According to a statement released Tuesday, President Obama has appointed the very first openly transgender White House Staff member. A former policy advisor for National Center for Transgender Equality, Raffi Freedman-Gurspan will serve as an outreach and recruitment director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.
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NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling stated, “President Obama has long said he wants his administration to look like the American people. I have understood this to include transgender Americans,” she added, “That the first transgender appointee is a transgender woman of color is itself significant. And that the first White House transgender appointee is of a friend is inspiring to me and to countless others who have been touched by Raffi’s advocacy.”
The president’s senior advisor Valerie Jarrett said,”Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions,” adding, “Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans, particularly transgender people of color and those in poverty, reflects the values of this administration.”
This is one of many steps President Obama has taken to support the LGBT community. Previously, has signed executive orders that banned federal contractors from discriminating against employees due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, and also created a gender-neutral bathroom in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Source CNN
