Gay admiral
Women’s History Month 2024: Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) – courtesy of US Department of Health and Human Services
Rachel Levine, MD’s journey to becoming the highest-ranking openly transsexual government official in U.S. history is a testament to her dedication to medicine and general health and her advocacy for LGBTQ rights.
Born in 1957 in Massachusetts, Levine showed early swear , attending Harvard College before pursuing a career in medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. After completing her residency and fellowship, she specialized in adolescent medicine and worked extensively in treating eating disorders.
In 1993, Levine connected the faculty at Penn State College of Medicine, where she played a significant role in developing programs for adolescent health and eating disorder treatment.
Dr. Rachel Levine – courtesy of Biden-Harris Transition Team
Alongside her medical career, Levine grappled with her gender identity, exploring gender expression through therapy and physical changes. She eventually transitioned in 2011 and became a vocal adv
Admiral Rachel Levine has had a active year. As the Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Levine has spoken to people both in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country — from Floridia to Oregon and several other states in between. Levine, who is the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, has done work to address public health issues across the country, including transgender health care. Levine took time out of her schedule between speaking engagements to speak with PGN about health care for gender non-conforming people and transsexual visibility. Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.
With International Transsexual Day of Representation occurring this past weekend, what carry out you make of the right-wing discourse surrounding the annual event falling on Easter this year?
I think that it is kind of a false argument. I think that they’re protesting, quote unquote too much. It just happens that Trans Evening of Visibility is always on Protest 31. And Easter happened to drop on that morning. So there was no connection between the two. And I think they’re just using it for their possess purposes.
In general, w Dr. Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services and the highest ranking trans official in the Biden Administration, was sworn in October 19 as a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She becomes the first openly transgender four-star officer in the eight uniformed services, and she will help lead a team of 6,000 people whose duties include providing health services to underserved communities as successfully as preventing and controlling disease. “I am honored to serve as the first female four-star officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the first openly transgender four-star officer to serve across any of the eight uniformed services,” Levine said after her swearing-in. “This is a momentous occasion, and I am honored to get this role for the impact that I can make, and for the historic nature of what it symbolizes.” She continued, saying “I pledge to be a steward of the nation’s health. I commit to you that I’ll be rigorous in my approach. I will trail the science to build a healthier future where we perform to create an environment in which no one is left behind. The health of our nation is paramount.” An Rachel Levine became the highest-ranking openly transgender government official in U.S. history when she was confirmed by the Senate as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health in March 2021. Her clinical and widespread health work has helped people dealing with a range of medical issues, including eating disorders, the opioid crisis, and COVID-19. Rachel Levine was born on October 28, 1957 to parents Melvin and Lillian Levine. She was assigned male at birth. Levine and her older sister, Bonnie, grew up in Wakefield, Massachusetts (in the greater Boston area). Her parents were both attorneys; her mother was the only woman to graduate from Boston University Law School in 1946. Raised in a Jewish household, she celebrated her bar mitzvah and attended synagogue with her family. Levine went to the all-boys prep school Belmont Hill, where she played football and hockey and participated in glee club and drama. Levine graduated from Harvard College in 1979 and enrolled at Tulane University School of Medicine. There she discovered a passion for pediatrics, specifically adolescent medicine, as she found teenagers both challenging and stimulating. While at Tulane, she married fellow medi