Talk:Rachel Levine

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Criticism

She is constantly being criticized. Someone should add a criticism section in this article. 2A01:E0A:57D:48E0:B095:1B41:B30F:2A78 (talk) 08:43, 18 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

All content, regardless of whether it is positive or negative, must be supported by reliable sources. If there is enough content to merit a full section, then a full section can be included. Otherwise, it will likely just be added in as a single sentence (or two). Primefac (talk) 09:39, 18 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Primefac could you please explain further why you removed the information about Rachel Levine's reported attempts to remove the age limits for trans surgery? One of your objections is that "this seems like a non-story". I am confused. It was a story that was reported first in The New York Times, which is considered to be a generally reliable source per [[WP:NYT]]. It is also mentioned in The Economist, which is also listed at [[WP:RSPSS]] as generally reliable. Quote from The Economist: "Another document recently unsealed shows that Rachel Levine, a trans woman who is assistant secretary for health, succeeded in pressing WPATH to remove minimum ages for the treatment of children from its 2022 standards of care. Dr Levine’s office has not commented." I believe that this information needs to be reflected in the article, as it received coverage in the sources that are known for fact checking and accuracy. I am also confused by your characterization as "speculation." The original edit (recapped below) captured a response to an allegation (vs. allegation alone), in an attempt to be thoughtfully balanced. Levine's office is not even saying it's speculation, instead they are providing a response explaining Rachel Levine's position to the New York Times.

Original edit: "With respect to allegations in 2024 that Rachel Levine pushed to remove age limits for trans surgery from World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care 8 (SOC8)[31], an H.H.S. spokesman said “Adm. Levine shared her view with her staff that publishing the proposed lower ages for gender transition surgeries was not supported by science or research, and could lead to an onslaught of attacks on the transgender community,”" Evathedutch (talk) 04:26, 8 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

An allegation was made, the allegation was clarified, end of story. That story is not particularly interesting nor did it have great impact on her career, and from what I read it sounds like the NYT heard of an issue and then got a clarification on that issue, which is exactly how journalism should work; it does not however mean we must include it, because we do not need to include every small detail of a person's life or career, regardless of whether that detail is positive or negative. Primefac (talk) 12:44, 8 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

You bring up a good point that responding to allegations may not be significant enough to include. It made me reread her article to get a better sense of what topics are included. I see that the article covers Levine’s concern that gender affirming care is politicized. Since the wikipedia article is including the topic of the politicization of GAC, it should do it in a balanced way and also include information from reliable sources on Rachel Levine participating in the politicization of GAC. Accordingly I’m making a revised edit with that rationale. I have not included the quote below from Rachel Levine’s chief of staff in the edit, but I am including it here on the talk page as support that political concerns were a factor in the requested change to a GAC health guideline.

“She is confident, based on the rhetoric she is hearing in D.C., and from what we have already seen, that these specific listings of ages, under 18, will result in devastating legislation for trans care. She wonders if the specific ages can be taken out.” (NYT) Evathedutch (talk) 04:46, 9 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Marriage

This sentence is ambiguous: "Levine married Martha Peaslee Levine in 1988 during Levine's last year of medical school." Which Levine's last year of medical school, Rachel or Martha's?

I believe it was Martha's last year of school, so it would be better to say "Levine married Martha Peaslee Levine in 1988 during Martha Levine's last year of medical school." 24.16.15.161 (talk) 20:53, 27 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Early Life and Education.

Why isn't birth name mentioned? It should be the first thing under Early Life and Education. "Born (Redacted) in..." . This is a fact of her life. Even Google returns that information. Ecgberht1 (talk) 14:31, 20 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is a FAQ at the top of the page, and a dozen talk page discussions in the archives about the matter. Primefac (talk) 14:52, 20 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Edit request on transition year

The article doesn't mention when Levine transitioned, although talk page archives suggest it formerly did. This should probably be readded, especially considering it mentions her same-sex marriage in 1988 without specifying that she transitioned afterwards. Jone425 (talk) 22:30, 14 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Did we have a valid RS source for it? If so, I think it might be OK to add the date if it was done in a pretty minimal way. It should be no more than one short sentence and should not imply any narrative or connections other than to establish the chronology. --DanielRigal (talk) 18:41, 15 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/rachel-levine mentions that she completed her transition in 2011, and is already being used as a source in this article. I think something like "Levine fully transitioned in 2011." would be more than enough. Jone425 (talk) 22:25, 15 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If she wasn't notable by her prior name, then the date of her transition is similarly un-notable and should generally be omitted as it serves no encyclopedic value. Raladic (talk) 00:37, 16 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]