Washington (AFP) – The US Senate took the historic step Wednesday of confirming pediatrician Rachel Levine as President Joe Biden’s assistant secretary of health, making her the highest-ranking transgender official to serve in the federal government. Levine was leading the Pennsylvania Department of Health when Biden tapped her for the national post in January, in a notable first for the LGBTQ community. The pick was also a contrast to policies of previous president Donald Trump that were seen as discriminatory. The confirmation vote was 52 to 48, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in…
