White House appoints first openly trans official

The White House has for the first time hired an openly transgender staff member.

On Thursday, it was announced that Raffi Freedman-Gurspan had been appointed Outreach and Recruitment Director for Presidential Personnel in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

Freedman-Gurspan, who has a degree in political science, was formerly a policy adviser at the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE).

“Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions,” commented Valerie Jarrett, Senior Adviser to President Obama, in a statement.

“Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans, particularly transgender people of colour and those in poverty, reflects the values of this administration.”

NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling said she was “elated” at the news of the appointment and praised Freedman-Gurspan’s “experience and knowledge of how to accomplish policy change, as well as her core commitment to racial and economic justice.”

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) congratulated Freedman-Gurspan on the honour, noting that “under President Obama’s unprecedented leadership, the LGBT community has made historic progress.”