What actually happened is Levine was repeatedly asked whether Levine was for or against **minors** receiving hormones and/or surgeries without parental consent. Levine refused to answer the question. Repeatedly.
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1365044472564842498
Rachel Levine could become US Assistant Sec. of Health. Paul cited the #KeiraBell case, quoting Bell directly: "I made a brash decision as a teenager, as a lot of teenagers do. Trying to find competence & happiness, except now the rest of my life will be negatively affected."
Senator Paul: "Let the record show that the witness refused to answer the question. The question is a very specific one, should minors be making these momentous decisions."
Senator Paul: Do you support the government intervening to override the parents' consent to give a child puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and/or amputation surgery?
Rachel Levine: "Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field."
Rachel Levine: "Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field."
Levine gave this talk in 2017. Around 22:00, Levine begins discussing under-18 transition. At 28:00, Levine suggests "accelerating" cross-sex hormones for homeless teenagers (Sen. Paul alluded to this opinion about street kids when questioning Levine).
Senator Paul in today's confirmation hearing: "You have said that you're willing to accelerate the protocols for street kids. I'm alarmed that poor kids with no parents who are homeless and distraught, you would just go through this and allow that to happen to a minor."
In the 2017 talk, Levine recommends skipping puberty blockers for street youth, going straight to cross-sex hormones, so youth "feel validated & are getting care consistent with their pace and their path."
Levine justifies this by saying the kids will get the hormones on the black market otherwise. What would Levine say if the same homeless kid threatened to get OxyContin on the black market?
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
