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Letter in Support of Dr. Rachel Levine for Assistant Secretary for Health

Letter in Support of Dr. Rachel Levine for Assistant Secretary for Health

January 27, 2021

Dear United States Senate,

We, a coalition of LGBTQI+ and allied organizations, write to urge you to confirm the appointment of Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH).

Dr. Levine is currently Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, and the Academy for Eating Disorders. Dr. Levine is President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). She formerly served as Chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Levine has published and lectured widely on the opioid crisis, adolescent medicine, eating disorders, and LGBT medicine. Dr. Levine is also a member of the LGBTQI+ community and the highest level openly transgender public health professional in U.S. history.

As Secretary of Health for the 6th most populous state in the country, Dr. Levine routinely works with the Assistant Secretary of Health’s office to build critical bridges between federal and state policies on the pandemic and more. Her election as current President of ASTHO is a clear testament to the level of faith other public health leaders have in her leadership. To have a former state Secretary of Health in the ASH position in the coming months, when there is an urgent need for closer alliance between federal and state pandemic policies, will be invaluable.

We are confident that Dr. Levine is the best possible candidate to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health in this time of extraordinary demands on our public health system. We strongly urge you to confirm this appointment with all deliberate speed.

Sincerely,

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
Fenway Health
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
Howard Brown Health
interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth
Lambda Legal
LGBTQ Victory Institute
National Black Justice Coalition
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National LGBT Cancer Network
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
SAGE
Transgender Law Center
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
Whitman-Walker Institute

National Organizations
AIDS United
Alliance for Retired Americans
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Transgender Health Nurses
Athlete Ally
BiNet USA
Catholics for Choice
Center for Disability Rights
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Coldspring Center
Council for Global Equality
Depressed Black Gay Men (DBGM), Inc.
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
Disciples AllianceQ
Equality Federation
ETR
Family Equality Council
Free Mom Hugs, Inc.
Freedom for All Americans
Friends Council on Education
FORGE, Inc.
GLAAD
HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute
Human Rights Campaign
Interfaith Alliance
International community of Women Living with HIV
North America
Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health
Justice in Aging
Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Physician
Assistant Caucus
LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute
LMSA
Mama Bears Org
Medical Library Association
Medical Library Association, Cancer Librarians Caucus
Medical Library Association, Latinx Caucus
Medical Library Association, Leadership & Management Caucus
Medical Library Association, LGBTQIA+ Caucus
Medical Library Association, Social Justice Caucus
Minority Veterans of America
Modern Military Association of America
NASTAD
National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
National Association of Social Workers
National Coalition for LGBT Health
National Council of Jewish Women
National Equality Action Team (NEAT)
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Trans Bar Association
National Women’s Law Center
National Working Positive Coalition
Netroots Connect
NCJW
Open & Affirming Coalition of the United Church of
Christ
Out & Equal
Out To Innovate (NOGLSTP)
Out To Innovate
People For the American Way
PFLAG National
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood Southeast
Positive Women’s Network-USA
Powered By Rainbows, MHP TV
Presbyterian HIV Network, PHEWA, Presbyterian Church
USA (PCUSA)
Prevention Access Campaign
Pride at Work
Project Out, Inc.
Public Justice
Rescue | The Behavior Change Agency
Safe Schools Action Network
SEIU
Sero Project
SPLC Action Fund
Still Bisexual
The Affirming Churches, Welcoming Congregations,
and Reconciling Ministries Coalition
The Counter Narrative Project (CNP)
The TransLatin@ Coalition
The Trevor Project
The Well Project
Trans United Inc
Translatinx Network
Treatment Action Group
True Colors United
U.S People Living with HIV Caucus
UFCW OUTreach
Unión=Fuerza Latinx Institute
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation
Vivent Health
Woodhull Freedom Foundation
World Professional Association for Transgender Health

Alabama Organizations
AIDS Alabama
Magic City Wellness Center
Medical Advocacy & Outreach
Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering
(TAKE Resource Center)

Alaska Organizations
Identity, Inc.
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic’s R.E.C. Room
Q&A LLC
Soldotna Pride in the Park

