State Department Names First LGBT Rights Envoy

The State Department has named Randy Berry as its first ever special envoy to promote the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders around the world.

"We looked far and wide to find the right American official for this important assignment. Randy's a leader. He's a motivator. But most importantly for this effort, he's got vision," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

Kerry said that too often, in too many countries, LGBT people are threatened, put in jail, and prosecuted, The Hill reports.

"That's why we're working to overturn laws that criminalize consensual same-sex conduct in countries around the world," he said in a statement.

"Defending and promoting the human rights of LGBT persons is at the core of our commitment to advancing human rights globally — the heart and conscience of our diplomacy," he said.