Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: pink-hushing, Canada and Meloni, Le Pen and her Gays, elections in Turkey and Thailand, the Dodgers drama, DeSantis ruins both our Wednesday and Pride, the queering of Zelda and much more…
Welcome to my weekly equality news digest, where I share important (and much less important) news, updates, and commentary about the global LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business.
This week: pink-hushing, Canada and Meloni, Le Pen and her Gays, elections in Turkey and Thailand, the Dodgers drama, DeSantis ruins both our Wednesday and Pride, the queering of Zelda and much more…
Definitions and Acronyms
Pinkhushing: companies deliberately not communicating about their Pride initiative in 2023 for fear of being called out by Ron DeSantis and his trolls
Jeryd Mencken: DeSantis’ alter ego on “Succession”
GITK: A Gay In The Know - a smart gay that knows who is doing what with who
Global News
Canada: wagging the finger at Giorgia Meloni in Hiroshima
Between Hiroshima and Rome, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni was embraced by almost all the cute guys this past week: Macron, Zelenskyy, and Pope Francis. For the latter, Crisis magazine clarified that “they are certainly sympatico in their deep antipathy to such practices as surrogacy and same-sex parenting, as well as in their opposition to gender ideology.” I assume “same-sex parenting practice” refers to my shopping at Zabar’s instead of a regular grocery shop. But Trudeau did NOT hug Meloni. Instead, he expressed concerns about Meloni’s far-right-led government attempt at limiting recognition of parental rights to biological parents only in families with same-sex parents, which I mentioned last week. This is purely antagonistic as these children are born whether Meloni liked it or not.
UK: Independent Expert finds “toxicity” and “acrimony” all around
Victor Madrigal was in the UK for two weeks, speaking with government and civil society representatives to “assess the situation of LGBTQ+ people in the Kingdom.” It wasn’t without controversy, and Madrigal displeased the UK anti-trans movement (see here). While the expert was impressed by the progress in data gathering on LGBTQ+ issues, he seemed shocked by the viciousness in the public debate (welcome to 2023 in Western Empires). He will present a full report on his visit to the Human Rights Council by June 2024, but in the meantime, his “end of mission statement” gives us the flavor of his findings:
It is telling that, during the visit, the current environment was uniformly described as toxic by stakeholders across the board; without exception, all of those who he met declared themselves unable to suggest a winning formula for making inroads in a situation that has been driven to a state of such acrimony. [...] The evidence shows there is nothing to fear in the existence of LGBT persons and much to celebrate in the diversity they bring to our common humanity. Keep calm. Examine the evidence. Respect Diversity.
France: the far-right temptation
The New York Times last week highlighted how Marine Le Pen is the great winner in the government’s mishandling of the pension overhaul. I was in Paris last week, and a gay in the know (a GITK, if you may) whispered to me that Julien Odoul, a parliamentary and the spokesperson of the National Rally (RN), and Jordan Bardella, its president since 2022, are gay. They are indeed way too good-looking to be straight, and Odoul famously made the cover of the magazine Têtu when he was 21. I would include a picture (see here from 2014), but this is not THAT kind of Substack: I like to describe it as a “Chic publication for GITKs.” LGBTQ+ people, particularly lesbians, are increasingly tempted to vote for the RN, often driven by Islamophobia. If the first round of the presidential election were to occur next Sunday, Le Pen would get 16% of the LGBTQ+ votes and Zemmour 9% (see the report by Tetu). Overall the far right would get 30% of LGBTQ+ vote. Mind blowing no? Marine Le Pen played a crucial role in this trend after 2017, a radical change from her father, who once famously said:
“Homosexuals are like salt in the soup; if there's not enough, it's a bit bland; if there's too much, it's undrinkable."
Russia: for Faith, Tsar and Fatherland
If someone mentions the exhausting “war-on-drag” in the U.S. to you this Pride season, I suggest you change the topic to the Ukraine war. Read this thoughtful article by Graeme Reid of Human Rights Watch on how Putin and Kiril I have reframed the Ukraine invasion as a cosmic mission against “LGBTQ+ ideology” and a decadent West (see here). The cynicism of strong men waging war and deeming same-sex love “contrary to nature” and a determinant of “which side of God the Saviour humankind will end up” is gross. There have been 17,5000 Ukrainians killed in action, and another 9,000 civilians have died since the beginning of this proxy war (see here). Think of their parents and children: that was definitely not “God the Saviour”’s plan.
