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Rand Paul criticized for questioning of transgender health nominee
The Hill ^ | 02/25/21 01:13 PM EST | BY JESSIE HELLMANN

Posted on 02/25/2021 11:58:57 AM PST by RandFan

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is facing criticism for his questioning of one of President Biden’s health nominees, Rachel Levine, a former state health official who would be the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate.

Paul characterized gender-affirming care, including surgical treatments for transgender individuals, as “genital mutilation,” a description not supported by mainstream health care experts.

“It is really critical to me that our nominees be treated with respect and that our questions focus on their qualifications and the work ahead of us, rather than ideological and harmful misrepresentations like those we heard from Senator Paul earlier,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Senate Health Committee, which considered Levine’s nomination Thursday.

Levine was nominated to be the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, a role that primarily oversees the agency's public health initiatives.

Levine, a pediatrician, previously served as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. While other senators questioned Levine on public health issues, including mental health and COVID-19, Paul focused on the treatment of transgender youth.

Paul specifically said Levine supports surgeries for transgender children, a misleading claim that has surfaced in conservative media and social media in recent days.

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health says genital surgery should not be carried out until patients reach adulthood. In 2015, Levine said during a public event that surgical treatment is not recommended before age 18. In 2017, she said there are "some procedures" that might be done before 18.

“Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field with robust research and standards of care that have been developed,” Levine said to Paul, though she didn't specifically answer his question.

If she is confirmed, she added, she would be happy to discuss the standard of care for transgender individuals and minors.

Paul also criticized the use of reversible puberty blockers, which can be used for adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria as a way to give them time before making more permanent decisions, like surgery, in adulthood.

Research has shown puberty blockers, which are reversible, can reduce suicidal thoughts in transgender adolescence.

"Rand Paul chose devotion to anti-LGBTQ extremist groups over substance and the health of our nation — and does not deserve to hold public office,” said Ruben Gonzales, executive director of the LGBTQ Victory Institute.

“His remarks echo the talking points of the same organizations who said gay men deserved AIDS and that LGBTQ people should be criminalized. He explicitly attacked vulnerable trans youth for his own perceived political gain and it was a disgrace. Dr. Levine is an extremely qualified nominee whose experience can help America effectively tackle this pandemic, but he took this opportunity to give voice to hate groups instead."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: childgenderchange; freaks; homosexualagenda; rachellevine; randpaul; senateconfirmation; transgenders
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To: RandFan

I refuse to call that thing a “she”. That’s an insult to women. That is an insane, very effeminate male.


21 posted on 02/25/2021 12:21:28 PM PST by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
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To: ConservativeDude

Body dysmorphic illness is a well recognized mental disorder. It is helped by treating the brain, not the body.

Thinking you are too fat while being in a healthy weight range is not treated with weight loss drugs or liposuction Anorexia is not recommended as a treatment.

When a teen dislikes the fact that they are in puberty and their body is changing they are experiening classic body dysmorphic symptoms. Removing healthy organs should never be the treatment.


22 posted on 02/25/2021 12:23:01 PM PST by pnut22
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To: RandFan
Articles author Jesse Hellman


23 posted on 02/25/2021 12:24:44 PM PST by caww
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To: pnut22

Yes, yes and yes..agree fully!


24 posted on 02/25/2021 12:25:53 PM PST by caww
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To: RandFan

HOLY COW.

“Rand Paul chose devotion to anti-LGBTQ extremist groups over substance and the health of our nation — and does not deserve to hold public office,” said Ruben Gonzales, executive director of the LGBTQ Victory Institute.

I guess we can add a new one to our labels: anti-LGBTQ extremists....

And God forbid Rand Paul should be looking out for slowing down converting minors into freaks....


25 posted on 02/25/2021 12:26:12 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: RandFan
Oh dear. Rand Paul is being criticized by lunatic perverts. Whatever shall we do?


26 posted on 02/25/2021 12:26:22 PM PST by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL)
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To: RandFan

“Paul characterized gender-affirming care, including surgical treatments for transgender individuals, as “genital mutilation,” a description not supported by mainstream health care experts.”

Mastectomies are also ‘mutilation’, but at least they’re done for a good reason. We either have a language or we don’t. If not ‘mutilation’, then what is the proper term for cutting off a kid’s twang?


27 posted on 02/25/2021 12:32:14 PM PST by BobL
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: ConservativeDude

Research has shown puberty blockers, which are reversible,

natural late bloomers jumping for joy


29 posted on 02/25/2021 12:42:00 PM PST by janetjanet998
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To: Travis McGee

Ping


30 posted on 02/25/2021 12:49:38 PM PST by StoneWall Brigade
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To: The Toll

1 you are too kind 2- when does the shooting start all in


31 posted on 02/25/2021 12:54:18 PM PST by genghis
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To: Eagles6

I sure hope soemoen asked that- that alone should disqualify the dude in women’s clothing from office- and the right should raise a huge stink about this just like the left do when they oppose our nominations- and also threaten an investigation


32 posted on 02/25/2021 12:56:35 PM PST by Bob434
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To: RandFan

There is a great book on the subject called “Irreversible Damage” by Abigail Shrier. It does a great job of explaining the issue and the medical issues of what happens with the psychological as well as the pharmacological and surgical ramifications.
Contrary to what someone said here the effects of puberty blockers, if given for too long, are NOT reversible.

Rand Paul was spot on with his questioning!!!

https://thefederalist.com/2018/12/14/puberty-blockers-clear-danger-childrens-health/


33 posted on 02/25/2021 12:57:34 PM PST by polishprince
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To: The Toll

cheer up- we’re probably gonna have a homosexual couple pretending to e married as next president. The left are just itching to throw that last abominable practice (God’s own condemnation of the practice) in our faces by making it front and center via the presidency-


34 posted on 02/25/2021 12:59:14 PM PST by Bob434
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To: fatima; Fresh Wind; st.eqed; xsmommy; House Atreides; Nowhere Man; PaulZe; brityank; Physicist; ...

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

35 posted on 02/25/2021 1:00:30 PM PST by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: RandFan

Rand Paul was terrific - Daniel in the lion’s den.


36 posted on 02/25/2021 1:10:14 PM PST by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: RandFan

If women freaked out at the estrogen in ERT because it could cause cancer, just think how much stronger the dose is that would ‘change’ (must be in quotes, as only the voice changed) a man into a ‘neut,’


37 posted on 02/25/2021 1:12:27 PM PST by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

“a description not supported by mainstream health care experts”

Any professional who would have the courage to speak out against it would likely end up unemployed and/or out of a medical license, in retaliation. So the argument about “mainstream” MDs all being in agreement is meaningless.


38 posted on 02/25/2021 1:18:50 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Aim small, miss small)
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To: pnut22

but but.....”research” has shown that if they don’t, they will commit suicide!


39 posted on 02/25/2021 1:28:57 PM PST by ConservativeDude
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To: fieldmarshaldj

The horror. The horror. As if sex change operations were comparable to—GASP! ORGAN CHORD!—circumcision./s


40 posted on 02/25/2021 1:41:47 PM PST by Eleutheria5 ("The impossible happens all the time. You just have to believe." Will Robinson)
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