Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality

This week: Afrikaners & Oriana, Russian database, La Résistance in the U.S., Trans Rights, Peter Thiel’s Wings, CSW69, Estate Planning in a Volatile Context, The Return Of Flare Jeans, and much more…

It’s hard to tell if I am experiencing seasonal mood disorder, regular Frenchness, the general despair of watching our movement unravel, or a combination of all three. I have good reasons to feel discontent, though. In the U.S., debates over trans youth medical care and trans women in sports have quickly turned into plain vilification of trans people, even within the walls of Congress. The speed at which the new administration has rolled back trans rights is impressive - it feels like Berlin 1935, but this crew managed to get there in three weeks rather than years. Meanwhile, Americans seem more concerned with Bianca Cesori’s outfit, Montoya’s heartbreak on La Isla de las Tentaciones, or the Super Bowl (which, Out Magazine points out, had LGBTQ+-inclusive ads). The “great dumbing down” was always the most significant threat. Abroad, there is a shortage of good news this week besides Milei’s overreach coming back to him like a boomerang, as Jojo Siwa would say, and Indian companies doubling down on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

This week: Afrikaners & Oriana, Russian database, La Résistance in the U.S., Trans Rights, Peter Thiel’s Wings, CSW69, Estate Planning in a Volatile Context, The Return Of Flare Jeans, and much more…

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Global news

Argentina: Milei On A Tight Rope

This NBC News piece highlights that while just over half of Argentines back Milei’s handling of the economy, only 40% support his stance on LGBTQ+ rights. Despite claiming to champion “freedom,” Milei’s policies are rolling back hard-won protections for marginalized communities, raising concerns that economic stabilization is coming at the cost of social progress. I also read in Le Point this very pointed analysis of the inherent contradictions of the Musk, Milei, Meloni of this World:

We are witnessing a political marriage between libertarians and nationalists, even though a libertarian does not recognize state borders. It is as if Musk, Milei & Co. only wanted to grant freedom to people who resemble them. The others—immigrants, trans people, or ‘wokes’—do not deserve self-ownership. This partitioning of the human species represents a moral fault and an intellectual error.

Russia: Creating A Database Of LGBTQ+ Citizens

The Russian Interior Ministry is reportedly compiling an electronic database of LGBTQ+ citizens following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that labeled the "international LGBT movement" as an extremist organization. Activists warn of a dangerous escalation in state surveillance and repression. See in LGBTQ+ Nation.

South Africa: Orania, Musk, and LGBTQ+ people

While the U.S. is going through an isolationism frenzy —cutting foreign aid and questioning multilateral institutions— it weighs in on the supposed plight of Afrikaners, elevating Musk’s narrative to a public ignorant of the broader realities of South Africa. Musk, now the world’s most famous Afrikaner, is championing Orania, a whites-only enclave established in 1991 during the dying years of apartheid (see this article) that embodies a twisted version of libertarian isolationism. LGBTQ+ individuals, too, are explicitly unwelcome in Orania. “Cultural preservation” and “free speech” might be core to Musk’s vision for the future, but inclusion is always conditional.

United Nations: Hoping For The Best, Expecting The Worse

With the ongoing review of U.S. involvement in multilateral organizations (see Global Capital), speculation around me is growing that his administration could take an even more drastic step—pulling out of the United Nations entirely. A U.S. withdrawal would cripple a lot of recent efforts to advance global LGBTQ+ rights, whether it is through agencies like UNDP, OHCHR or UNAIDS or development banks. In the meantime, Ajay Banga tried to save the World Bank with a carefully crafted letter to Trump, which I have pasted below for fun.

India: Developing A Homegrown Diversity Narrative

Today, I spoke with Indian leaders in the DEI space at Pride Circle. Their survey shows that 48% of DEI leaders in India feel that the US Presidential Executive Orders would be “highly relevant” to efforts and progress in corporate India. Yet, I reiterated that Corporate India has a unique opportunity to lead in building competitive, inclusive workplaces, turning diversity into a strategic advantage while shifting from a US-centric DEI model to one rooted in its own cultural and economic realities. As a Godrej representative told LGBTQ+ talent in the webinar: “Come work for us”!

Global: Polarization In Policies on Transgender Minors

L’Express this week offered an overview of the world's position on gender-affirming care for minors. While Spain and Germany have expanded access to such care, others, such as Sweden, the UK, Argentina, and now the U.S., have imposed stricter regulations or outright bans on treatments. France is poised to decide based on scientific analysis, with the Haute Autorité de Santé evaluating the risks and benefits of such treatments in a report expected in the coming weeks. The report is not yet out, and the controversy has already started.

