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BumRushDaShow

(165,178 posts) Sat Dec 6, 2025, 05:15 AM Dec 6

HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait [View all]

Source: NPR

December 5, 2025 5:38 PM ET

As you walk down a particular hallway on the seventh floor of the Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., you'll find a line of photographic portraits of all the people from years past who have led the Public Health Corps at the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Only one of those portraits is of a transgender person: Adm. Rachel Levine, who served for four years as President Biden's assistant secretary for health. She was the first transgender person to win Senate confirmation, and her portrait has been displayed in the hallway since soon after she was confirmed in 2021. The role is a four-star admiral position in charge of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service.

Levine's official portrait was recently altered, a spokesperson for HHS confirmed to NPR. A digital photograph of the portrait in the hallway obtained by NPR shows that Levine's previous name is now typed below the portrait, under the glass of the frame.

Levine responds

"During the federal shutdown, the current leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health changed Admiral Levine's photo to remove her current legal name and use a prior name," says Adrian Shanker, former deputy assistant secretary for health policy in the Biden administration who worked with Levine and is now her spokesperson. He called the move an act "of bigotry against her." Levine told NPR that it was an honor to serve the American people as the assistant secretary for health "and I'm not going to comment on this type of petty action."

Read more: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/12/05/nx-s1-5633282/transgender-rachel-levine-portrait-hhs

What the actual fuck?

We need to get into the mode adopted by the FDR generation, where after FDR was elected, the GOP was removed from a House majority for 40 years.

Dr. Levine was PA's Health Director and I watched all of her pressers during the onset of the pandemic until Biden nominated her for HHS, and she left us when she was confirmed. The GOP hasn't ceased misgendering her time and time again, both while she worked for the state and later the federal government.

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HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait [View all] BumRushDaShow Dec 6 OP

One of the things that truly belongs to a person is their name, and the nazi bastards will steal that too. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #1

I agree it is the least amount of respect we can show and it's easiest Walleye Dec 6 #3

The powerful and wealthy plaster their names everywhere. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #4

Yes, or deliberately mispronounced, repeatedly Walleye Dec 6 #5

They are nasty pieces of work. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #6

I feel same way about. use of the phrase Democrat party versus Democratic blue_jay Dec 6 #42

I watched a briefings from Pennsylvania during the pandemic as well Walleye Dec 6 #2

Maybe the MAGAs will just call all women stupid and piggy. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #7

Sure, why not they'll do whatever makes them feel good. There's nothing stopping them. Walleye Dec 6 #8

The new morality. Bad is now good. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #16

Exactly. I used to think that the civil rights and Vietnam era with the most stressful in my lifetime Walleye Dec 6 #17

Oh yes much worse than the 60's/70's. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #24

I am so disappointed in my fellow Americans. I have lost my faith. Walleye Dec 6 #29

I agree. Total moral collapse of the American people. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #30

That sounds about right mathematically. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to prevail in that election. Walleye Dec 6 #36

This was the voting breakdown. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #37

So it's only 2/3 of my fellow Americans I have to be severely disappointed in Walleye Dec 6 #38

The majority of Americans have let their country down. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #39

Of course they had to dead name Levine. sakabatou Dec 6 #9

How petty. Botany Dec 6 #10

Yes, she is. I watched her every day in her briefing during the pandemic on the Philadelphia TV stations. Walleye Dec 6 #18

A friend of mine who is a PhD and does medical research and is from PA had a colleague that worked Botany Dec 6 #21

She was a pediatrician by speciality BumRushDaShow Dec 6 #23

This type of discrimination is OK with the 'centrists' RandiFan1290 Dec 6 #11

I'm not sure if centrists see it as normal but they sure as heck don't seem to give a damn about it LymphocyteLover Dec 6 #13

Gavin Newsom said we should back off on this stuff Walleye Dec 6 #19

Levine was a great public servant and this is absolutely disgusting, fucking Nazis at work LymphocyteLover Dec 6 #12

Trans people are an easy target for MAGA bullies IronLionZion Dec 6 #14

When they were messing with her here in PA BumRushDaShow Dec 6 #20

The GOP... GiqueCee Dec 6 #15

You know what? Just take down ALL the photos - no more names or photos displayed, PERIOD FakeNoose Dec 6 #22

Well they ripped out Dr. Fauci's mural BumRushDaShow Dec 6 #25

In that case...from now on, we all need to refer to DJT as 3825-87867 Dec 6 #26

It's juvenile. 2MuchNoise Dec 6 #27

Their NAME, their legal NAME, not just their title? Well Trump did a picture of an auto pen underpants Dec 6 #28

It's done to trigger a reaction BumRushDaShow Dec 6 #31

Every day in Pa during peak covid she appeared with Gov Tom Wolf. The gave an update. twodogsbarking Dec 6 #32

During that time BumRushDaShow Dec 6 #34

Pronouns were only the warm up; now they're against Proper Nouns Prairie Gates Dec 6 #33

Acting out like mean tweens dlk Dec 6 #35

These are small, mean minded, petty, cruel people. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #40

Deadnaming it is a specific assault on a transitioned person IbogaProject Dec 6 #41

I'd sue to have my legal name restored. pat_k Dec 6 #43

crazy disrespectful Skittles Dec 6 #44