U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health visits Kansas City for Transgender Day of Visibility

Kansas City will recognize International Transgender Day of Visibility Friday with a visit from the highest-ranking transgender official in the U.S. government.

Adm. Rachel Levine — who serves as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health — is one of several speakers for the event beginning at 3 p.m. at the National WWI Museum Auditorium.

Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas City’s Director of Health Dr. Marvia Jones and members of the city’s LGBTQ commission will also be present, according to a release from the city. The event will be streamed online.

Levine oversees the country’s Health and Human Service offices and previously served as Pennsylvania’s top health secretary.

Levine was nominated by President Joe Biden in January 2021 and became the first transgender official to become confirmed by the Senate later that year in March.

According to the Associated Press, Levine was hailed by Biden as a someone who could serve all citizens “no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.”

Levine, a trained pediatrician, was also sworn in as the head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in October 2021, becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer to serve in any of the country’s eight uniformed services.