Women’s college gives transgender Biden official a degree

Smith College, a historically all-female institution, on Sunday gave an honorary degree to a man who identifies as a woman. The college presented Rachel Levine, a man originally named Richard, with the degree during its 147th commencement ceremony. Levine also spoke to the school’s graduating class. He was the assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration. Smith College said it was honoring him for his work in public health and advancing LGBTQ advocacy.

Representatives of Women’s Declaration International, a feminist organization that advocates for sex-based protections for women, protested outside the school the day before the ceremony.

Who else was honored at the ceremony? The school also gave honorary degrees and speech slots to three women for their work in political theory, music performance, and mental health. Smith College began admitting male students who identify as women in 2015, according to Inside Higher Ed.

What is Levine known for? His 2021 appointment as assistant health secretary made him the highest-ranking openly transgender U.S. official. He also was celebrated as the first female four-star admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, according to the National Women’s History Museum. Levine notably pushed to remove age limits for genital surgery from guidelines published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.