‘Bigot’ Trump adviser launches transphobic attack on ‘world class’ trans health official leading the fight against coronavirus
Trump campaign official Jenna Ellis has launched a transphobic attack on Dr Rachel Levine
Trump campaign official Jenna Ellis has launched a transphobic attack on the expert leading the response to coronavirus in Pennsylvania.
Ellis, who serves as senior legal adviser to the Trump 2020 re-election campaign and a personal attorney to the president, decided to attack the Pennsylvania’s secretary of health, who has become a well-known figure in the state during the pandemic.
Responding to an article in which Levine responded to a series of transphobic incidents directed at her, Ellis tweeted: “This guy is making decisions about your health.”
The tweet has been roundly condemned, with gay Pennsylvania lawmaker Brian Sims making clear: “This woman is a world-class public health expert who has been saving countless thousands of lives. I realise you may not know what that looks like.
“She’s also a hero to LGBTQ+ people like me and doesn’t deserve your scorn or mockery.”
Trump campaign official Jenna Ellis has launched a transphobic attack on Dr Rachel Levine
Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David also blasted the bigotry from the Trump official.
He made clear: “Jenna Ellis is a bigot and Dr Levine is a patriot — plain and simple. Dr Levine illustrates character and patriotism while Ellis cannot even define those terms.
“Using a person’s pronouns is a basic level of respect. Despite claims of allyship, Donald Trump, Mike Pence and their staff have gone out of their way to dehumanise and attack transgender and non-binary people simply for existing.
“Trump and his allies have refused to acknowledge the epidemic of violence transgender and gender non-conforming people face, attempted to strip away their access to health care, and blocked these patriotic Americans from openly serving in the military.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr Rachel Levine pushed back at transphobic attacks
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Levine has steered Pennsylvania through this crisis leading efforts to reduce the spread of the virus and keep Pennsylvanians safe and healthy.
“Our nation has and should continue to laud the frontline workers and public servants confronting this pandemic, not attack them simply for living their truth.”
Jenna Ellis doubles down on transphobia.
Ellis has refused to apologise for her ugly jibe.
In a statement, she doubled down: “To be called a bigot for simply acknowledging scientific fact is both hilarious and tragic.
“The truth of biology shows that human beings are created immutably male and female. Yet in our post-truth society, the progressive leftists not only demand that we affirm patently false facts, but also demand we not ‘offend’ people who insist on speaking their lies, otherwise we are called insensitive bigots and required to apologise.
“I won’t apologise. Our Constitution still protects our fundamental, God-given right to speak and affirm truth and I’ll continue to stand firm speaking and affirming truth.”
Dr Rachel Levine: ‘I do not have time for intolerance’.
It’s not the first time Levine has faced gross attacks simply for being a prominent trans woman in a key role.
One local Pennsylvania fair put a man in a dress as a “parody” of Levine, while a restaurant added “Levine balls” to its menu alongside transphobic references to the official. Right-wing media and Republican politicians have also targeted her gender identity, prompting the state’s governor Tom Wolf to condemn the “hateful comments and acts” directed at her.
Addressing the issue for the first time in a press conference last month, Levine made clear: “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 towards protecting the public health of everyone in Pennsylvania from the impact of the global pandemic through the COVID-19. I will stay laser focused on that goal.”
“However, she also warned that “our children are watching what we do, and they are watching how we act”.
Addressing the attacks, she said: “I want to emphasise that while individuals may think that they are only expressing their displeasure with me, they are, in fact, hurting the thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians 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.”