Arizona Organizations
Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization
Aunt Rita’s Foundation
Equality Arizona
ONE Community
one-n-ten
Phoenix Pride
SAGA: Families Transformed
Southern Arizona Gender Alliance
Southwest Center
Virtual Arizona Pride

California Organizations
Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center
California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
Desert AIDS Project
Equality California
Gender Justice LA
GLIDE
Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center
LGBTQ Center OC
LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Lyon-Martin Health Services
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force
Solano Pride Center
The Gala Pride and Diversity Center
The San Diego LGBT Community Center
The Source LGBT+ Center
The Spahr Center.
TransFamily Support Services
Transgender Affirming Therapy
University of California – San Francisco Transgender
Care Program
Weiland Health Initiative, Stanford University

Colorado Organizations
CORA- Colorado Organizations and Individuals
Responding to HIV/AIDS
Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center
Harm Reduction Action Center
HITNHOMEBOY
One Colorado
Out Boulder County
The Center on Colfax, Denver, CO

Connecticut Organizations
New Haven Pride Center

Delaware Organizations
CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
Equality Delaware Inc. and Equality Delaware Foundation

District of Columbia Organizations
LULAC Lambda
No Justice No Pride
The DC Center for the LGBT Community
Voices for Progress

Florida Organizations
Compass LGBTQ Community Center
Equality Florida
FIOEffect, INC.
LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc.
Safeguarding American Values for Everyone (SAVE)
St Pete Pride
Starlight Counseling & Consulting
The Pride Center at Equality Park

Georgia Organizations
Atlanta Pride Committee
Deep Center
Emory University School of Nursing
Georgia Equality
Lake Oconee Community Church
NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc.
Young Democrats of Georgia LGBTQ Caucus

Idaho Organizations
All Under One Roof LGBT Advocates of Idaho
Idaho Coalition For HIV Health and Safety,

Illinois Organizations
360 Youth Services
Any Positive Change Inc.
Center on Halsted
Chicago House and Social Service Agency
Equality Illinois
Evaluation, Data Integration, and Technical Assistance
(EDIT) Program
Guided Path Psychological Services
Kenneth Young Center
Lighthouse Foundation
Naper Pride, Inc.
Partners in Pride Wellness Center
Peoria Proud
Prairie Pride Coalition
The Power of Choice
Transformative Justice Law Project
Uniting Pride of Champaign County

Indiana Organizations
Damien Center
GenderNexus
Hutson Psychotherapy
Indiana Youth Group
Indy Pride, Inc.
Trinity Haven, Inc.

Iowa Organizations
One Iowa Action
EqualMEDS @ Iowa

Kentucky Organizations
Fairness Campaign
Free Mom Hugs-Kentucky
Pride Community Services Organization

Louisiana Organizations
CrescentCare

Maine Organizations
Martin’s Point Health Care
Equality Maine

Maryland Organizations
Dolan Research International, LLC
The Frederick Center

Massachusetts Organizations
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Boston Pride
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Health Law Advocates
John Snow, Inc.
Mass Equality
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition

Michigan Organizations
Affirmations
Corktown Health Center
Grand Rapids Pride Center
Jackson Pride Center
Lansing Association for Human Rights
OutCenter of Southwest Michigan
OutFront Kalamazoo
SAGE Metro Detroit
Transgender Michigan
Wellness AIDS Services, Inc.

Minnesota Organizations
Gender Justice
Inclusive Justice
JustUs Health
OutFront Minnesota

Missouri Organizations
PROMO Fund

Nebraska Organizations
Academy LGBTQ
OUTNebraska

Nevada Organizations
Equality Nevada
Henderson Equality Center
PFLAG Carson Region
Silver State Equality-Nevada
The LGBTQ+ Community Center of Southern Nevada
Transgender Allies Group

New Jersey Organizations
Garden State Equality
Hudson Pride Center
Newark LGBTQ Community Center
NJ Democratic State Committee LGBTQ Caucus
PFLAG Jersey Shore
Pride Center of New Jersey
PROCEED Inc.

