Dr. Rachel Levine creates history becoming the first transgender to get confirmation from the senate for the federal post

Washington: For the first time in US history, a transgender person has been given a key position in the government.

 In January this year, Biden recommended Rachel for the top post, promising to protect LGBTQ community rights during the election campaign.

 The LGBTQ community was discriminated against during Donald Trump’s presidency. The Senate backed Biden’s decision to break those shackles.

Rachel Levine, the former Pennsylvania health secretary, was confirmed as the nation’s assistant secretary of health by the US Senate on Wednesday.

Her appointment was finalized by the Senate with 52–48 votes. Two Republican senators also supported Rachel.

 Rachel, 63, who works at the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine as a pediatrician, leads a team set up to fight the coronavirus as assistant secretary in the health sector.

Rachel, who worked in the state of Pennsylvania Health Department from 2017 became the face of Pennsylvania for her efforts and hard work during the covid-19 pandemic and was recognized by President Biden in January and Biden nominated her for the top position

Biden claimed that Rachel Levine “will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic – regardless of their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.”

Now after the senate’s confirmation, she is the first openly transgender woman to pass the senate and get selected for the position of national assistant health secretary.

 “I strongly believe that turning points, such as today’s Senate confirmation vote for Dr. Levine’s nomination, are important indicators that this country is finally on the road to long-term transgender equality,” said Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, the first openly transgender official to work in the white house in Obama administration.

Transgender activists have praised Rachel Levine’s appointment as a historic moment.

The assistant secretary of health is in charge of a wide range of public health programs, and President Biden has stated that Levine will play a critical role in the nation’s coronavirus response. Brett Giroir, the Trump administration’s assistant secretary of health, acted as the nation’s coronavirus testing czar.

The surgeon general is also overseen by the assistant secretary of health. On Tuesday, Vivek H. Murthy was confirmed for the role. Rachel Levine is due to take office later this week.

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