05/13/25

Hi!

🚨 Dr. Rachel Levine is sounding the alarm on the Trump administration's public health decisions. Levine, who made history in 2021 as the highest-ranking out transgender federal official ever confirmed by the U.S. Senate, recently spoke to The Advocate about her time at the Department of Health and Human Services and her thoughts about Donald Trump's attacks on trans rights and health care.

🪖 The Pentagon has once again halted all gender-affirming health care for trans service members, just weeks after briefly reinstating it under court order.

👀 As Trump intensifies his second-term campaign to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, new polling suggests that his relentless attacks on transgender people are gaining traction with the public, despite disapproval of his presidency overall. LGBTQ+ advocates say this slide requires accurate media representation of trans lives.

Onwards and upwards,

Alex Cooper

Editor-in-chief, The Advocate

P.S. Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how to contribute here.

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🌈 Look, queer trivia! 🌈

Each week, The Advocate newsletter has a little bit of LGBTQ+ trivia. Today, you'll get the question. Thursday, you'll get a hint. And Saturday, you'll get the answer.

This week's question: Dr. Rachel Levine, who is the highest-ranking out trans federal official in U.S. history, served in what role under the Biden administration?

⚡ Respond with the correct answer and you might get a shoutout in a future email newsletter!