Randy W. Berry

Randy Berry
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 50–51)
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

  1. 1 2 "Prominent American LGBT People". Virtual Embassy of the United States: Tehran, Iran. United States Department of State. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dorell, Oren (April 26, 2015). "Exclusive: First diplomat for LGBT rights speaks out". USA Today. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 LoGiurato, Brett (February 24, 2015). "5 things you need to know about Randy Berry, the U.S.' first international envoy for LGBT rights". Fusion. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Randy W. Berry: Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons". United States Department of State. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
Diplomatic posts
New office United States Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons
2015–present 		Incumbent
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