The White House has hired its first openly transgender staffer, the Obama administration announced Tuesday.
President Obama appointed Raffi Freedman-Gurspan to a senior post in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel with the title of outreach and recruitment director.
Freedman-Gurspan previously served as a policy adviser for the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Racial & Economic Justice Initiative or NCTE. Before that position, she worked in the Massachusetts State House where she helped pass the Transgender Equality Law.
Senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett welcomed Freedman-Gurspan to the administration and said she “demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions.” She started the job Tuesday.
“Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans, particularly transgender people of color and those in poverty, reflects the values of this administration,” Jarrett said in a statement.
Freedman-Gurspan’s work at NCTE focused on assisting transgender people of color and those living in poverty. She advocated on improving the conditions of transgender prisoners, addressing biased policing against transgender communities, pushed to limit the use of detention for undocumented transgender immigrants and tried to mitigate violence against transgender people of color, according to the group.
“I am elated that Raffi Freedman-Gurspan will become the first openly transgender staff member at the White House,” said NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling. “President Obama has long said he wants his administration to look like the American people. I have understood this to include transgender Americans.”
“That the first transgender appointee is a transgender woman of color is itself significant,” she added. “And that the first White House transgender appointee is a friend is inspiring to me and to countless others who have been touched by Raffi’s advocacy.”
