Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: Ghana in the news, botox, and inflation at Milken, Cole Escola wins the Met, the lesbian from last year, more on the Cass review, Outright and Lambda’s upcoming galas…
Hello, cherished readers!
This week's edition is packed with updates and insights that promise to stir your intellect and perhaps even provoke a chuckle when I tell you about the Milken LGBTQ+ session. From Ghana's legal battlefields to the Met Gala's glitzy corridors, our global community's narratives are vibrant and varied, and yet LGBTQ+ people remain a classy group overall.
This week: Ghana in the news, botox, and inflation at Milken, Cole Escola wins the Met, the lesbian from last year, more on the Cass review, Outright and Lambda’s upcoming galas…
Global News
Ghana: all eyes on the Supreme Court today
Today, the Supreme Court of Ghana started reviewing a case against the anti-LGBT+ bill in a hearing led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The bill, reminiscent of similar laws in Uganda, Nigeria(and pending bills in Kenya, Tanzania, or Niger), could have significant implications for human rights but also Ghana's economic future. The law criminalizes LGBTQ+ identities and mandates reporting by family members and associates, presenting a stark conflict for the World Bank's funding policies, as I explained in this Bloomberg article today, but also making FDI and tourism elusive for the country. The reality is that human rights violations against minorities whether it is related to LGBTQ+ people or Batwa or Roma people, are closely linked to stagnant poverty rates, they tend to be indicators of other degradations of the rule of law and, of course, poor governance and corruption. The Canary in the Coal Mine argument. I will discuss it on BBC Live at 5:30 p.m. ET/ 23:30 London Time.
It seemed more like a capricious move in 2014. There were no proper consultations. Even LGBT groups weren’t consulted,” said Houdart. “The Bank’s stand against Uganda in 2023 was very different,” he said. “It was rooted in policy.”
Kenya: activists strike back against online entrapments
This is a massive issue in places where LGBTQ+ people are criminalized and sometimes beyond. On dating apps, people posing as LGBTQ+ people will arrange encounters only to rob their victims who have no access to justice (a bit like when you didn’t receive the weed you foolishly ordered on Telegram and could not do anything about it, you know who you are, but much worse). Kenya LGBTQ+ activists are taking these apps to court. See in The Nation.
The perpetrator and the three friends who attacked us thought we wouldn't go to the police because we are gay
North Korea: not a good look for Seoul
Seoul's LGBTQ+ community has rerouted its annual Queer Culture Festival to the city streets, sidestepping the municipal government's denial of traditional venue permits. Despite conservative resistance and last year's blockade by a Christian event, the festival will enliven downtown Seoul, buoyed by international support from the US Embassy. This illustrates the ongoing struggle for space and recognition in South Korea’s socio-political landscape in a context where Taiwan, Thailand, and other nations on the continent are making full strides toward marriage equality.
Olympics: New Insights on Transgender Athletes
A new study funded by the International Olympic Committee and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (here) provides insights into the physical capabilities of transgender athletes, challenging prevailing assumptions about their athletic advantages. This research, the first of its kind to assess transgender athletes who have undergone gender-affirming hormone therapy, reveals that transgender women may face physical disadvantages compared to their cisgender counterparts in areas such as lower-body strength and lung function. These findings suggest a need to rethink the exclusion of transgender athletes from sports categories aligning with their gender identity. The study advocates for more nuanced, sport-specific research and warns against quick bans in women’s categories, emphasizing the complexity of factors that influence athletic performance beyond mere biology.
Methodists: a volte-face five years later
The United Methodist Church dismantled its longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages, marking a pivotal reversal of its 2019 policies (Read more on NPR). Could straight protestants make up their minds, please? At this year's General Conference in Charlotte, the church embraced a more inclusive approach despite not entirely severing the traditional marital definitions. This significant move, influenced by delegates, reflects a nuanced stance that still honors local contexts, allowing regions to adapt based on their social and political climates.
Québec: "The lesbian from last year we didn't want."
