President Obama Appoints Freedman-Gurspan: First Transgender White House Staff Member

KENNETH HOU
Staff Writer

On Aug. 18, 2015, President Obama appointed the first transgender White House staff member.
The White House welcomed Raffi Freedman-Gurspan as the Outreach and Recruitment Director in the Office of Presidential Personnel. Freedman-Gurspan has had previous experience as the Racial and Economic Justice Initiative Policy Advisor at the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE).

The appointment came with much praise from the LGBT community; leaders and advocates noted that Freedman-Gurspan is a role model who inspires members of the LGBT community.

“Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions,” Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, told The Advocate. According to the NCTE, the decision to appoint Freedman-Gurspan was long in the making. NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling stated that a goal of Obama was to shape his administration so that it reflected the diversity of the American people.

The Obama administration is no stranger to support of the LGBT community. In the past, Obama banned federal contractors from discriminating against employees based on gender or sexual orientation. “I feel reassured knowing that there is a transgender official working in the White House,” sophomore Calvin Nguyen said. “I hope this appointment encourages people in the country to be open minded and more accepting of other’s differences.”