By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/white-house-hires-first-openly-transgender-staffer Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter White House hires its first openly transgender staffer Politics Aug 18, 2015 12:29 PM EDT Pres @BarackObama has appointed openly #trans Raffi Freedman-Gurspan to serve in White House https://t.co/3Pcm3Va6hY pic.twitter.com/u9vOho40jZ — Transgender Legal (@TLDEF) August 18, 2015 EDGARTOWN, Mass. — The White House has hired its first openly transgender staff member. The White House announced Raffi Freedman-Gurspan’s appointment on Tuesday. Freedman-Gurspan is an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel. Transgender advocates say she is the first openly transgender official to serve in the White House. Freedman-Gurspan previously was a policy adviser for the National Center for Transgender Equality’s racial and economic justice initiative. Advocates hailed her appointment as an important step for the LGBT community and for ensuring that the federal government includes the voices and experiences of all Americans. White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett says Freedman-Gurspan’s commitment to improving the lives of transgender Americans reflects the values of the Obama administration. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
Pres @BarackObama has appointed openly #trans Raffi Freedman-Gurspan to serve in White House https://t.co/3Pcm3Va6hY pic.twitter.com/u9vOho40jZ — Transgender Legal (@TLDEF) August 18, 2015 EDGARTOWN, Mass. — The White House has hired its first openly transgender staff member. The White House announced Raffi Freedman-Gurspan’s appointment on Tuesday. Freedman-Gurspan is an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel. Transgender advocates say she is the first openly transgender official to serve in the White House. Freedman-Gurspan previously was a policy adviser for the National Center for Transgender Equality’s racial and economic justice initiative. Advocates hailed her appointment as an important step for the LGBT community and for ensuring that the federal government includes the voices and experiences of all Americans. White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett says Freedman-Gurspan’s commitment to improving the lives of transgender Americans reflects the values of the Obama administration. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now