Admiral Rachel Levine’s federal portrait gets deadnamed

Federal Portrait of First Openly Transgender Four-Star Admiral Gets Major Alteration in Dispute Over Identity.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made a significant move that has left many questioning the administration's stance on identity representation, quietly altering the official portrait of Admiral Rachel Levine, the trailblazing first openly transgender person confirmed to a four-star federal position. The change replaced her chosen name with her deadname in digital format, effectively removing it from view.

Critics say the update is not just a minor tweak but an act of erasure that undermines institutional progress on representation and visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals. Former staff members and advocates have expressed outrage at what they see as a petty and bigoted move, highlighting the symbolic weight of removing Levine's chosen name from an official federal display.

In response to concerns, HHS has maintained that the change is necessary to align with new policy guidelines under the current administration, stating its priority is to present accurate information. However, for many observers, this decision underscores a broader tension between administrative protocols and the lived realities of transgender public officials in high-profile positions.

Levine's work in public health has garnered significant attention, from guiding pandemic responses to advocating for LGBTQ+ health policies. Her portrait, alongside those of her predecessors, had long been seen as a symbol of progress and inclusion – an emblem now marred by this recent update.

The incident has sparked heated debate on social media and in news outlets about the complex interplay between identity, representation, and symbolism within federal institutions. While the physical change may be small, its cultural and political implications are substantial, reminding us that the presence of transgender leaders in high office remains both groundbreaking and contested.

"You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one." This situation is a perfect example of that The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services altering Admiral Rachel Levine's portrait to include her deadname instead of her chosen name feels like a step backwards . It's not just about identity representation; it's about the impact this has on visibility, progress, and inclusivity . As someone who believes in equality and fairness, I think we should be focusing on celebrating and honoring individuals for who they are, not erasing their identities .

This is so messed up ! I mean, come on, they can't just erase someone's identity like that . I get it, accuracy is key, but can't we find a way to be inclusive too? It's like they're saying Rachel Levine isn't a real person anymore . Newsflash: she's still the same person with the same feelings and experiences . This decision is gonna hurt so many people who look up to her as a role model . What's next, erasing trans rights from history books? #NotMyAdmin #TransInclusionMatters #ErasureIsReal

I'm not sure what's going on here . So the US government changes Admiral Levine's portrait to use her deadname instead of her chosen name... seems kinda petty, right? I mean, isn't the point of representation to include people in a way that makes them feel seen and respected?

And now they're saying it's about accuracy? Come on, what's accurate is using someone's preferred name! It's not like this is some sort of huge mistake. Levine herself must have had something to say about it... why did she let her name get changed without even asking for input?

This whole thing just seems like a step back for equality and progress . I thought we were better than this, you know? Erasing someone's identity is never the answer. Can't we just leave people alone to live their lives and make their own choices?

idk wut's goin on ... so they changd admln rachels portrait 2 show her old name instead of her chosen one?! i think its super disappointing & erasing 4 all the ppl who love & support her identity ... isnt it about inclusivity n stuff? i mean, she's a trailblazer & deserves respect! whoever made this decision mustnt b 4real

omg this is like so disappointing i know the gov't's gotta follow some rules and protocols but cant they just find a way to make it work for everyone? Admiral Levine has already broken down so many barriers with her service and now this... it feels like 2 steps forward, 1 step back . i mean, what's next? going back to old policy guidelines or something? that would be super frustrating. i guess we just gotta keep pushing for inclusivity and understanding, even if its slow

idk why they had to mess with admiral levine's name it was already a big deal for her to be recognized as an openly trans person in such a high position, i feel like this change just takes away from the progress we're supposed to be making. and yeah, who gets to decide what's "accurate info" anyway? can't they just let people have their chosen names and identities respected?

this is such a nuanced situation... i think what's really interesting here is how this change has brought to the forefront the tension between administrative protocols and the lived realities of trans public officials. it's almost like, just because we have more representation in high-profile positions doesn't mean we're fully seen or accepted by the institutions themselves . meanwhile, the fact that hhs is pushing back against what they perceive as 'inaccurate' information is a reminder that even with progress, there are still so many power dynamics at play here... and, honestly, it's a little disheartening to see this incident spark debate rather than solidarity .

[Image of a sad face with a red X through it ]

[A picture of Admiral Rachel Levine's old portrait with a big "REDACTED" stamp over her name ]

[An image of a person erasing a name on a government document ]

I'm not sure what's going on here . So they're changing Admiral Levine's name back to her old one? I mean, I get it, some people might not like the new name, but come on! It was a pretty big deal when she became the first openly trans person in that position. You'd think they'd want to keep the progress going, right? But now they're just... erasing it? I don't see how that's gonna help anything. It feels like a step back. And what's with all these new policy guidelines? Is everything just gonna be subject to some bureaucratic approval process from now on? It's just too much red tape for me .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one . I mean, think about it, we're living in a time where we've got an openly trans four-star Admiral getting major recognition for her work... but can't even display her chosen name on a federal portrait? It's like taking away the color from a rainbow . I'm all for accuracy and representation, but come on! This feels like a step back. And it's not just about Levine, it's about what this says about our institutions and how we value diversity. I remember when I was in high school, we thought progress was all about electing more people of color to office ... now it's about visibility too? It's a complex issue, but I feel like we're losing some of the momentum we gained with LGBTQ+ rights.

