Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: UN advances, Vatican disorders, a homo-native electorate, the hill we die on, Scotland's hate crime law, Chechen music, LGBTQ+ purchasing power, Mary & George, GenderQueer, and much more...
Welcome to the latest issue of "Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality." This week, we navigate the intersection of global diplomacy, legislative controversies, and the unabashed critique of surrogacy and trans identities in the Vatican's latest document. Celebrating progress at the UN and tackling challenges from Chechnya to the US, we explore the complexities of LGBTQ+ rights and representation across spheres. We also take a deep dive into global LGBTQ+ advocacy, economic influence, and the power of visibility.
This week: UN advances, Vatican disorders, a homo-native electorate, the hill we die on, Scotland's hate crime law, Chechen music, LGBTQ+ purchasing power, Mary & George, GenderQueer, and much more…
Global News
UN: Resolution on Intersex Rights
Well, look at me starting this week’s newsletter with good news. My shrink would be proud. The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the rights of intersex individuals, setting the stage for a UN report and panel discussion in 2025. Spearheaded by South Africa, Australia, Chile, and Finland, this resolution highlights the often overlooked challenges faced by intersex children subjected to non-consensual medical interventions. With 24 votes in favor (including Ghana!), 23 abstentions, and an absence of opposition, the resolution is a global shift towards recognizing and safeguarding the rights and dignity of intersex individuals. Please read about it on NBCNews, or better yet, read Yoni’s thorough analysis here.
UN too: historic Security Council on LGBTQ Rights in Colombia
More good news from the UN. Yesterday, the Security Council received a briefing on LGBTQ+ individuals in conflict zones, focusing on Colombia, for the first time in its 78-year history. Marcela Sánchez, the executive director of Colombia Diversa, demanded protection and equal participation for LGBTQ+ people in Colombia's peace process. Malta, which has been using its presidency well, organized the briefing with support from Outright. Read Sánchez’s address here. Russia ignored the conversation but did not intervene either.
Excellencies, every attack against an LGBTQ person, every human rights defender killed, and every murder left uninvestigated sends the message that our lives are dispensable.
Vatican: a bad case of organizational borderline personality
”Organizational borderline personality” is my contribution to organizational psychology. The Church is my case study. Its 20-page document, “Dignitas infinita” (“Infinite Dignity”), released last week after five years of preparation, we are told, is a punch in the face of LGBTQ+ people right after a tiny hug. It is very telling that, while “sexual abuse” gets only a few (contrite) lines, “gender theory” gets five paragraphs, “sex change” one, and surrogacy three. The authors seem oblivious to the way they are obsessed with us. Obsessed. In 2024, trans people and the handful of children born through surrogacy are not the biggest threats to human dignity. That would be unbridled capitalism, a lack of access to healthcare, a mental health crisis, or the trauma that LGBTQ+ children face in childhood and beyond. None of it is mentioned. The NYTimes wrote that “[the Church]’s immutable “truth” remained the same.” The Church's “truth” is always negotiated with one constant: the need to identify a “villain” and control bodies.
Surrogacy also violates the dignity of the woman, whether she is coerced into it or chooses to subject herself to it freely.
Scotland: the Controversial Hate Crime Law
Scotland's new crime of "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or being intersex is now live. JK Rowling hates it. The Scottish public hates it. The Economist referred to it as “Big Brother is listening.” Granted, none of them understand the new law. An excellent intellectual exercise is to wonder what the consequences of this homophobic incident in the DC metro last weekend would be if such a law existed in the district.
Chechnya: Kadyrov is still not well in the head
I’ll leave this here. Kadyrov’s Ministry of Culture decided to limit all music to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats. I suspect Jojo Siwa’s “Karma” (see below) does not fit in that limit.
UK: the birth of homo nativist electorate
Lately, I have had a meal with several LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. who hold highly conservative views on anything that wasn’t aligned with their well-being. This fascinating LSE article shows how opinions on homosexuality are increasingly dissociated from other social issues like immigration in the UK. This is something the LGBTQ+ community in the US has tried to avoid as much as possible because it is in bed with Democrats and Democrats only.
US News
Book bans: Is “Gender Queer” the hill you want to die on?
This week, every outlet in America commented on the ALA‘s most banned books of 2023. On top comes “Gender Queer”. So is Maia Kobabe’s book a “porn book that Democrats want to put in middle schools” or something that has its place in public schools library? There is only one way to form an opinion: read it. It’s $19 on Amazon. I am not trying to annoy any of you, but who decided in our community that Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer” would be the hill we were going to die on? Who the f**ck thought our embattled community would bring in the moveable middle by claiming our allegiance to this specific book? Can I speak to the manager? I am a very liberal parent with intelligent children (talk about humility) who can process a lot, but is our community blind to what America is ready to accept? In a context where a lack of critical thinking and ignorance is rampant, maybe we could have selected a less ambitious book for our crusade on gender diversity, one that does not picture oral sex. Now, the good news: “All Moms” is not on the banned list.
