The US looks set to flex its considerable political muscle in world politics (and hopefully this time to positive effect). The US State Department has announced that Secretary of State John Kerry is dead set on appointing an openly gay diplomat to help improve LGBT rights across the world.
There are numerous countries with depressing attitudes and legal infrastructures when it comes to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people – Russia and Uganda, for starters. Kerry wants to approach these human rights issues as a matter of urgency.
"When Secretary Kerry came here, he made it clear he was looking for new initiatives to make a mark on gay rights," a US State Department spokesperson told the Independent. "He reminded everyone that one of the first bills he introduced as a senator was gay rights legislation and that his very last speech as a senator included words on this very issue."
While Kerry hasn't revealed the name of the envoy, the State Department has been confirmed that the person will be openly gay.
Kerry also spoke out against the Ugandan government last year when it signed the deplorable Anti-Homosexuality Bill, saying: "This is a tragic day for Uganda and for all who care about the cause of human rights. Ultimately, the only answer is repeal of this law. Today’s signing threatens a dangerous slide backward in Uganda’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and a serious threat to the LGBT community in Uganda."
Russia is presumably another of Kerry's targets. The country boasts a shocking record on LGBT rights and a president that says things like "gay people must leave children alone" in public. With political leaders letting bullshit like that fall out of their mouths, take this as one area where America's political power could actually do some good.
