State Department Names Randy Berry as Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT people

Washington, D.C. – In response to today’s announcement that the State Department will appoint Randy Berry as the new special envoy to promote the protection of the human rights of LGBT people globally, Human Rights First’s Shawn Gaylord issued the following statement:

“We congratulate Mr. Berry on being appointed to this important position. 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.”

The special envoy will be tasked with advancing the State Department’s initiatives to protect the human rights of LGBT people, responding to discrimination and violence against LGBT people, and building partnerships with LGBT activists around the world. Human Rights First has advocated for the appointment of a special envoy for the human rights of LGBT people, urging President Obama to build on his administration’s progress in advancing equality by creating this position. Human Rights First plans to meet with Mr. Berry in the coming weeks to discuss his new position.