Gautam Raghavan was the Associate Director of Public Engagement under former President Obama, acting as a liaison to both the LGBT and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities from 2011 to 2014. He has also worked for the Progressive Majority, campaign of Obama’s presidential bid in 2008, the Democratic National Committee, the Gill Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Defense as the Outreach Lead for its ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ working group.

As the Associate Director of Public Engagement, Raghavan facilitated conversation on issues impacting both the LGBT and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, including marriage equality, workplace nondiscrimination, transgender rights, prevention of bullying, immigration reforms and access to proper health care. It was during Raghavan’s tenure that the then President Obama spoke out in favour of equality in marriage.

Raghavan currently serves as a consultant for progressive organisations including the Joe Biden Foundation and the Indian American Impact Project & Fund.

He is also the editor of the book ‘West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House’.