The Boutique et Motel Le Macareux in Quebec - a place you will never stay at because you are a snob - inadvertently sent a shocking email blast from the past, referring to a job candidate as "the lesbian from last year we didn't want" which was my nickname in high school. This accidental revelation sparked outrage in La Belle Province (which I would have loved to be my nickname in high school). As the motel scrambled to apologize, asserting that it was all a bit of misunderstanding, the candidate, Jennifer Bourget, went on social media to announce she was glad they did not want her. Societal progress in acceptance is always just a 'reply-all' mistake away from being exposed. Listen to that cute radio segment.
US News
Honoring a Legacy: Judy Shepard
This week, President Biden awarded Judy Shepard the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The ceremony, held at the White House and covered live on C-SPAN (see the video here), recognized Shepard's relentless advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, spurred by the tragic loss of her son, Matthew. Her profound statement captures the essence of her dedication: "This unexpected honor...reminds the world that his life, and every life, is precious." Shepard's efforts through the Matthew Shepard Foundation are such an inspiring response to a horrendous episode in American history. Other honorees among this year’s 19 recipients included Phil Donahue, John Kerry, Al Gore, and Nancy Pelosi.
Aetna admits to discriminating against LGBTQ+ people
There's a sense of vindication in the air. Back in 2013, as a (not-so-great) World Bank employee, I faced a roadblock with Aetna regarding fertility coverage. Despite the World Bank Medical Insurance Plan explicitly covering some specific reproductive technology procedures for straight men (like Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), Aetna rejected my claim. But this week, Aetna has settled a lawsuit that accused it of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers in fertility treatment coverage. This settlement is first a reminder that Aetna is a terrible company, and then a promise for justice when creating our families. It also established a $2 million fund for individuals in New York (I lived in DC) who were wrongly denied. Take a look at Aetna's Settlement Agreement.
Ben Ryan vs. APA
In a May 3rd Washington Post editorial (here), journalist Benjamin Ryan, who has championed the Cass report, critiqued the American Psychiatric Association's stance on pediatric gender-transition treatments, blaming a disregard for scientific evidence. Earlier this month, he critiqued GLAAD for claiming “the science is settled” on the same topic. Ryan argues that the APA and GLAAD's endorsement of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones as first-line treatments for gender-distressed minors lacks sufficient backing from high-quality research. He also deplored that, while European countries impose stringent regulations on such treatments due to emerging skeptical analyses, they remain unyieldingly supportive, a position that he feels may not be in the best interest of affected youths. I liked this comment below his piece (there were 1,300 of them):
A debate among scientists is fine. A discussion between politicians is not.
Queering the Boardroom
Coming to a court near you: Board Diversity Fight with Jay Blum
Be ready; there is movement in the pivotal case of Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment (AFBR) v. Securities and Exchange Commission, to be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Supporters include the Council of Institutional Investors, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, or the NAACP, backing the SEC and Nasdaq’s efforts to promote transparency and equality. They argue that such disclosures are vital for investors who regard diverse leadership as crucial to a company’s success and community commitment. See my analysis here. If you have Bloomberglaw, the full docket is here. Also, multiple Christian organization like this one signed a brief for the plaintiff despite having no skin in the game, showing what the deal is really about (a.k.a. ensuring the homosexuals and black and brown people stay in their place).
The Association is about to celebrate its second birthday
The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors was incorporated on August 4, 2022, and launched on the Association at JPMorgan Chase in September. In retrospect, it was formed one decade too late: LCDA, the Latino 501(c)3, was created in 2013, and the Pan-Asian business professionals and executives launched their non-profit, Ascend Pinnacle, in 2014. The delay can be explained by a small company specializing in organizing diversity conferences naively hoping to expand its business by “selling LGBTQ+ names to recruiters” and privatizing this agenda in the US, Australia, and Hong Kong. With the Association, an initiative by Board Members for Board Members, our community has finally a platform to network, leverage, and support current and aspiring corporate board directors on U.S. public and private company boards. Albei in Australia and the Canadian Association have expanded these efforts abroad. See our pre-birthday post here.
What happened to the NYS and NYC pension fund proposals?
On April 4th, I reported that the NYC Comptroller championed Board Diversity this Proxy Season (see also here). In collaboration with three of NYC's public pension funds, Lander presented a shareholder proposal targeting Electronics retail company GameStop (NYSE) and NextEra Energy (NYSE). The proposal suggests reporting Board composition in a Nasdaq-esque matrix. Both Boards urged shareholders to reject the proposal. The 2024 Annual Meeting of NextEra Energy was held on Monday, April 22, 2024,. See Lander’s press release. Let me know if you can figure out how the vote went.
