Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine has come under scrutiny for advocating the removal of age limits in the guidelines for transgender medical treatments. This information was revealed in a document titled “Appendix A to Supplemental Expert Report of James Cantor, PH.D,” released as part of the Boe v. Marshall lawsuit, according to Jesse Signal, a critic of transgender ideology.
James Cantor, a Canadian sex researcher and frequent expert witness in cases opposing youth gender health care, claims that Levine influenced the content of the Standards of Care Rules, version 8 (SOC-8), prioritizing political goals over scientific evidence. The SOC-8 guidelines, developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), are designed to ensure safe gender-affirming care.
Cantor’s document includes internal communications from WPATH members indicating that Levine pressured the organization to remove recommended minimum ages for medical transition treatments. Levine allegedly aimed to align these guidelines with the Biden administration’s political strategies. An internal communication from a WPATH member read, “I have just spoken to Admiral Levine today, who—as always—is extremely supportive of the SOC 8, but also very eager for its release to ensure integration in the US health policies of the Biden government.”
The SOC-8 rules were released in September 2022, initially including lowered age restrictions. However, a correction issued a week later removed these age recommendations. Cantor’s document also reveals that Sarah Boateng, Levine’s chief of staff, expressed concerns about specific minimum ages listed in the guidelines, fearing they could lead to restrictive legislation for transgender care.
WPATH, a leading organization in transgender health care, provides guidance for gender dysphoric individuals. T