NAIA's Unanimous Decision to Ban Trans Athletes
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), a relatively minor organization, has voted 20-0 to ban trans women from participating in female sports categories. Starting August 1, the NAIA's new policy prohibits transgender women and girls from competing, while transgender men and boys can join women's teams unless they've started hormone therapy, after which participation is up to individual schools. Read more on ESPN.
This bodes well for Lesbian Visibility Week
Lesbian Visibility Week (April 22nd- April 27th) is not yet upon us, but lesbians are all the rage this week in the US. First, we get an explanation of why lesbians have more orgasms than straight women. And Jojo Siwa’s new video shocks the bourgeoisie. Then this kid has the internet rolling by asking “lesbian” for dinner. Bravo les Lesbiennes!
Queering the Boardroom
Nominate your Board for the NACD DEI award.
Consider nominating your board for the National Association of Corporate Directors' annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards. I would love to see boards with significant LGBTQ+ representation being represented. Act fast - nominations close on April 22. Here is the link.
The Association tries to gather support for NYSRS and NYC shareholder proposals.
This week, the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors wrote to BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, and StateStreet, asking them to support the LGBTQ+ proxies NYS and NYC retirement funds are championing. Fortune wrote about the proposals last week.
The Gay Business
An invitation to estimate the LGBTQ+ Global Purchasing Power
In a “post-Human Rights world,” the global economic power of LGBTQ+ people is an essential argument for private sector involvement. Yet, we do not have a robust estimate. Maybe the closest we have is the Pride Co-op’s estimate, an LGBTQ+-focused market research shop that seems to have gone out of business. They estimated that LGBTQ+ spending in 2022 was 1.4 trillion in the US, which is on par with the purchasing power of Turkey or that of the US Hispanic community's purchasing power. HRC recently referred to a “$1.46 trillion global purchasing power” figure, which I think they mistaken for that figure. There is a different NGLCC estimate that could be more robust. According to the report, LGBTIQ+-owned businesses contribute over USD 1.7 trillion to the GDP. Overall, this is an excellent research opportunity for a bored economist.
O&E confirms the degradation of the LGBTQ+ workplace environment
While Out & Equal’s survey released this week is not “statistically significant,‟ it showcases a worsening of workplace climate perception by the O&E network. If placed in parallel with recent evidence that the support for same-sex marriage is decreasing in the US, it all points to an issue with our common strategy.
The semi-cultural desk
Melania's Grand Re-Entrance: A GOP Gala with a Twist
Politico discusses Melania’s grand return to the political limelight. The former first lady, conspicuously absent from the buzz and bustle of campaign trails, is poised to make a splashy comeback at a fundraiser for the Log Cabin Republicans, scheduled for April 20th at none other than Mar-a-Lago. Known for her long-standing camaraderie with the Log Cabin Republicans — the GOP's incongruous LGBTQ+ faction — Melania will feel right at home. As whispers of her return transformed into headlines, the anticipation has built up: What hat will Melania wear in this GOP jamboree? I suggest something rainbow-colored.
Ripley: reluctantly enjoying Andrew Scott as Ripley
I was not planning to watch it. I fast-forwarded the first episode, only to return to it after episode four. I am a critical Frenchman, so I was planning to call it “pretentious” and sacrilegious because “The Talented M. Ripley” is (was?) among my favorite movies. But it now, compared to Netflix’s “Ripley,” feels commercial and hurried. In this version, Tom’s character only becomes Ripley when given the opportunity. Living around here for 45 years, almost 46 now, I, too, noticed that humanity’s evil tends to be opportunistic. Scott delivers an impressive performance. The jacket he wears or his being in his forties initially annoyed me. But they ultimately serve the idea of this coincidental transformation from an amateurish grifter to a skillful murderer. As for the choice of black and white, it does accompany beautiful shots of Italy and has the advantage of deterring undeserving spectators from watching it. Sting and actress Trudie Styler’s nonbinary child character is an oddity in a world when nonbinary people seldom existed, the 1960s. I would have applauded it if it wasn’t for the fact that I felt they were a mediocre actor - an opinion, not everybody shared after watching the series.
Kirchick and an odd comparison
In the NYTimes, Kirchick proposes that the lives of David Mixner and Joe Lieberman converge posthumously. He argues both men navigated their careers with a profound commitment to what they believed was right, even when it came at a personal cost. He reminds us they could work across divides and advocate for broader rights that underscored their legacies. As champions of public service inspired by the ethos of the 1960s, their lives remind us of the enduring power of idealism and the potential for unity in diversity. That’s all god, but Lieberman was sanctimonious; Mixner wasn’t.