The Gay Business
Milken goes gay, and inflation at Merrill
Milken always finds a way to make us feel special every year. The obligatory LGBTQ+ session “The Role of Companies for LGBTQ+ Rights” was at 08:30 a.m. this morning !!! The time when evil millionaires intent on ruling the world are still chatting over greasy food in the basement of the Pink Palace (which seems to be fully redempted with the gays). I tuned in (you can see the replay here), which made it too late for me to finish the newsletter (hence the delay). I chuckled when panelist Todd Sears said he brought $2 billion of LGBTQ+ assets to Merrill Lynch during the four years he was there, as this number has suffered tremendously from inflation over the years; it used to be $1.4 billion or here, then 1,5 billion and eventually passed the $2 billion bar (listen at 12:30). The name of Subha Barry was also strangely dropped from that story over time - Barry is the one who helped Merrill Lynch extend their reach by making minority populations a business imperative. In 45 minutes, Sears took credit for the Singapore decriminalization, the NASDAQ Disclosure Rule, Cardi B’s look at the Met Gala, and the Colombian peace process. He made two references to Martinis (it was 11:30 a.m. EST afterall). Despite the due diligence issues, Moj Mahdara brought some seriousness to the conversation and the urgency of the anti-DEI situation in the US.
When I was at Merrill in 2001 [...] I brought on about $2 billion of assets to Merrill from the community accross non-profits and gay couple […] I tied it to bottom line business.
The semi-cultural desk
Cole Escola wins the Met Gala
Here are all the queer outfits this year (who hemmed Andy Cohen’s pants?); Troye Sivan and Olivier Rousteing looked adorable and good for Andrew Scott (jewelry and makeup by T. Sears®™ ® ©℠); you go, Andrew. Dan Levy looked like “Good Grief” was a flop, oh wait it was.
I wrote about US Campus demonstrations, and I survived
I did not even have to say, “my sons are Israelis.” Here was my piece on Saturday. It’s not too late to cancel me.
What happened to Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer'?
I am impatient; I just finished “Baby Reindeer.” when will we get a trailer for “Queer”? Remember “an American expatriate named Lee (but really, Daniel Craig) who becomes obsessed with a younger Navy serviceman, Allerton (but really, Todd), that he meets in Mexico City.” It’s supposed to premiere at Cannes in a few weeks, but I am not very optimistic).
The Gay Agenda
Saturday: heading to Manila
My parents arrive in NYC tomorrow, so I will be off to Manila on Saturday for the ADB’s IDAHOBIT event. The agenda is here. Let me know if you are in town.
May 30th: Lambda Legal National Dinner
June 3rd: Outright’s Gala
Outright’s 28th annual Celebration of Courage will occur in New York City at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, on Monday, June 3, 2024, from 6:00 to 10:30 pm ET. I don’t know what your table will look like, but mine looks like it will be full of LGBTQ+ luminaries. Here is the link.
Coming and Going
Fiver Children's Foundation Seeks Board Members
The Fiver Children's Foundation seeks dedicated leaders to join its Board of Directors. Fiver's comprehensive approach includes year-round mentorship, leadership training, career development, and transformative experiences that develop vital social, emotional, and leadership skills for youth from under-resourced communities in New York City is close to my heart. The impact of the Fiver program is evident in its outcomes: all recent graduates have finished high school, and 80% have pursued higher education. Alumni have become leaders across various. Contact Fiver's Executive Director, Christie Ko, at christie@fiver.org.
Who will be the next Victory Fund Executive Director?
This is a key org for our future. The search started, and I would love to hear your suggestions.
Ok, I am off - I am super late today; I blame the circus show. See you next week; keep engaging, keep questioning, and above all, keep supporting one another. Tune into my BBC Live discussion tonight if you want to hear what the Ghana deal is.
Your thoughts and feedback are invaluable - keep them coming! Let's continue this journey together, shaping a world where everyone, no matter who they love or how they identify, can live openly and proudly.
Thank you for reading, and don't just stand there; subscribe and pay for my new gardening hobby.