Rachel Levine is first US Senate-confirmed transgender official

Dr Levine’s confirmation as assistant US secretary of health is hailed by LGBTQ rights groups as ‘historic’ victory.

The United States Senate has confirmed Dr Rachel Levine as assistant secretary of health, making her the first openly transgender federal official to win the body’s confirmation. The 52-48 vote on Wednesday was cast along party lines with two Republicans joining Democrats in support of Levine, who previously served as the top health official in the state of Pennsylvania. Human rights advocates hailed Levine’s appointment as an historic breakthrough.