WASHINGTON – The White House has announced its intention to nominate Daniel Baer – the current deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor – as the next ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). If confirmed, Baer would become the 4th openly-LGBT person to serve as a U.S. ambassador abroad, and the first to a multilateral institution.
“Deputy Assistant Secretary Baer has led a distinguished career of public service, both at home and abroad,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin. “Over the last few years at the Department of State, Daniel has worked tirelessly to promote democracy and human rights in every corner of the globe, helping to secure and protect the freedoms of the world’s most vulnerable communities. This, paired with his years of global business experience, makes him an outstanding choice to be our nation’s next Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.”
This is wonderful news. The LGBT community in the United States and around the world is really fortunate to have advocates like Ambassador Baer in these kinds of positions.