High Praise for State Department's First-Ever Envoy for LGBT Human Rights

Longtime State Department diplomat Randy Berry will serve in a new post tasked with improving the situation of LGBT people around the world.

Special Envoy for LGBT Human Rights Randy A. Berry

Human and LGBT rights organizations are hailing the U.S. State Department's choice of Randy A. Berry as the nation's first LGBT human rights envoy.

"We looked far and wide to find the right American official for this important assignment," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a written statement about the much-anticipated appointment, announced today. "Randys a leader. Hes a motivator. But most importantly for this effort, hes got vision. Wherever hes served from Nepal to New Zealand, from Uganda to Bangladesh, from Egypt to South Africa, and most recently as Consul General in Amsterdam Randy has excelled."

The idea of appointing of a special envoy for LGBT human rights was championed by several groups and individuals, including American Jewish World Service, the Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights First. and Sen. Ed Markey, who last year introduced a bill to create the envoy post that will now be occupied by Randy Berry.

At a moment when many LGBT people around the world are facing persecution and daily violence, this unprecedented appointment shows a historic commitment to the principle that LGBT rights are human rights, said HRC president Chad Griffin in a statement issued after the announcement that the new post would be filled by Berry.

President Obama and Secretary Kerry have shown tremendous leadership in championing the rights of LGBT people abroad," Griffin continued. "Now, working closely with this new envoy, weve got to work harder than ever to create new allies, push back on human rights violators, and support the brave leaders and organizations that fight for LGBT rights around the world."

Other groups were equally pleased with the administration's choice to fill post of special envoy for LGBT human rights.

We congratulate Mr. Berry on being appointed to this important position," said Human Rights First's Shawn Gaylord. "We look forward to working with him to promote equality for LGBT people around the world, to support the activists who are working for change at great risk to themselves, and to ensure that the United States continues to make the protection of the human rights of all people a key foreign policy priority"

Human Rights First expects to meet with Berry in the near future, presumably to discuss priorities, collaboration strategies for securing a better future for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world.

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High Praise for State Department's First-Ever Envoy for LGBT Human Rights