Rachel Levine - Assistant Secretary of Health
Resources:
Levine formerly served as the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health serving under Governor Tom Wolf (D). From 1993 to 2015, Levine was on the staff of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Levine has made it a priority to advocate for LGBT medicine and women’s rights throughout his career. Levine is a biological male who used to be known as Richard Levine. In 2011, Levine began publicly presenting as a woman. Levine was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Health on March 24, 2021 by a vote of 52-48.
Views on Abortion:
- Levine denounced a bill that would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks (See link)
- Called religious organizations being exempt from the Obamacare contraception mandate as “immoral and unethical” (See link)
- Has expressed an interest in restoring Title X funding to abortion businesses (See link)
Views on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity:
- In the Senate Confirmation hearing Levine refused to answer Sen. Rand Paul’s questions on whether minors should receive gender reassignment surgery (See link)
- Previously sat on the board of Equality Pennsylvania, a statewide LGBT activist group (See link)
- Has fought for increased access to LGBT related services in health care (See link)
- Denounced the Trump administration’s repeal of the Obama-era rule on transgender accommodations for public school bathrooms (See link)