AIDS: The Human Cost of PEPFAR’s Suspension

The 90-day suspension of PEPFAR funding has thrown HIV/AIDS treatment programs in Africa into crisis, particularly in South Africa, where 13% of the population is HIV-positive and an estimated 230 HIV-positive babies are born daily. While a limited waiver allows some life-saving treatments to continue, clinics remain shuttered, staff are being laid off, and thousands of patients are left without access to critical medication. Despite bipartisan support for PEPFAR in the past, political maneuvering has put millions of lives at risk, leaving health workers and activists scrambling to contain the fallout. Read more in Foreign Policy Magazine.

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US News

La Résistance

Masha Gessen warned us this week that "anticipatory obedience"—people and institutions preemptively bending to authoritarian power—paves the way for autocracy. In Is Somebody Doing Something?! Yes. Let me break it down for you, Jay Kuo argues that resistance is well underway. Civil servants like James Dennehy in the FBI and David Lebryk in the Treasury refuse to comply with illegal orders. At the same time, Democratic senators sound the alarm, and legal teams prepare lawsuits. Grassroots groups like Indivisible and MoveOn are mobilizing protests.

The Resilience of Sarah McBride

Rep. Mary Miller (R-IA) intentionally misgendered transgender Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) on the House floor, referring to her as “the gentleman from Delaware” (see the video here). Miller later doubled down on social media, claiming she was upholding “biological reality.” Undeterred, McBride used the moment to deliver her first-ever floor speech, vowing to keep fighting for the people of Delaware. McBride has shown herself to be incredibly level-headed and clear about where we stand. I read this interview in which she rightly points out:

I do think that over the last couple of years, we have fallen prey to approaches that feel viscerally comforting to ourselves, but do not ultimately invite people into our coalition to grow our ranks. Our leaders, myself included, have to do what works, not what always feels great. Sometimes those things are in tension.

Administration Withdraws from SCOTUS Trans Case

The administration has withdrawn federal opposition to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors in a significant Supreme Court case. While Biden officials had challenged the law, the Justice Department now argues the lawsuit was a mistake and supports the state’s right to restrict transgender healthcare. Despite this reversal, the administration urged the Supreme Court to proceed with the case, which could set a precedent on states’ authority to regulate gender-affirming treatments. A ruling is expected by late June. Read more on CNN.

Equality Caucus Condemns Trump’s Ban on Trans Athletes

In a joint press release, the Congressional Equality Caucus and Democratic Women’s Caucus condemned Trump’s ban on transgender girls in school sports as dangerous overreach. Rep. Mark Takano warned it could lead to invasive physical inspections. At the same time, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández called it a political distraction from real issues in women’s sports, like pay inequity and harassment, vowing to fight back.

Trans People’s Passport Mayhem

Pelosi’s office has reportedly been inundated with calls from trans constituents struggling to update their passports after President Trump’s executive order banning gender changes on federal documents. The State Department has halted all applications with X gender markers, leaving many unable to travel. As reported in this article, one San Francisco resident was denied a passport update and had their documents withheld, forcing them to cancel a trip.

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Queering the Boardroom

February 26: How to Stand Out in a Board Search?

Landing your first board seat is key, but how do you stand out? Join me and other Private Directors Association New York Metro Chapter members at the event on February 26th in New York. Kevin Palisi (Ancora Search) and Alyssa Gelbard (Point Road Group) will share insights. Register here.

Board Diversity Is Dead—Long Live LGBTQ+ Excellence

This New York Times article announced yesterday that Goldman Sachs has officially abandoned its board diversity mandate. The era of corporate-backed board diversity is not over, though, as investors are keeping the pressure on. Still, we should prioritize organizing ourselves, leveraging networks, and ensuring LGBTQ+ excellence speaks for itself.

That’s less because Mr. Solomon had changed his mind on the merits of the rule — he didn’t, two people who spoke to him about it said — but because leaving it in place could make the bank a target for Mr. Trump and activists, the people said.

