Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: letter from India, who is Javier Milei?, Russia, Nepal, the Santos Saga, Coty’s Sue Nabi, Maurice Tomlinson is done, Darren Walker in T&C, Rustin, Saltburn, a gay nativity scene and more...
Welcome to the 145th issue of my equality news digest. I share important (and much less important) news, updates, and (snarky, but not too snarky) commentary about the LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business.
This week: letter from India, who is Javier Milei?, Russia, Nepal, the Santos Saga, Coty’s Sue Nabi, Maurice Tomlinson is done, Darren Walker in T&C, Rustin, Saltburn, a gay nativity scene and more...
Special feature: India
Transgender Day of Remembrance: The Tears of Manjamma Jogathi
Pride Circle’s Srini Ramaswamy in Bangalore introduced me to Manjamma, the most esteemed Jogathi and a household name. Jogathis, dedicated to the deity Yellamma, exist parallel to the better-known Hijra communities. Next to Manjamma, now 66, I watched her life’s story. She cried during the depiction of her parents beatings, her attempts at suicide with rat poison or by laying on train tracks, getting kicked out of her village, and being raped—a stark reminder of the universality of trans suffering.
India: a bright star in the east
In the U.S., every week brings a new outrageous past quote by speaker Mike Johnson. This week: LGBTQ+ youth turned American culture “dark and depraved.” But a conclusion from my trip is we must widen our lens. Globally, strides towards acceptance and equality are being made, often overshadowed by our nombrilisme. According to Pew, acceptance of homosexuality in India increased by 22 percentage points to 37% between 2013 and 2019, and it feels like it. During my Pride Circle tour, when asked about the US “backlash,” I responded it might be more about the decline of American hegemony than LGBTQ+ people.
Queerbeat: the Indian têtu
In Delhi, I was seated at dinner with Ankur Paliwal, the editor of Queerbeat. I joked that commercially successful queer media, like DNA, tend to feature naked men (not sure that’d fly under Section 67). Queerbeat, launched in 2022 by Paliwal with a mission to transform the narrative around queer people, has powerful content (read this interview with Kinshuk Gupta this week).
The liberation economy
The private sector is picking up where the Supreme Court left off. Watch this Godrej’s Diwali ad, which emphasizes values such as family unity and the importance of home. At The Lalit, we witnessed how the company turned LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion into a business imperative (see here) with the support of the Keshav Suri Foundation.
Global News
Argentina: join la Resistencia
LGBTQ+ activists pledged to join “la Resistencia” after Javier Milei's victory. If you haven’t read about his selectively libertarian stances, here are 13 things to know. Or, if you are the intellectual type, and I am sure you are, read John Cassidy's article on Milei’s controversial economic plans for Argentina, a.k.a. slashing government spending and deregulation. For all his quirks, Milei remains a far-right populist and a potential danger to LGBTQ+ equality. As Outright said in PinkNews:
His policies, if elected, are likely to undermine LGBTQ social movements, advance a rigid understanding of gender rooted in biological determinism, and roll back hard-won rights.
Russia: the 2023 Top 50 LGBTQ+ “Extremists” list
If you are not part of the Involve Role Models 2023 list, ask your company if they would sponsor the prestigious Russia Gay Extremists 2023 list. It does not come with a gala dinner, but your name will appear in Izvestia. Strangely, while the Ministry of Justice would like to label the 'International Public LGBTQ+ Movement' as 'extremist,’ Putin sent an unusual message of support to the community this week.
Jamaica: Maurice Tomlinson’s heartbreak
Maurice Tomlinson, a lifelong LGBTQ+ activist, announced he is done in an open letter following the Supreme Court's recent ruling. On October 27, the court dismissed Tomlinson's challenge to the country's buggery law. The verdict that only Parliament can repeal such laws is a cowardly use of constitutional mechanisms to perpetuate discriminatory legislation.
Nepal: gay marriage 'victory' hits legal roadblock
Two lower courts refused to recognize the marriage of Maya Gurung, a trans woman, and Surendra Pandey, a cisgender man, despite the Supreme Court's interim order allowing same-sex marriage registration. Initially celebrated as a historic victory in a conservative country, the court's insistence on legislative change from the federal government undermines the landmark decision.
France: Chemsex on trial
On February 10, while driving under the influence of cocaine and 3-MMC (that didn’t exist in my youth, cocaine on the other hand…pfff ), comedian Pierre Palmade caused a severe road accident, injuring three people, including a pregnant woman who lost her baby, causing national outrage. This incident exposed Palmade's involvement in Chemsex. This week, three of his dealers were handed extreme sentencing.
U.S. News
The George Santos Saga: the end or the beginning?
Join me in sending a virtual hug to Representative George Santos, whose campaign slogan must have been “trying to change America… enjoying life along the way”, as he is having a bad bad very bad week. He should not despair: being a fraudster in America is a sure pathway to fame and money. Look at Ana Delvey, Roasddets, or Adam Neumann.
During the 2020 campaign, a $1,500 purchase on the campaign debit card was made at Mirza Aesthetics; this expense was not reported to the F.E.C. and was noted as ‘Botox’ in expense spreadsheets.
Ritchie Torres has the final word
Ger Tzedek Rep. Torres commented on his political position as Santos faces expulsion:
George Santos, who illegally spent campaign funds on porn sites and Botox, has announced he is no longer seeking re-election. I will be the sole surviving Jew-ish gay Latino Congressman from New York.
Gen-A: what will we teach them?
