Senate confirms transgender woman as Pennsylvania physician general

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A transgender woman has the approval of the Pennsylvania Senate to be Pennsylvania’s physician general in what one lawmaker calls a “history making” vote.

Dr. Rachel Levine unanimously won confirmation June 9.

House Rep. Dan Frankel, who co-chairs the Legislature’s LGBT equality caucus, called Levine’s confirmation a first for Pennsylvania because Levine is transgender.

Wolf’s administration calls Levine an expert in pediatrics and psychiatry and says she helped start a division at Penn State Hershey Medical Center for the care of teens with complex medical and psychosocial problems.

The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate also unanimously confirmed Revenue Secretary Eileen McNulty. McNulty served four years as revenue secretary under Gov. Robert P. Casey and three years as the department’s No. 2 under Gov. Ed Rendell.

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