U.S. Secretary of State introduces LGBT envoy

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry formally introduced Randy Berry as the special U.S. envoy to promote global LGBT rights on February 27, 2015.

“We have a moral obligation to speak out against the persecution and the marginalization of LGBT persons,” said Kerry during a State Department reception where he formally introduced Berry. “The United States of America remains unwavering in our commitment to advance the human rights of all being, and that includes LGBT persons.”

Berry’s husband and their two young children joined him during the reception.

“This love still stands ground for imprisonment, harassment, torture and far worse in too many places around the world,” said Berry, referring to his spouse who is originally from South Africa. “That is a violation of human rights.”

“We can and we must do better,” added Berry. “Lives, futures, hopes and dreams depend on that and that is why we are here today and that is also why this type of role is needed.”

Berry has been the consul general at the U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam since August 2012.

He was the consul general at the U.S. Consulate in Auckland, New Zealand, from 2009-2012 and the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nepal from 2007-2009. Berry during his State Department career has also been posted in D.C., Bangladesh, Egypt, Uganda and South Africa.