News (USA)

Pennsylvania Senate panel endorses transgender woman as Physician General

Pennsylvania Senate panel endorses transgender woman as Physician General
Dr. Rachel Levine
Dr. Rachel Levine

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A transgender woman named by the governor to serve as Pennsylvania’s physician general has been endorsed by a state legislative committee, clearing the way for the full Senate to vote on her nomination next week.

If she is confirmed, Dr. Rachel Levine, 57, would become the first transgender person to serve as a high-level state official in Pennsylvania history, reports Reuters.

Jonathan Adams, a spokesman for Lambda Legal in New York, said he did not know of any transgender people in high-ranking state government positions throughout the United States.

During her hearing in front of the Senate’s Public Heath and Welfare Committee, Levine was asked no questions about her transgender status.

Article continues below

As physician-general, Levine’s function will be to advise Gov. Tom Wolf as well as the Secretary of State and Department of Health on medical and public health-related issues.

She most recently served as the chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she also serves as a professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

EEOC files discrimination lawsuit on behalf of transgender employee

Previous article

The Duggar family and the Christian Right’s persecution complex

Next article