an Obama-era health protection for transgender patients. Some conservatives argued the rule allowed patients to force doctors to perform gender reassignment surgeries.
On a personal level, Levine experienced an equal measure of transphobic assaults.
In June, the Bloomsburg Fair came under fire after the fair’s social media account featured a photo of a man dressed in a flowered dress and wearing a blond wig. The man, who was taking part in a dunk tank fundraising event, was impersonating Levine.
A few weeks earlier, a radio talk show host repeatedly called Levine “sir” at a press conference, prompting her to tell him, “Please don’t misgender me.”
Then in July, Republican state Rep. Russ Diamond subtly mocked Levine, pilfering the very words the physician used to speak out about anti-trans incidents to prop his opposition to wearing face masks.
For the transgender community, one of the most vulnerable demographics in the country, the incidents leveled on Levine, a transgender woman, were part and parcel of the ongoing assault on their community.
Yet, many in the trans community credit Levine’s reaction and handling of these incidents, as well as her leadership and poise under fire as inspiration.
“It’s incredibly important,” Preston Heldibridle said of Levine’s appointment to the federal post. “I’m very excited about this. Everything we can do at the state level to protect trans lives should be happening at the federal level so trans people no matter where they live can live like everyone else. Having that perspective front and center at the federal leveI, I think is going to be huge.”
A state policy associate for the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Heldibridle, a transgender man, was in high school when the Trump administration four years ago rolled back federal protections for the trans community. That prompted him to attended a roundtable forum chaired by Levine.
He credits Levine directly with his foray into advocacy for the trans community.
“Officials don’t always have an intrinsic level of understanding of issues,” Heldibridle said. “With her being in that position we were able to get to direct issues. That was really powerful, certainly for me and everyone in the room to see that when we have a seat at the table, we can get things done to protect our rights and protect the very things that allow us to live like everyone else.”
Both Goodman and Heldibridle, who have known Levine for a number of years, say they have never seen her allow the assaults on her identity to rattle her or distract her from her job.
“I don’t think you can surpass the level of vitriol she has had to deal with,” Heldibridle said. “She has not let that impede her work at all. She’s very experienced at focusing on tackling the issues and getting things done. It’s something I greatly admire about her.”
Levine on Tuesday reflected on her service in the state, noting that she has been “laser focused on building a healthy Pennsylvania for all.”
“It has truly been an honor to serve the people of Pennsylvania under the leadership of Governor Tom Wolf,” Levine said. “He is a tremendous leader with an incredible vision for Pennsylvania, and it has been a highlight of my career to serve in his administration.
Levine noted the department’s accomplishments in the areas of the opioid epidemic, the fight against diseases such as HIV, and advocacy for LGBTQ issues.
“I am proud of the work we have done as an administration to address health equity, and the work I have done personally to raise awareness about LGBTQ equity issues,” Levine said.
A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. She won past confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate.
A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. She’s written in the past on the opioid crisis, medical marijuana, adolescent medicine, eating disorders and LGBTQ medicine.
Wolf on Tuesday congratulated Levine, calling her “a highly skilled and valued member” of his administration. The governor noted Levine’s accomplishments throughout her tenure, which in addition to her critical management of the state’s response to the pandemic, include her role in establishing the state’s medical marijuana program, bringing national awareness to opioid use disorder and highlighting and promoting the need for adequate medical care and access for the LGBTQ community.
“Her work for our commonwealth has been transformational and I appreciate it more than I can say,” Wolf said. “I and the people of Pennsylvania owe her a debt of gratitude for her leadership, strength and dedication to protecting every person’s health amid unprecedented circumstances – and, at times, amid hateful distractions. Dr. Levine is both competent and compassionate, and never lets the anger or fear of others sway her from her goals.”
Following up on Wolf’s commendation, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman expressed his praise for Levine on Twitter, writing: “It must also be acknowledged the cruelty, viscousness, and sheer volume of personal attacks directed at Dr. Levine based *solely* on her identity has been unprecedented.
“This hateful rhetoric has *no* place in PA or our nation,” Fetterman said. “I thank her for her service.”
Tesla Taliaferro, president of the board of the Rainbow Rose Center in York, a non-profit advocacy group, stressed that Levine’s nomination by Biden speaks volumes about her qualifications,
“It really does show her credentials as a medical health professional,” he said. “It’s also important to have that representation for the transgender community.”
Still, Taliaferro, a transgender man, said Levine is unlikely to use the post to directly advance transgender issues.
“Dr. Levine set aside her identity politics in favor of promoting the health and well being of every Pennsylvanian and I know she will do the same thing for the entire American population,” he said. “While she is very proud of being a trans woman and the trans community is extremely proud and impressed by her, what’s more important to her is ensuring the well being of the people.”
In a statement released to the press, the Rainbow Rose Center noted that Levine’s nomination was “the perfect example of recognition and advancement based on hard work and education. These are the values our country was founded on and Dr. Levine will actively work to make America better and healthier for everyone in it.”
Wolf said Tuesday he hopes to name a replacement for Levine later this week.
Pennsylvania Ping!
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Just in case anyone here though 8 years of Obama was the wildest ride - you ain’t seen nothing yet.
This thread is better-off without pictures.
Rachel Levine is the “Doctor” featured in all those third rate horror movies Hollywierd puts out.
“”attacks on its civil rights””
What civil rights? Where is it written that we should appease the deranged among us and pretend they’re normal? Only democrats believe such nonsense and act on it!
If I were a Mod, anyone posting that psychotic organism's photo would be rewarded with a mandatory 48 hr time-out.
And if he doesn’t get that admin. position, there will be shrieks of Transphobia from sea to shining sea.
If Biden choses another Favorite Minority for the slot, the Trans ‘explosions’ will be completely ignored after one week.
Yes...it’s like God is saying...”ok, let’s see if you can get the message THIS time.
I picture him as the killer in “Psycho.”
Must be the year of the pervert!!
We’re long overdue for ignoring anything coming from government related to health, especially mental health.
Well, one of your most unsavory Pennsylvania villains will be leaving your Commonwealth to join the biden Administration!
YUCK!!!! PHOOEY!!!!
Before & After.
Calling Dr Mengele.. Calling Dr Mengele......Red courtesy phone....More incoming co-vid patients for nursing homes....
I saw Dr. Levine, I thought I was seeing David Crosby from the old singing group.
What better time to Teach Your Children Well?
At least post some eye bleach to go with that horrific picture.
“”their community.””
Do they have their own community?
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