Randy W. Berry
| Randy Berry | |
|---|---|
| File:Berry Randy W 200 1.jpg | |
| United States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons | |
| Assumed office April 13, 2015 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1965 (age 58–59) |
| Spouse(s) | Pravesh Singh |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Bethany College, Kansas |
Randy W. Berry (born 1965) is an American diplomat. He serves as the inaugural Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons in the United States Department of State.
Early life and education
Randy W. Berry was born in 1965[1][2] and grew up on his family cattle ranch in Custer County, Colorado.[3][4]
Berry graduated from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, receiving a Rotary Scholarship to attend the University of Adelaide in Australia. Besides English, he speaks Spanish and Arabic.[3]
Career
Berry worked for America West Airlines in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was employed as an international training manager.[3] He joined the United States Foreign Service in 1993,[4] serving as a diplomat in Nepal, Bangladesh, Egypt, South Africa, and Uganda.[3] He was Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal from 2007 to 2009[4] and then served as United States Consul General in Auckland, New Zealand from 2009 to 2012. He was Consul General in Amsterdam, Netherlands from 2012 to 2015.[3][4]
Berry has served as the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons since April 13, 2015.[2][4] This position was created after Democratic Congressman Alan Lowenthal of California and Democratic Senator Edward Markey called for it; it was announced by Secretary of State John Kerry in February 2015.[2] Two months later, Berry was appointed as the first office holder.[2] Meanwhile, some analysts suggested Berry should have been appointed to the higher rank of ambassador.[2] He began his term as Special Envoy by focusing on supporting LGBTI rights in South America.[2] He also argued that police resources in repressive homophobic societies like Uganda, infamous for its Kill the Gays bill, should be redirected towards combatting terrorism, not harassing their LGBTI citizens.[2]
Personal life
Berry is married to Pravesh Singh, and together they have a son and a daughter.[2] They reside in Washington, D.C..[1]
References
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External links
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | United States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons 2015–present |
Incumbent |
- Pages with broken file links
- 1965 births
- 21st-century American diplomats
- Bethany College (Kansas) alumni
- Gay men
- LGBT diplomats
- LGBT people from the United States
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- LGBT appointed officials in the United States
- Living people
- Obama Administration personnel
- People from Custer County, Colorado
- People from Washington, D.C.
- United States Special Envoys
