PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine began her COVID-19 press briefing by addressing recent actions and comments of transphobia across the commonwealth.
Levine said she felt she needed to personally address issues of LGBTQ harassment and transphobic comments directed at her by elected officials and in other instances.
Levine, who is transgendered herself, says, "While these individuals may think they are only expressing their displeasure with me they are in fact hurting the thousands of LGTBQ Pennsylvania who suffer directly from these current demonstrations of harassment."
"Your actions perpetuate the spirit of intolerance and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and specifically transgender individuals," added Levine.
Last month the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that discrimination in the workplace due to sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited, but Levine says in Pennsylvania can still be "denied housing and public accommodations in most places in Pennsylvania that do not have local, non-discrimination ordinances."
Levine adds that LGBTQ people of color, youth, seniors and immigrant suffer especially.
Levine says if someone has made a damaging remark but have since sincerely apologized, she accepts it but says saying sorry is only the first step.
"I call on you, I call on your and all Pennsylvanians to work toward a spirit of not just tolerance but a spirit of acceptance and welcoming towards LGBTQ individuals," said Levine.
Levine then addressed how she is dealing with the intolerance herself.
"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 and my time is full with working toward protecting the public health of everyone in Pennsylvania from the impact of the global pandemic due to COVID-19," she said.
The Human Rights Campaign reports that at least 27 transgender or gender non-conforming people were murdered in the U.S. last year. A majority of victims were Black transgender women.
So far this year, HRC reports at least 22 transgender people were fatally shot or killed another way.
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