The new US ambassador to the Dominican Republic has taken up his post and introduced the country to his husband, despite an outcry from religious groups over the fact that he is gay.

James "Wally" Brewster arrived in Santo Domingo this week after months of protests from Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders who branded his appointment an insult to the Caribbean nation. The diplomat, who is believed to be the US's seventh openly gay ambassador, responded to the controversy with an upbeat promotional video on the embassy website which introduced his husband, Bob Satawake.

"My spouse, Bob, and I have travelled the world, from the far reaches of Asia to the stunning coastlines of southern Europe," Brewster says in the clip. Satawake chips in: "But we always return to the beauty of the Dominican Republic."

Both men wear smiles and sober suits and profess a love of baseball, their adopted country's national passion.

In a veiled plea for tolerance, the ambassador says: "My parents taught me that all people deserve respect, dignity, love and opportunity. They also instilled in me a strong belief in God, and the values of love and tolerance. Bob and I bring those beliefs and values with us as we come to the Dominican Republic. We are both thrilled to be coming back to our second home."

Luis Rosario, a Catholic priest and director of church youth ministries, appeared unmoved and lamented President Barack Obama's appointment.

"He has not considered the particularities of our people. The United States is trying to impose on us marriage between gays and lesbians as well as adoption by these couples," he told CNN.

The Dominican government, gay rights groups and some leading media organisations have accepted the appointment but religious leaders have responded with abuse and criticism since it was announced in June. The Dominican Evangelical Fraternity called it "an insult to good Dominican customs" and called for a black-ribbon protest.

A Catholic cardinal, Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, waded in several times and at a press conference referred to "faggots and lesbians". Another church leader, Monsignor Pablo Cedano, said he hoped Brewster would not come: "Because I know if he comes he is going to suffer and will have to leave."

Obama has appointed four other openly gay ambassadors, to Australia, Denmark, Spain and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Bill Clinton appointed the first, to Luxembourg, in 1999.

In a Senate confirmation hearing last month Brewster anticipated "challenges and controversies" in his new job but said they would be outweighed by the rewards of representing the American people. He married Satawake last week at a ceremony near the White House, hours after Vice-President Joe Biden swore him in.

A Texan and lifelong Democrat, Brewster has served on the board of the gay-rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. He made a made a fortune in real estate and marketing and was a generous donor to Obama's 2012 presidential campaign.