I'm really disappointed in this latest move by the HHS. It feels like they're trying to erase Rachel Levine's identity again, even from an official portrait where she can't be erased. What's next? Removing her achievements and accomplishments from records too? It's not just about the name; it's about respect and representation. If they want to align with new policy guidelines, why change it now? It feels like a step backward in progress.

I'm literally shocked by this update ... I was just thinking about how awesome it is to see an openly trans person in a four-star position at the federal level, and now they're going back on that progress? I mean, can't we just respect people's identities and names, you know? It feels like such a tiny thing, but for LGBTQ+ people, their identity is everything . And I get why it's causing so much outrage - it feels like erasure. The government should be supporting inclusivity and progress, not undermining it . I'm all about accuracy, but come on... can't we just be accurate with names too?

This is so messed up ! I mean, I get what they're trying to do with these new policy guidelines, but come on, can't they just leave Rachel's name alone? It's not like it's gonna break some ancient rule or something... The fact that they're erasing her chosen name from the portrait is like a slap in the face to everything she's fought for .

I'm all about representation and visibility, but this feels like a step back. If we want to move forward as a society, we gotta be willing to take some risks and challenge our own biases. This whole thing just feels like a bunch of bureaucratic red tape, if you ask me . And the fact that they're saying it's necessary for accuracy? Please... that's just a cop-out .

What really gets me is that this incident highlights how far we still have to go in terms of acceptance and understanding. Rachel Levine has been doing some amazing work, and she deserves our respect and support – not this kind of erasure . I mean, who even comes up with these decisions? It's like they're trying to erase the very thing that makes us human .

I just saw this update on Admiral Levine's portrait . I'm really disappointed about it. I think it's like they're trying to erase her identity or something . Like, she knows who she is and what she wants to be called! Why can't they just respect that?

I drew a diagram to illustrate this issue:
```
+---------------+
| Official |
| Portrait |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+ (erase)
| Deadname |

It's like, the portrait should show who she is today, not who she was in the past . And it's not just about Admiral Levine, it's about all the trans people out there who are fighting for their rights and visibility .

The government needs to get its priorities straight and start supporting inclusivity instead of erasing it . This is a big deal and I don't think they should be making changes like this without consulting with the LGBTQ+ community first .

I'll keep an eye on this situation and see how it plays out .

omg this is so frustrating I can only imagine how Rachel Levine must feel seeing her name taken away like that it's not just about the physical change either, it's like erasing her whole identity and everything she's fought for I get what they're trying to do with policy guidelines and all that, but can't we just have a little bit of heart in these decisions I'm so proud of Rachel for being herself and pushing boundaries, and now this... it's just really sad

I'm still thinking about this update on Admiral Levine's portrait... it feels like we're taking two steps forward, but also one step back, you know? Like, we've made so much progress with representation and visibility for trans folks, and then this happens. It's like they're trying to erase her identity or something.

I mean, can't we just leave her name as is? It's not like it's hurting anyone. And what's the point of updating policy guidelines if we're just going to erase someone's identity in the process? It feels like a bigoted move, you know?

And have you seen the responses from trans advocates and former staff members? They're totally right on point. This isn't about accuracy or presentation; it's about erasing people's identities and experiences. We need to be more thoughtful and considerate in our language and representation.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... it feels like we've lost some ground, but at the same time, we're also having this really important conversation about identity and representation. It's all so complicated, you know?

I don't get why everyone's so bent outta shape about this. It's just a name on a picture . I mean, I know Rachel Levine is an awesome person doing some incredible work, but come on, let's not make a mountain out of a molehill here. A deadname in the digital format? Who cares? It's not like it's changing her actual identity or anything. And from what I've seen, HHS is just trying to stay consistent with their new policies. Can't we just chill and move on? The more I think about it, the more I realize how quickly our outrage can spiral outta control .

omg this is so whack i mean i get where they're coming from with wanting accurate info but can't we just leave rachel's name alone?? it's like they're erasing her identity all over again i feel bad for the ppl who worked with her, they must be so disappointed and yeah the cultural implications are huge - we need more reps of trans ppl in positions of power, not less

omg i cant believe what they did to admiral levine's portrait she was such an inspiration for so many ppl and now her name is gone from the official pics it just feels like erasure lol how can u make progress on representation when u take away a trans person's identity? i mean i get that there are rules and guidelines but cant they just find a way to make it work for everyone instead of taking out this one ppl its not exactly subtle what does it say about the administation if they're trying to erase a trans persons identity like thats not even a thing idk man