Rachel Levine, first openly transgender person, confirmed by Senate as assistant US health secretary

Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender person was confirmed by the US Senate on Wednesday to become assistant health secretary.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to approve President Joe Biden’s choice of Rachel Levine to become assistant U.S. health secretary, the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the chamber. Despite strong opposition from Republicans, Levine was confirmed on a vote of 52-48. As the United States continues its attempts to conquer the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed nearly 545,000 Americans, Levine arrives in Washington after leading the state of Pennsylvania’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. Levine also has served as a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Penn State University.