Turkey: Erdogan to win the runoff
As Turkey braces for the runoff on May 28 — not everybody read the first round of the Turkish elections the same way. Is it showcasing a fragilization of Erdogan or, on the contrary, his capacity to survive anything, including the current economic turmoil? In any case, this anti-LGBTQ+ politician is not going anywhere.
Thailand: better electoral news
The newly elected coalition in Thailand will champion marriage equality. See here.
US News
The Dodgers, the Angels, and the Sisters
For those who are not American lesbians (just kidding, hold on - I am actually working on bringing my firstborn Tani to see the Yankees for the first time this season), the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels are American professional baseball teams. Baseball is to Americans what soccer (and books really) are to Europeans, so it’s essential. Because some "Menckenists" painted the poor Sisters as a threat to the family and a mockery of Catholicism, the Dodgers, in an apparent case of Pink-hushing, rescinded their invitation to honor them. In retribution, LA PRIDE and the ACLU pulled out of the Dodger's Pride Night. Then on Monday, the Angels invited them to their Pride night. So yesterday, the Dodgers reinvited the Sisters. All of that in one week and, of course, broadcasted by every news outlet. So embarrassing. America is truly in a toxic relationship with itself. I would know I am an expert at toxic relationships. The Dodger's statement said:
We are pleased to share that they have agreed to share the gratitude of our collective communities for the lifesaving work they have done tirelessly for decades [...] In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ partners to educate ourselves, find ways to strengthen the ties that bind, and use our platform to support all of our fans who make up the diversity of the Dodger family.
More on the U.S. “War on Drag”
The Economist had a long-form article yesterday: “The last drag queens of Tennessee”: “People just don’t feel safe going to drag bars anymore.” That’s how bad it is: when the Economist has a nostalgic feature on drag before the great purge of 2023. Next in line are people wearing glasses.
“Do not harm”: America’s gender Ideology warrior
If you think all the bills focusing on trans medical care are organically generated, think again and meet what Aol called this week “an influential player in transgender health”: Do No Harm. On their website, they offer model legislation that has been replicated in several legislatures. The organization ”works to protect children from extreme gender ideology through original research, coalition-building, testimonials from parents and patients who’ve lived through deeply troubling experiences, and advocacy for the rigorous, apolitical study of gender dysphoria.” In my little research, I stumbled upon this call for action:
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we pray for those struggling with gender dysphoria that they will believe the truth about Your design for them found in Scripture and reject the lies of Satan.
We are doomed.
Florida: DeSantis ruins both our Wednesday and Pride
The name of this tune is Florida Goddam! The NAACP and Human Rights Campaign’s travel advisory this week, which echoed another advisory by Equality Florida, illustrates the gravity of the situation there. Pride events are affected by the climate of fear Jeryd Mencken, uh Ron DeSantis, himself is creating for political purposes. Today, at 6 p.m., casual cultural crusader Elon Musk and DeSantis are hosting virtual cross-burning and other rituals on Twitter. Signorile this week urged us not to cancel Pride events. Also, Hamburger Mary’s sues DeSantis over drag show law. Help might be on the way, though, as CNN reported this week, the Biden team believes he might be self-sabotaging and want to use it as an opportunity to regain Florida. From their ear to “God the Saviour”.
As a bonus, read this piece by Andrew Sullivan on Dylan Mulvaney titled “The Strange Minstrelsy Of Dylan Mulvaney”. Sullivan points out how inconsequential Mulvaney really is and what a strange flag bearer they are for the defense of the human rights of transgender people.
Business
Calling the End of Amateurism in Social Corporate Responsibility
This week, Forbes was listing - with some difficulties - a list of allegedly embattled companies over LGBTQ+ issues. I sent you a piece showing how rather than the end of a “social license” to operate, it is the end of amateurism in corporate social responsibility (search in your spam folder for : “The self-inflicted wounds of Budweiser and Disney”). There is a science in positioning brands and companies on sustainability, and businesspeople with little knowledge of social justice and human rights have tried to wing it with sometimes disastrous consequences.