Mary & George
I gave my $20 for a Starz subscription, which I will never use so that I could start the series. It’s worth it. Julianne Moore is superb. Galitzine is beautiful and has an earring, although his French is awful. If you think 2024 is harsh, wait until you see what 1612 was like. If you believe your mother was harsh, wait until you discover Mary. Even the soundtrack is excellent.
The real issue with Damian Hurley’s new movie
It’s weird that the debate about "Strictly Confidential" has focused on Elizabeth Hurley’s lesbian sex scene in the movie directed by her son Damian Hurley when the real issue is that it is one of the worst movies ever made #NepoBaby. Watch the trailer; it’s worth it. It looks like a spoof.
"The People's Joker"
To contrast with Damian’s pretentious endeavor, check out "The People's Joker," a queer comic book parody that has navigated through copyright controversies to secure a U.S. release. Directed by Vera Drew, this absurdist semi-autobiographical dark comedy dives into the struggles of an aspiring clown grappling with her gender identity amidst a comedy-outlawed Gotham City. I won’t watch it, but I applaud the effort.
Monkey man: Patel is on our side
At the "Monkey Man" premiere in Los Angeles, Dev Patel highlighted the film's dedication to underrepresented voices, particularly the trans and gender-nonconforming community. Portraying a young avenger named Kid, Patel's movie intertwines action with a strong message of inclusion and representation, featuring trans characters who join the protagonist's fight against corruption in India. Patel said it serves as an anthem for the underdogs, aiming to shed light on the struggles and resilience of the marginalized, especially the hijra community, India’s third gender. Trans viewers endorsed the movie at a recent screening.
The New York Times recommends "Who's Afraid of Gender?"
Last week, the NYTimes endorsed "Who's Afraid of Gender?" Judith Butler’s book aims to de-escalate the debates surrounding gender identity. Offering a nuanced exploration to foster understanding and cooperation, Butler addresses misconceptions and calls for a collective effort to recognize and protect the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their gender.
To refuse gender is, sadly, to refuse to encounter ... the complexity that one finds in contemporary life across the world,
Research Corner
Call for Contributions: Illuminating LGBTIQ+ Refugee Experiences
Diego García, co-editors Claire Fletcher, Calogero Giametta, and Alex Powell invite scholars, activists, and individuals with first-hand asylum or sanctuary-seeking experiences to contribute to a trailblazing volume. This collection seeks to explore the nuanced challenges and lived realities of LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seekers through an interdisciplinary and global lens. The deadline for submissions is May 27, 2024.
YOUR HELP: my questions on International LGBTQI+ Aid
I am still seeking a few more answers to take the pulse of civil society views on the levels of financing its efficiency and whether my assumptions are correct. It is not meant to overlap with GPP’s amazing work but just validate some of my thoughts. If you are an LGBTQI+ organization or activist, please complete this 5-minute survey for LGBTQI+ activists and organizations globally. It is in English, French, and Spanish. Kindly share it with the LGBTQI+ global mafia.
The Gay Agenda
April 12th: Webinar of the Association
Join us on the 12th at noon as the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors welcomes Glenn Ramsdell, COS, Chewy, and Mackenzie Lee, CEO, Cedar, for "Navigating Board & CEO Synergy," with a focus on the role of the Chief of Staff in managing this relationship. We will also discuss what is at the top of CEOs' minds, pathways for COS to Board Service, and Board diversity. Kindly RSVP here.
May 17th - ADB Celebration - registration
The event page for the Asian Development Bank’s IDAHOBIT2024 is now online. This is the link to register (virtually or in person). Register now until 10 May 2024 to attend the event in person and until 17 May 2024 to attend online via Zoom.
My strange hobbies
The Myth of nuclear families and monogamy
Fun fact: I have a bit of a genealogy hobby, like every aging Frenchman. Learning from the past is a silver lining to that self-centered exercise. I was writing about how Balzac's Paris collided with my ancestors, which led me on a long tangent about the prevalence of mistresses during the “restauration” era and the many kids of the Duke of Berry. Balzac himself painted a world where infidelity frolicked freely and secret liaisons were the true architects of society. Unorthodox liaisons with danseuses and actresses —from the clandestine to the downright revolutionary—are relevant to our conversation here, where LGBTQ+ people are unfairly pitted against family, tradition, and faith. So often, through my genealogical research, I found hidden natural sons, paternity recognitions on one’s deathbed, and wives’ despair. If anything, gay people are a titbit more transparent.
Well, I am super late for my lunch so I am running out of the door. I am sure part of this newsletter is offensive, don’t blame it, blame a solar eclipse in Aries paired with Mercury in retrograde. See you next week. In solidarity.