The White House has hired its first openly transgender employee, according to a U.S. official, winning praise from activists for President Barack Obama's support for lesbian, gay and transgender people.

Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, 28, a longtime advocate for transgender rights, will be an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel, according to a statement from the Obama administration.

"Raffi Freedman-Gurspan demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions," Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president, said in a statement.