Democrat Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro pledged to protect "our trans children" in the face of "hate" coming from the federal government and welcomed Admiral
Rachel Levine back to the Governor's mansion at his fourth annual pride reception.
The June 2026 event welcomed LGBTQ+ leaders and activists from across the state to celebrate queerness with transgender flags, a performance from the Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus, and an impassioned speech from Shapiro. Shapiro has been a fierce advocate of gender ideology throughout his political career and believes gender-confused children should have access to harmful sex-rejecting medical interventions such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change surgeries. Shapiro promised to protect "trans children" at the LGBTQ+ reception, video obtained by The Daily Wire through a public records request shows.
"I'm guilty of letting emotion get in when I see politicians trying to score cheap political points off the well-being of trans kids in this commonwealth," stated Shapiro. "I need you to know that I take very seriously the defense of all God's children — our trans children, our gay children, our LGBTQ+ children. Every one of you is loved and welcome here, and I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Dr. Kurt Miceli, Chief Medical Officer at Do No Harm, told The Daily Wire that politicians who ignore the dangers of sex-rejecting interventions put vulnerable kids in harm's way.
"The scientific consensus shows that sex-rejecting interventions on minors can lead to serious, often irreversible, harm," Miceli said. "The tragic irony is that lawmakers who refuse to acknowledge the flawed case for so-called gender affirming care will push policies that end up hurting the vulnerable kids they say they want to protect. If the goal is to help gender confused kids, then politicians should support policies backed by evidence-based medicine, not radical gender ideologues."
Shapiro has promised a group of supporters that he would codify LGBTQ+ rights if Democrats were to win the state government trifecta, according to local reporting. The Daily Wire asked Governor Shapiro what LGBTQ+ laws he would codify if Democrats win the trifecta but he did not respond to a request for comment.
Screenshot of Governor Shapiro's Flickr page showing Admiral Levine attending a June 2026 pride event.
Shapiro joined a group of state attorneys general in his capacity as Pennsylvania's Governor and sued the Trump administration for banning pediatric sex-rejecting procedures, in August 2025. He has called politicians who support legislation that stops men from competing in women's sports "extremists," according to local reporting.
"The adults are important, kids are extra important, and I need you to know that here in Pennsylvania, you will be protected," Shapiro stated at the LGBTQ+ reception. "This is a moment in time where we got to stand up and make sure our kids are looked after, our kids are protected, and we're going to do that."
Shapiro received thunderous applause when he welcomed Admiral Levine to the event. Levine is one of the most prominent transgender activists in America and served as the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health from July 2017 to January 2021 before being appointed Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services by former President Joe Biden. Levine played a prominent role in advocating for policy supporting pediatric sex-rejecting medical procedures during the Biden administration.
The Daily Wire asked Governor Shapiro if he would consider giving Admiral Levine a position in his administration if re-elected but he did not respond to a request for comment.
Key leaders of the Shapiro administration attended the pride event, including Secretary of Human Services Dr. Valerie Arkoosh and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe.
"A number of wonderful leaders and allies in my cabinet who are here. I saw Secretary Arkoosh, our great leader in the Department of Human Services with us," Shapiro said. "Secretary Rowe, who is out, and leads our education department—she does an amazing job."
Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen was also in attendance. The Pennsylvania Department of Health wanted to remove "mothers" and "pregnant woman" from the state health code and the terms "pregnant woman" and "mother of a newborn" were replaced with "pregnant or postpartum individual" throughout a 502-page regulatory proposal made public in August 2026. The regulatory proposal was withdrawn on September 25 after significant public backlash.
Ashleigh Strange, executive director for the Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, also spoke at the pride reception. Shapiro created the Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs in June 2023 that engages in LGBTQ activism throughout Pennsylvania and provides the administration with legislative and policy recommendations.
"This International Trans Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) reaffirms their commitment to the safe housing of all residents in correctional facilities," states an Instagram post. "Transgender inmates are often at a higher risk of mistreatment and the PA DOC firmly stands by the PREA standards that protect PA inmates."
Shapiro called Strange and the LGBTQ+ commission his "ambassadors" to the community.
"Ash and the members of the commission, well, they are all my ambassadors out in the community," Shapiro stated at the pride event. "I want to thank Ash and every member of this commission for representing me, representing our administration, and representing this Commonwealth so well. We are grateful to you, and we are thankful to you."
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