Reps. Greene, Boebert Slam Levine on Transgender Youth Support: 'Grooming'
Republicans are accusing Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine of "grooming" children by speaking in support of gender-affirming care.GOP Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado both lashed out at Levine on Monday over comments she made during an MSNBC interview.
Levine, the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate, spoke out against bullying and "politically motivated attacks" on transgender children during the interview, while advocating in favor of health policies that are based on data rather than evidence-free rhetoric."Trans youth are vulnerable and they suffer significant harassment and bullying, sometimes in schools or in their community," Levine said. "Now they're suffering politically motivated attacks through state actions against these vulnerable transgender youth.
This is not based upon data, these actions are politically motivated.""We really want to base our treatment... to affirm and support and empower these youth, not to limit their participation in activities and sports and even limit their ability to get gender affirmation treatment in their state," she added. "All it takes is one supportive adult to make all the difference for an LGBTQI+ youth, transgender youth, in terms of their risk of depression and suicide."Boebert took issue with Levine arguing that the use of evidence-based treatment would "empower" transgender youth.
