Atlanta (Jan 27, 2021)– Last week, President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Rachel Levine, MD, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Pending Senate confirmation, Dr. Levine will become the first openly transgender official confirmed by the US Senate.

“Dr. Levine’s nomination is important for many reasons, but what rises to the top for me is the importance of having a trans person testifying in front of the US Senate not about her gender. This is the kind of progress that works to end so many myths about trans people,” said Georgia Equality’s Gender Policy Manager, Chanel Haley.

“Beyond the progress we’re making in terms of representation,” continued Haley, “it will be game-changing to have an openly trans person in such a senior position in HHS, especially as the Biden administration goes about the work of untangling the web of discrimination spun by the previous administration. I’m thinking particularly about the discrimination trans folks face every day when trying to access healthcare.”

Georgia Equality has joined with colleagues across the country to ask our members to send messages to our US Senators when Dr. Levine’s nomination comes up for votes to urge bi-partisan support of this important nomination.

 

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Founded in 1995, Georgia Equality is the state’s largest advocacy organization working to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for Georgia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Georgians.