Biden selects trans doctor Rachel Levine as undersecretary of Health
GAYLES.TV.- The president-elect Joe Biden announced this Tuesday that it will appoint the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Rachel levine, as their Undersecretary of Health. Once confirmed by the Senate, will become the first trans federal official in United States.
The Democrat has argued that Levine has the experience to help Americans deal with the coronavirus pandemic "regardless of your race, religion or gender identity”. And is that Biden wants to break stereotypes and therefore has designed the cabinet more diverse of the history of United States. After more than 200 years with a clear dominance of white and straight men, Biden He will chair the most ethnically and gender-diverse administration.
Levine, a university professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, was appointed to her current position by the Democratic governor Tom Wolf in 2017. "Your election is historic and you are extremely qualified to help lead our Administration's health policies«, Has explained in a statement Biden, which will become today Wednesday the 46th President of the United States.
The choice of Levine contrasts with the position of the outgoing president, Donald Trump, who during his tenure has been criticized for his policies against trans people.
Promoter of medical care for LGTB + people
Throughout her career as a civil servant Levine has helped shape policies related to the virus Zika, HIV and testing for lead poisoning in childhood, among others. She is also the supervisor of the state epidemiology offices and chairs the patient safety board. Likewise, it has made an effort to promote access to medical care for people from the collective LGBT + and has focused especially on the crisis of addiction to opiates that affects with particular gravity to Pennsylvania.
Despite the fact that she has stated that her gender identity, «with few exceptions«It has not been a problem for him when practicing his profession, Levine He has become the target of multiple transphobic attacks since the coronavirus crisis increased the visibility of his position.
Sources: La Vanguardia, El País, The Confidential
Photographer: AP
