U.S. announces its first international envoy for LGBT rights

On Monday, the U.S. named Randy Berry as its first international envoy for LGBT rights. Berry, who has worked at U.S. posts in Bangladesh, Egypt, Uganda, and South Africa, is the consul general in the Netherlands, The Associated Press reports.

"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," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

Kerry said that reversing laws in countries that criminalize same-sex activity will be a priority for the U.S. "Nations that place LGBT people in the crosshairs of danger must know that the United States will not turn a blind eye," Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, told AP.

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The announcement comes after Defense Secretary Ash Carter said transgender people shouldn't be denied from serving in the U.S. military.