USA Today quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the appointment of Randy Berry as the first US Special Envoy for the Human Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender Persons:
J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa program at the Atlantic Council and often a hardliner on security issues, said creating the position will help highlight U.S. diplomatic concern about the treatment of LGBT people.
“That said, I find it regrettable that with the political climate in Washington it’s not feasible to create this role at the level of ambassador,” Pham said. “The drawback is … it might be perceived in some of these African countries this really is not a primary concern.”