Pinkhushing: burying the LGBTQ+ Corporate Engagement
Fox claims Target is concerned about the potential Budweiser situation around Pride merchandising. And indeed the chain confirmed it moved some Pride merchandise from the front of the stores to the back in some Southern stores after some incidents between shoppers and staff in some areas. It is doing a good job on transparency and communication. Marketers, take note! Sure some companies are showing trepidation about the current climate on LGBTQ+ issues but tuning down your LGBTQ+ engagement based on the Budweiser experience is risky in itself. A more nuanced approach adapting to contexts with clear communication is the way to go. The community is paying attention, and the train is only heading in one direction. To me, the real issue is lack of authenticity and Management buy-in. CEOs who do not feel the private sector has a role in solving environmental and social justice issues are ubuesque.
Sam Altman of OpenAI is working on manufacturing eggs from cells
I learned this week that not only Sam Altman, the father of AI, is gay, but he is behind Conception, a start-up trying to convert blood cells into human eggs. Please don’t mention it to Ron DeSantis’ campaign, or we can be sure it will be weaponized against us.
From the cultural desk
Zelda: has a gay protagonist called Calip
Some of my friends celebrated the release of the new Zelda. I do not know what it is because, despite Keith Wetmore’s snarky comment last year (I am such a resentful Smurf), I consider myself an intellectual. However, I am now glad to share with you that, not unlike the French far-right, Zelda now has gay characters. Nintendo had never represented LGBTQ+ people in any games, and it is its policy not to define the sexuality of its characters clearly. The protagonist in question is called Calip. We learn he joined the Zonai Survey team following an attraction for Tauro, who is indeed hot by conventional and non-conventional standards.
The Rebirth of Bret Easton Ellis
HBO will adapt BEE’ last book, “The Shards,” which, strangely enough, my mother was reading when I was in Paris. I found it dull and repetitive - my mother did too- but then who am I? Not sure the series will get a GLAAD award, as BEE famously called them “the gatekeepers of politically correct gayness” in a lengthy editorial in Out magazine ten years ago (and that was before their crusade against the NYTimes).
France: Lesbians out of the Shadows of History
On IDAHOBIT, I watched this documentary on a century of the history of lesbians in Europe, which long remained in the shadows, from the Belle Époque at the beginning of the 20th century to recently. Since then, they have taken their revenge with Alice Coffin’s name in every anti-woke editorial I read last week in Le Figaro or Le Point.
1983: a French translation of a coming out in Dynastie
A French article noted that the French dubbing of Dynastie, the cult soap of the 80s, brushed over Steven’s coming out scene. While in the original version, Steven says, "I'm gay, Dad. I'm gay. Could you admit it, and say it? Say it: 'Steven is gay!'" The French version makes him say: "I'm not like all of you, Dad. You have to believe me and accept the truth. Come on, say what you think! Come on, say it! Steven is sick!" That was just 40 years ago, how far we have come.
Gays and the books
Books were always meant to be our salvation, and a gay is leading the charge in France, a great portrait of Augustin Trapenard in Le Monde this week.
The Gay Agenda
June 1st: LGBTQ+ Families Day
And if you read this newsletter as carefully as I wrote it, you know it is an essential topic as our families are under attack in Italy, Russia, and parents of trans kids have had the worst year on record. The social media handle is #LGBTQFamiliesDay.
June: My own little Pride Agenda
I will be starting Pride Month in France on June 7th. But on June 1st, I am joining this virtual event at NYU Stern, “Pride & Prejudice in Business & Politics” - register here. I am flying back for an internal Kering event on June 8th and my sons’ 10th birthday at Dave & Buster’s (*eye roll*) on June 10th. I still count on you to join me at the NYC AIDS Memorial’s silent disco on June 14 at 7 pm for its silent disco. On June 20th, I am in DC speaking at the Cosmos Club and in Chicago on June 27th for another dinner of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors.
Coming and Going
Uber DEI head out over a Karen issue
You can Google it. Uber’s DEI head was placed on leave over an “Don’t Call me Karen” event according to a report from the New York Times. Always nice to see it’s not only conservatives that are nuts around here.
As you read these lines, I am flying to Dallas, where the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors is hosting a dinner tonight at its sponsor JPMorgan Chase’s offices - our first event outside of the East Coast.
Sorry if I sounded a little dismissive or flippant this week: I find the culture war draining, or maybe I am just jetlagged …or both.
If you liked this “Chic publication for GITKs” or hated it, please share it with your network, as I have an expensive lifestyle made of leisurely lunches, Smythson goods and Derek Rose PJs.