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President Donald Trump has put forth the nomination of an Alabama urologist, Brian Christine, who is known for his controversial stance against transgender issues, to fill the position of assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services. This role was previously held by Rachel Levine, the first transgender individual confirmed by the Senate under the Biden administration.
At 61 years old, Christine is set to oversee crucial public health initiatives in the U.S. His nomination is amidst Trump’s wider campaign against LGBTQ+ rights, triggering significant backlash from advocates who accuse him of hypocrisy, specifically regarding his previous promotion of gender-affirming care treatment for transgender men.
Christine has publicly criticized gender-affirming care for transgender youth, labeling it as “damaging” and playing into what he describes as a liberal agenda aimed at undermining family values, religion, and conventional gender norms.
In an October 2022 podcast episode, Christine characterized gender dysphoria as a “psychiatric condition” warranting “corrective care” rather than affirming medical treatment. He accused “the left” of exploiting transgender youth for its political ends and for attacking traditional family structures and theological beliefs.
Despite these assertions, Christine has claimed he has never treated transgender patients.
The Washington Post reports that, in a White House statement, Christine emphasized: “I have never treated transgender ‘men’ for sexual dysfunction, either with medication or surgery. I have never performed a surgical ‘transition’ of a man or woman. I have never prescribed hormones to a patient with gender dysphoria or to aid in ‘transition.’ I am not a specialist in transgender care. I do not offer treatment to patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria.”
Contradicting this, The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Christine’s practice made specific mentions of transgender men care in promotional materials. For instance, a 2017 advertisement in Peach ATL, an LGBTQ+ magazine, highlighted his services in providing “surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction in female-to-male transgender patients” and asserted a commitment to unbiased, inclusive care. Archived data also suggested that his website listed transgender men care within his professional specialties.
Professional bodies, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, affirm that gender-affirming care is supported by medical evidence and is often necessary for the well-being of transgender individuals, facilitating critical medical interventions like hormone therapy and surgeries for eligible patients.
Given these conflicting narratives, many advocates consider Christine’s candidacy unacceptable.
Brandon Wolf, national spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, described Christine’s nomination as “a move against the significant leaders in this vital role and a disservice to the communities they represent, whom he has disregarded.”
Christine’s views starkly contrast with those of Levine, who actively advocated for transgender individuals’ access to gender-affirming healthcare. In contrast, Christine has aligned himself with politicized criticisms of such care, branding it harmful while suggesting it is part of an overarching government agenda.
Christine’s nomination will undergo scrutiny by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, where Democratic senators will be urged to address Christine’s conflicting statements and history regarding transgender healthcare. A hearing date has not yet been set.
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