Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, previously an Outreach and Recruitment Director for Presidential Personnel at the White House, has been promoted to the role of primary liaison for LGBT issues. She is the first openly trans woman of colour in history to be a member of staff at the White House

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Centre for Transgender Equality, told Buzzfeed, “Raffi is a great choice. President Obama has said he wants his administration to look like America, and they have moved to include trans Americans. Raffi’s skills and personality make her the exact right person for this important job.”

Freedman-Gurspan is definitely qualified for the job – in her short career, she served as a policy adviser at the National Centre for Transgender Equality and a legislative director in the Massachusetts House of Representatives before joining the White House staff.

“We believe it is a tremendous decision by the White House to recognise Raffi’s leadership as well as the importance of having transgender leadership in an important role for the community,” added Senior VP of Policy and Political Affairs for the Human Rights Campaign, JoDee Winterhof.

Congrats, Raffi!