Pennsylvania’s health secretary addresses transphobic comments: ‘I do not have time for intolerance’

Pennsylvania’s health secretary is speaking out about a series of of anti-transgender attacks recently directed at her.

Dr. Rachel Levine broke her silence about the hateful comments during a news briefing Tuesday, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review — comments attacking her at a personal level in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I want to emphasize that while these individuals may think they are only expressing their displeasure with me, they are in fact hurting the thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians who suffer directly from these current demonstrations of harassment,” she said.

“Your actions perpetuate a spirit of intolerance and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and specifically transgender individuals.”

Since she began appearing next to the Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf during the state’s coronavirus press briefing updates, Levine, the state’s top health official, has been relentlessly harassed by some social media users, and even a few local officials.

Last month, Trafford Councilman Zack Cole angered LGBTQ activivsts by wishing Levine a “happy father’s day,” while dead-naming her.

The now-former Scott Township Commissioner Paul Abel resigned after he was quoted saying that he was “tired of listening to a guy dressed up like a woman.”

Most recently, Randy Karschner, the president of the Bloomsburg Fair President, had to publicly apologize for a Facebook post that showed pictures of a man dressed up as Levine being dunked in a tank, according to local television station WNEP-TV.

(Last week, Gov. Wolf released a statement condemning the Bloomberg Fair Facebook post, noting Levine’s contribution to the state: She’s a “distinguished and accomplished public servant [who’s] committed to keeping Pennsylvanians safe and healthy, even those who direct hate-fueled attacks at her.”)

Levine, one of the few openly transgender public officials in the nation, also shared on social media her response to the attacks targeting her gender identity.

“I feel that I must personally respond to the multiple incidents of #LGBTQ harassment and specifically transphobia directed at me,” she tweeted.

“I have no room in my heart for hatred and frankly, I do not have time for intolerance. My heart is full with a burning desire to help people + my time is full working toward protecting the public health of everyone in PA from #COVID19,” she wrote.

“I will stay laser-focused on that goal,” she added.