New Hampshire
Equality Health Center

New Mexico Organizations
Equality New Mexico
Health Equity Alliance for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans
Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico

New York Organizations
Brooklyn Community Pride Center
Community Awareness Network for a Drug-free Life and
Environment, Inc. (CANDLE)
CRUX Climbing
Empire Justice Center
Gender Equality New York, Inc.
Global Justice Institute
Housing Works
New York Transgender Advocacy Group
Parity
PFY – Long Island Crisis Center
Princess Janae Place Inc
Rockland County Pride Center
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community
Center

North Carolina Organizations
Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group
Equality North Carolina
NC AIDS Action Network
North Carolina AIDS Action Network
Onslow County HIV/AIDS Task Force
Onslow County LGBTQ+ Community Center
Youth OUTright WNC

North Dakota Organizations
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition

Ohio Organizations
Equitas Health
InnerView Behavioral Care (MBHC, Inc.)
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic
Medicine
PFLAG Columbus (Ohio)
Stonewall Columbus
TransOhio

Oklahoma Organizations
Oklahomans for Equality

Oregon Organizations
Cascade AIDS Project

Pennsylvania Organizations
1Hood Power
ACLU Pennsylvania
AIDS Resource
Alder Health Services
Attic Youth Center
Borough of State College LGBTQ Advisory Committee
Borough of State College, Pennsylvania
Central PA Korean Association
Centre LGBTQA Support Network
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Community Diversity Group
Diversity Huntingdon – Everyone is Welcome Here!
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project
Educational Equity / Penn State University
Erie City Mayor’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council
Erie County Democratic Party LGBTQIA+ Caucus
Erie Gay News
Garden of Peace, Inc.
Gettysburg Pride
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality
Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation
Inspiring Change, LLC
Interfaith Initiative Centre County
Keystone Business Alliance
Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition
LGBT Center of Central PA
LGBT Center of Greater Reading
LGBT Elder Initiative
LGBTQPRIDE
Mazzoni Center
Medical Library Association, Philadelphia Regional Chapter
Montgomery County LGBT Business Council
Mount Nittany Physician Group
National Council of Jewish Women Greater Philadelphia Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section
NEPA Rainbow Alliance
New Hope Celebrates
NW PA Pride Alliance
Open Table, St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation,
State College
PA Dems LGBTQ Caucus
Penn State Lion Pride Roundtable for Inclusion,
Diversity, and Equity (Lion PRIDE)
Penn State University
Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs
Pennsylvania Equality Project
Pennsylvania Youth Congress
PFLAG Danville PA
PFLAG Greensburg
PFLAG Pittsburgh
PFLAG York
PGH Equality Center
Pittsburgh LGBTQ Face Masque Project
Pride at Work-Pennsylvania Chapter
Proud Haven
Rainbow Rose Center
RiseUp York
Shippensburg University Pride Center
SisTers PGH
Steel City Stonewall Democrats
The HUB for Progress
The I Am Alliance
Trans Advocacy Pennsylvania
Trans Minors Rights
TriVersity – The Upper Delaware GLBT Center
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County
University Mennonite Church
Washington County Gay Straight Alliance, Inc.
West Branch Pride
Westmoreland LGBTQ Interfaith Network
William Way LGBT Community Center

Puerto Rico Organizations
Waves Ahead Corp & SAGE Puerto Rico

Rhode Island Organizations
Open Door Health
The Rhode Island Public Health Institute
Thundermist Health Center

South Carolina Organizations
Alliance For Full Acceptance

Tennessee Organizations
OCTOPUS LLC
Tennessee Equality Project
Trans Empowerment Project

Texas Organizations
Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
CHA Law Group, PC
Equality Texas
Legacy Community Health
Pride Center San Antonio
Pride Community Center, Inc
Resource Center
The Montrose Center
Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)

Utah Organizations
Equality Utah

Vermont Organizations
Outright Vermont
Pride Center of Vermont
Out in the Open

Virginia Organizations
Neutral Ground Counseling Group, LLC

Washington Organizations
Equal Rights Washington
Queen Anne Medical Associates

 

Wisconsin Organizations
Fair Wisconsin

International Organizations
Ipas
The Interfaith LGBTI Clergy Association



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