Amanda Simpson Makes History As One Of The First Transgender Presidental Appointees

President Obama has appointed Amanda Simpson as Senior Technical Advisor to the Commerce Department, making her one of the first transgender presidental appointees.

Talking about her appointment, Simpson, who is a member on the board of directors of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said that she hopes “…that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others.”  It is believed that Simpson may well be the first transgender appointment there has been but Democrat officials say that they are unable to confirm this as fact.

Formerly a test pilot, Simpson had until recently worked as Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona, and in this period completed the transition from male to female, as well as playing a leading role in convincing the military contractor that gender identity and expression should be part of its equal employment opportunity policy.

Simpson is also no newcomer to politics having previously run for the Arizona House of Representatives, and also being a delegate for Hilary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.