• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Politics
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Gay Pride
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Men
  • Space
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Monkeypox
  • Film/TV

In Surprise Move, Obama’s LGBT State Dept. Envoy to Continue in Role

Luis Damian Veron February 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

Randy Berry

A State Department spokesman has confirmed that the Obama-appointed top official for LGBT issues abroad will apparently retain his post under the Trump administration.

Randy Berry, the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, was the first to serve in the position created in April 2015, and will “continue in his role in the current administration.” Tasked with the promotion of LGBT rights abroad, he was also further appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor by Obama earlier this year upon the conclusion of his presidency.

A gay man himself, Berry carried out a high-profile visit with the Vatican in his capacity as a representative of American foreign interests, as well as missions to trouble spots prone to anti-LGBT repression such as Uganda. His appointment served as a powerful symbol of the Obama administration’s focus on promoting the human rights and dignity of LGBT individuals worldwide. It is no surprise that conservative religious groups such as the Family Research Council complained about this shift in State Department priorities and urged Trump to abandon it, even implausibly painting incoming Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as “pro-gay” and therefore unlikely to carry out this policy reversal or a purge of LGBT-friendly diplomats at Foggy Bottom, which yet remains to be seen.

While the spokesman did not elaborate on the thinking behind the personnel decision, it does seem notable given that other ideologically-opposed posts such as the Special Envoy for Climate Change were vacated and are likely to stand empty for the foreseeable future. However, as with the draft anti-LGBT executive order left on hold for now, advocacy groups still remain vigilant that the other shoe may yet drop:

“This is really surprising to me,” Ross Murray, the director of programs at GLAAD, a pro-LGBT group, told [Foreign Policy magazine]. “I don’t think I can applaud it until I see what his mandate becomes in this administration.”

“But Berry has been really effective in that job,” he said.

Observers in both the foreign policy and LGBT communities must now wait to see if Berry will be allowed to maintain this effectiveness in his portfolio.

Topics: Politics, towleroad More Posts About: International LGBT Rights, Randy Berry, State Department, World

Related Posts
  • G7: Ukraine minister fears ‘great losses’ in country’s wheat harvest
  • Hungary LGBTQ Crisis: Leader Has Wiped Out Marriage, Adoption, Gender Rights; Now, Ties to Paedophilia, ‘Morally There is No Difference’
  • Bright Light x 2, ‘The One’, Taylor Swift, Donny Deutsch, Sarah Paulson, Demi Lovato, Mohammed Bin Salman: HOT LINKS
  • Actor Kevin Spacey facing sexual assault charges in UK

    Actor Kevin Spacey facing sexual assault charges in UK

    Published by AFP The two-time Oscar winner was artistic director of the Old Vic London (AFP) – Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey is facing sexual assault charges in the UK, police and prosecutors said on Thursday, after …Read More »
  • Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher has died aged 60

    Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher has died aged 60

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher has died aged 60. The keyboardist and founding member – who was born in Nottingham and moved to Basildon in the 70s – of the 80s band …Read More »
  • TV board dismisses Senator’s request to allow parents to shield kids from LGBTQ characters; Cites 95% Parent Satisfaction With Ratings

    TV board dismisses Senator’s request to allow parents to shield kids from LGBTQ characters; Cites 95% Parent Satisfaction With Ratings

      Published by The Kansas City Star   The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board dismissed a request from Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, asking them to update their ratings system so parents could shield …Read More »
  • Apple unveils new Pride Apple Watch bands and watch face

    Apple unveils new Pride Apple Watch bands and watch face

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Apple has unveiled new Pride bands and a watch face for the Apple Watch to mark Pride Month. The tech giant is releasing a Pride Edition Sport Loop and the Pride …Read More »
Previous Post: « Michael Flynn Urged Trump Supporters to Lock Hillary Up for Putting Nation’s Security at Risk: WATCH
Next Post: Matt Lauer Tells Kellyanne Conway Her Michael Flynn Explanation ‘Makes No Sense’ – WATCH »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Don McLean, Larry Gatlin Pull Out Of NRA Convention Concert In Texas

    Don McLean, Larry Gatlin Pull Out Of NRA Convention Concert In Texas

  • Trump must testify in New York probe, appeals court rules

    Trump must testify in New York probe, appeals court rules

  • Guns are now the leading cause of death for American children

    Guns are now the leading cause of death for American children

  • The staggering toll of gun violence in the United States

    The staggering toll of gun violence in the United States

Break

  • Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue in a deal reportedly worth 100 million dollars

    Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue in a deal reportedly worth 100 million dollars

  • Dyson set to preview new robots to help with tasks at home

    Dyson set to preview new robots to help with tasks at home

  • Elvis fever set to shake Cannes

    Elvis fever set to shake Cannes

  • Battle Of The Billionaires! Elon Musk SLAMS Bill Gates After Article Claims Microsoft Mogul Is Funding Musk’s Critics

    Battle Of The Billionaires! Elon Musk SLAMS Bill Gates After Article Claims Microsoft Mogul Is Funding Musk’s Critics

RSS Partner Links

  • OMG, his butt: Actor Devon Sawa in HACKS Season 2
  • OMG, LISTEN TO THIS: Dua Lipa and Young Thug team with Calvin Harris for ‘Potion’ video
  • Jacinda Ardern Delivers Harvard Commencement Speech: DEMOCRACY CAN BE FRAGILE
  • Morning Round-Up: James Scully; Jodie Foster; Jake Borelli; Andy Cohen; Ellen DeGeneres
  • eBay Is Homophobic (Literally) & Full Of Shit
  • Birthday Sluts
  • Caption Me
  • Song of the Day: 'Blasphemous Rumours' by Depeche Mode
  • Page 1 Roundup (05/27)

Most Recent

  • ‘The Reckoning Is Going To Happen’: Kevin Spacey’s Brother Slams Actor Hours After Sexual Assault Charges

    ‘The Reckoning Is Going To Happen’: Kevin Spacey’s Brother Slams Actor Hours After Sexual Assault Charges

  • Actor Kevin Spacey facing sexual assault charges in UK

    Actor Kevin Spacey facing sexual assault charges in UK

  • Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher has died aged 60

    Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher has died aged 60

  • TV board dismisses Senator’s request to allow parents to shield kids from LGBTQ characters; Cites 95% Parent Satisfaction With Ratings

    TV board dismisses Senator’s request to allow parents to shield kids from LGBTQ characters; Cites 95% Parent Satisfaction With Ratings

  • Apple unveils new Pride Apple Watch bands and watch face

    Apple unveils new Pride Apple Watch bands and watch face

  • Lithuanian parliament agrees to consider same-sex partnership bill

    Lithuanian parliament agrees to consider same-sex partnership bill

  • German minister warns against homophobia amid monkeypox outbreak

    German minister warns against homophobia amid monkeypox outbreak

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Log in