In my piece "The one who had to eat rats," I predict pre-2000 queer stories will soon fade into oblivion. I do not mean that the fight is over but rather that things are changing so fast that our experience could become irrelevant to the next generation. A friend of mine corrected the piece by reminding me:
I believe in celebrating resilience because the quest for and expectation of “safe spaces” prepares few people for the world […] learning to acquire a thicker skin has adaptive value.
Queering the Boardroom
The unique Fortune 1000 trans CEO
Sue Nabi, Coty's CEO, is the poster child of transgender corporate leadership. Her focus on achievements over identity, like that of lesbian Fortune 500 CEO Beth Ford, sets a benchmark for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the C-suite. Read her Fortune interview.
I love saying to people, “Judge me on what I do rather than who I am.” [...]Understanding the left and right brains and how males and females think is also helpful in how I’ve been creating some of the most successful products worldwide.
Key departures
Dr. Pamela Puryear stepped down from her role as a board member at NextGen Healthcare. Paula Boggs left the board of Avid Technology, Inc. The American Bar Association Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity also announced it will honor Paula with its Stonewall Award next year.
Heather Spilsbury: New CEO of 50/50 Women on Boards
50/50 Women on Boards announced the appointment of Heather Spilsbury as its new Chief Executive Officer as of Jan. 1. Heather, previously CEO and COO of the organization, has been an ally to the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors.
The Gay Business
Sam Altman: let’s not get distracted here
In Sam Altman's saga, we should not forget that he is GAY. Altman lives with his partner, Oliver Mulherin, an Australian programmer, on Russian Hill in SF. Mulherin left Meta last year and never had to turn back because, contrary to YOU, he was clever enough to meet a rich guy. As my mother always said, “Never marry rich. Instead, hang out with rich people and fall in love”—words to live by.
Target pokes the Cocaine Bear
Target is driving the conservatives crazy with gay-themed Christmas paraphernalia. What’s next, a nativity scene depicting a non-binary Jesus with gay parents? Where will the gays stop?
Darren Walker in T&C
Talking about wealthy single men, in Town and Country’s "Darren Walker: Optimist, Realist, Prophet" (yes, I have a subscription to T&C, sue me), there's not one mention of his being gay, which is an intriguing omission. Interviewed by Laurene Powell Jobs, Walker reflects on his journey from humble beginnings to heading a major philanthropic organization and what transformational philanthropy looks like. It reminded me of William Sloane Coffin’s quote I read on Sean Strub’s page:
To show compassion for an individual without showing concern for the structures of society that make him an object of compassion is to be sentimental rather than loving.
Semi cultural desk
The Abbey's New Chapter
Iconic WeHo gay bar The Abbey transitions to new ownership under tech entrepreneur Tristan Schukraft. This is part of Schukraft’s lifelong dream of becoming a hotelier, which, as far as gay men’s lifelong dream, is weird but not the weirdest.
Saltburn: what is there not to like?
“Saltburn” featuring Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan, is not a queer film, but its deliberate homoerotic undertones will enchant you.
Rustin: organizers are back in fashion
When it comes to U.S. LGBTQ+ organizations, we have lots of egomaniacs but very few organizers besides Nadine Smith. I have not watched the movie yet, but I read Adam Gopnik's profile of Rustin here. Rustin’s pragmatic approach to activism, emphasizing coalition-building and logistical details, offers lessons for contemporary struggles for justice and equality.
“The Old Gays”
The Guardian had a piece on 'The Old Gays,' who have taken TikTok by storm. I told you that charisma and charm aren't confined to the youth.
Moms For Liberty's Philadelphia Leader's Troubled Past
In what is now an expected twist, it came to light that Phillip Fisher Jr., a pastor and volunteer of Philadelphia’s Moms For Liberty chapter, had a 2012 guilty plea for aggravated sexual abuse of a teenager—a perfect advocate for parental rights.
Cecilia Gentili on Broadway
Who is up to see Cecilia Gentili with me in her off-Broadway debut, 'Red Ink,' next week? See HERE.
Coming and Going
Ms Phyll Opoku is switching from Kaleidoscope Trust to Black Pride, which she co-founded.
The Gay Agenda
Friday: rocking Bengaluru at the IWEI Awards Ceremony 2023
This Friday's forecast in Bengaluru: join us at the IWEI Awards! 🎉 Swing by from 12:30 pm for a 'Lunch & Learn' feast of wisdom on 'Authentic Leadership' by yours truly. 🥗 But hold onto your napkins because at 3 pm, we're dialing up the fun with my session on the 'LGBTQ+ Demographic Revolution' featuring all the talking points I stole from Lee Badgett during this trip. 🕺💃 Click here to join the party 🌈🎈
December 4th: OutSummit 2023
Join OutRight's 9th annual conference on Dec. 4 from 9 am to 5:30 pm ET. This year's virtual summit offers a platform for advocates, activists, and allies from around the globe to converge and exchange ideas. It is themed around inclusive economies, trans liberation, movement resourcing, and inclusive democracy. Register here!
December 12: "Empowering Voices Against Anti-Rights Movements”
Join the Southern Africa Litigation Centre on Dec. 12th at the Ford Foundation Centre for Social Justice to counteract rising populism and religious rhetoric. Register now.
A Word on This Newsletter
There is still time if you haven’t taken the readership survey yet. The feedback from subscribers showed that you value the in-depth analysis of LGBTQ+ issues and some entertaining content. Paid subscribers particularly appreciate business insights. Moving forward, I will strive to balance these elements. Your voices have been heard.
This newsletter is very late today; I blame Parmesh Shahani for dragging me into Mumbai’s hippest neighborhood for lebanese lesbian food this evening. Tomorrow, we are heading for the last stretch of the tour in Bengaluru, and I am returning on Emirates this Saturday.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I am grateful for my readership.