President Obama Hires First Transgender White House Staff Member

President Obama has appointed the first openly transgender woman to a position in the White House, according to The Advocate.

Raffi Freedman-Gurspan started working this week in the White House, serving as an Outreach and Recruitment director in the Presidential Personnel Office. Formerly the Racial and Economic Justice Initiative Policy Advisor at the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE).

While transgender persons have worked in civil service positions and in various federal agencies or been appointed to presidential commissions and boards previously, The Advocate points out, Freedman-Gurspan is the first openly transgender appointee to work inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this Administration champions.” Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, told The Advocate. “Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans, particularly transgender people of color and those in poverty, reflects the values of this Administration.”

The White House unveiled its first gender-neutral bathroom this spring, NBC News reported.

In June, President Obama applauded Caitlyn Jenner’s public transition to life as a woman. Jenner is starring in a documentary series ”I Am Cait,” about the experience transitioning into her new life.

Read the entire story by The Advocate here.