White House Hires Transgender Official Raffi Freedman-Gurspan [PHOTO]

The White House has hired Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, who is officially their first openly transgender official, who will serve as an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel. The announcement of her hiring was made earlier today, and she will be beginning her position in the Office of Personnel.

Her previous position was as a policy advisor for the National Center for Transgender Equality’s racial and economic justice intiative. The new position with the White House will allow her to appoint “qualified openly LGBT public servants” to different positions across the federal government.

 - blogged by @eleven8 - Today the #WhiteHouse has hired their first openly transgender official, Raffi Freedman-Gurspan. "Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions,” said White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. "Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans, particularly transgender people of color and those in poverty, reflects the values of this Administration." Freedman-Gurspan will serve as an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel.

A photo posted by Baller Alert (@balleralert) on Aug 18, 2015 at 10:03am PDT

White House advisor Valerie Jarrett released a statement on her hiring, speaking on how important this milestone is for the LGBT community, as well as the Obama Administration:

"Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions. Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans, particularly transgender people of color and those in poverty, reflects the values of this Administration,” she stated.

According to reports, hiring Freedman-Gurspan is one of the steps that has been taken for the Obama Administration to support gender equality. NCTE’s executive director, Mara Keisling, said she was “elated” by the news, stating, “President Obama has long said he wants his administration to look like the American people. I have understood this to include transgender Americans. A transgender person was inevitably going to work in the White House. 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.”

Previously, the Administration designated a gender-neutral restroom in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building this past April. They are also reportedly working towards making sure that all of the voices and experiences are part of the federal government.