Big News

[Content Note: Homophobia.]

The United States State Department has appointed its first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement introducing Randy Berry and reaffirming the US' commitment to defending the human rights of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender:

I could not be more proud to announce Randy Berry as the first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons.

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. Wherever he's served – from Nepal to New Zealand, from Uganda to Bangladesh, from Egypt to South Africa, and most recently as Consul General in Amsterdam – Randy has excelled. He's a voice of clarity and conviction on human rights. And I'm confident that Randy's leadership as our new Special Envoy will significantly advance efforts underway to move towards a world free from violence and discrimination against LGBT persons.

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. That's why we're working to overturn laws that criminalize consensual same-sex conduct in countries around the world. It's why we're building our capacity to respond rapidly to violence against LGBT persons, and it's why we're working with governments, civil society, and the private sector through the Global Equality Fund to support programs advancing the human rights of LGBT persons worldwide.

Too often, in too many countries, LGBT persons are threatened, jailed, and prosecuted because of who they are or who they love. Too many governments have proposed or enacted laws that aim to curb freedom of expression, association, religion, and peaceful protest. More than 75 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex activity.

At the same time, and often with our help, governments and other institutions, including those representing all religions, are taking steps to reaffirm the universal human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. So while this fight is not yet won, this is no time to get discouraged. It's time to stay active. It's time to assert the equality and dignity of all persons, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. And with Randy helping to lead our efforts, I am confident that's exactly what we can and will do.

This is big news and it's good news. Of course, the efficacy of the person in the role is largely contingent on the priorities of the administration currently occupying the White House. But that is true of many parts of the State Department.

One thing I want to note about this appointment is who will get credit for it. As soon as I saw the news, I knew that it would be President Obama and Kerry who would get the credit. And, right on cue, the HRC delivers: "Today the HRC applauded the appointment of Randy W. Berry, a veteran senior U.S. Foreign Service Officer, as the State Department's first ever LGBT Human Rights Envoy. HRC praised President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry for creating this new senior-level position to oversee the United States government's efforts to support the human rights of LGBT people around the world."

And, sure, good job, Mr. President and Mr. Secretary.

But the primary credit goes to the tireless LGBTQIA activists, in the States and around the world, who have advocated for their own rights and made enough noise to get a global superpower to recognize the importance of including LGBTQIA rights as a plank in its foreign policy. People who have sacrificed their time, their energy, and sometimes their very lives in order to make themselves heard by straight, cis leaders who often worked very hard at not listening.

And, if we're going to be congratulating politicians, then how about a little love for this lady?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a landmark speech on LGBT rights yesterday, in which she reasserted that LGBT rights are human rights and cemented the fight against discrimination toward LGBT people as a plank of US foreign policy, pledging to use diplomacy and dedicating $3 million in foreign aid to help expand LGBT rights globally.

...It is a remarkable and moving (if imperfect) speech, and I can't even begin to choose what I would excerpt (I encourage you to watch/read the whole thing), but this is pretty good: "When any part of humanity is sidelined, the rest of us cannot sit on the sidelines. ...When we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won't suffer any consequences for their actions, and so they carry on. But when we do act, we send a powerful moral message. ...To people of all nations, I say supporting human rights is your responsibility too. ...The actions you take, the ideals that you advocate, can determine whether human rights flourish where you are."

That, let us note, was Hillary Clinton keeping her campaign promise to make global LGBTQIA rights an active "part of American foreign policy," in an interview with a queer publication to which President Obama wouldn't even grant an interview.

I want to celebrate this remarkable event in the US' foreign policy. I also want to make sure that the activists who made it happen, and the woman who promised them change at the State Department and delivered, piece by piece, don't get forgotten when the credit is being handed out to the men who are standing on their shoulders.