Raffi Freedman-Gurspan is the first openly transgender staffer for the White House. She will serve as outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel.
Earlier this year, she was one of several advocates to participate in the first-ever White House briefing on the state of transgender minority women. She urged administration officials to develop a national plan on a range of issues, including discrimination, mental health, homelessness and unemployment.
She previously worked in the Massachusetts State House.
“Her hiring is a symbol of progress for the transgender community, but without a doubt I know it will be her skill and hard work that will benefit many,” former Massachusetts representative Carl Sciortino said in a statement.
Freedman-Gurspan may help influence the president’s immigration reform efforts. She has called for the release of undocumented transgender immigrants who can’t be safely detained and protected from assault.