“President Obama has said he wants his administration to look like America, and they have moved to include trans Americans,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “Raffi’s skills and personality make her the exact right person for this important job.”
President Obama’s Track Record With the LGBT Community
- Repealed the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy allowing LGBT Americans to serve openly in the Armed Forces
- Ended the Legal Defense of Marriage Act allowing gay and lesbian couples to receive the same Federal rights and legal protections as straight couples
- Signed a Historic Hate Crimes Legislation, which extends the coverage of Federal hate crimes law to include attacks based on the vitim’s sexual orientation or gender identity
- Ensuring hospital visitation rights for LGBT patients and their loved ones
- Addressed health care disparities to include the health needs and concerns of the LGBT community
- Ensuring equality for the LGBT Federal Government Employees
- Preventing bullying against LGBT students
- Ensuring LGBT equality in housing and crime prevention
- Advancing and protecting the rights of LGBT people around the world
We are very excited and optimistic about this new appointment and what it means for the LGBT community. It’s about time someone from the transgender community took leadership in this position.