Key LGBTQ+ Movements In The Boardroom

Roberta Kaplan, the renowned attorney who helped strike down DOMA, has joined The Genesis Prize as an advisor. Michael McRaith, the first openly gay Director of the Federal Insurance Office, is now Vice Chair at Brookfield Wealth Solutions. Nancy Schlichting is now the Lead Independent Director at Baxter International, and Dr. Kristen M. Hege, M.D., joined the Board Member at EvolveImmune Therapeutics Holding Company. Some departures include Elizabeth Burr (Mr. Cooper Group) and Kristin Frank (Brightcove).

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The Gay Business

LGBTQ+ Media Rocked by Fugitive Journalist Scandal

Brody Levesque, a longtime figure in LGBTQ+ journalism and former editor at the Los Angeles Blade, has been unmasked as George Paul Bishop—a fugitive and convicted sex offender. Bishop, 66, was arrested in Capitola, California. Bishop had embedded himself in outlets such as LGBTQ Nation, The New Civil Rights Movement, and the Uncloseted Media substack, where he serves on the business and media advisory board. Full story on Q Voice New

Google Scrubs Pride Month From Calendar

Et tu Google? The company - whose employees are disproportionately LGBTQ+ - has quietly removed Pride Month, Black History Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day from its calendar, claiming the manual addition of cultural observances was "unsustainable." While Google insists this is an efficiency update, critics see it as another corporate cave to political pressure. Let’s see how Gayglers react. Read more here.

Time For LGBTQ+ Estate Planning

Rep. Mary Miller openly declaring they "refuse to deny biological reality" (see above in U.S. News) shows how quickly we could face a similar denial of same-sex marriage. Offit Kurman’s latest blog outlines the importance of wills, trusts, and healthcare directives in this context. While you’re at it, consider supporting LGBTQ+ organizations in your estate planning.

Trump’s War on D.E.I. Is a War on Civil Rights

Jamelle Bouie’s latest piece in The New York Times describes how Trump’s attack on DEI is not about meritocracy but dismantling civil rights protections. Bouie points out that Trump’s policies go far beyond that—purging mentions of diversity from federal agencies, eliminating Black History Month recognition at the Pentagon, and even investigating private-sector diversity initiatives. Bouie contends that it is not just rolling back affirmative action but reviving old hierarchies of race and gender, pushing the U.S. closer to a pre-civil rights era status quo. Read the full article here: Trump’s War on D.E.I. Is Really a War on Civil Rights.

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Semi-cultural desk

The nail in “Emilia Perez”’ coffin

The LGBTQ+ community has now thoroughly repudiated Emilia Pérez. A Mexican Parody (below) flips the script on French stereotypes, serving up exaggerated berets, baguettes, and artsy existential in response to the film’s controversial portrayal of Mexico.

Flare Jeans Are Back In

I had no idea what that meant, so I had to Bing it. It really means bell bottoms. As if we did not have enough problems. I’ll continue wearing Brooks Brothers corduroy.

The Saudi story

Read this BBC story on the suicide of Eden Knight, a Saudi trans woman who was allegedly coerced into returning to Saudi Arabia by a lawyer with ties to the embassy. As the BBC investigation reveals, Eden sought asylum in the U.S. but was reportedly manipulated into going back to a country where being transgender is not tolerated and eventually killed herself. As anti-trans and anti-immigrant sentiment rise and asylum policies tighten, it is a reminder that for many LGBTQ+ people, migration is the only option.

What to watch?

After Compassion (excellent), I did not know how to distract myself, so I watched Les Tuches 1-3 with the twins. Les Tuches à L’Elysée felt incredibly prescient of what we are witnessing in the White House now. The BBC claims The White Lotus season 3—coming out this Sunday—is disappointing, although the Guardian disagrees. We will have to judge ourselves.

Ric Grenell Takes the Kennedy Center

So many consolation prizes for Ric… Donald Trump has appointed his ever-loyal sidekick as the "interim executive director" of the Kennedy Center (see here)—a title that doesn’t exist. Apparently, Grenell, best known for tweeting through diplomatic crises and auditioning (unsuccessfully) for Secretary of State, is interested in cultural matters. I fear a lyrical rendition of The Apprentice and an all-white West Side Story revival.

Seattle Opera’s 2025/26 Season: A Bold Celebration of Inclusion

Well, I guess we will have to travel to Seattle … Its Opera has announced its 2025/26 season (details here), featuring a lineup that blends beloved classics with groundbreaking works, including Fellow Travelers, a moving opera set during the Lavender Scare that explores forbidden love and LGBTQ+ history. The season also includes The Pirates of Penzance, Daphne in Concert, and Carmen, along with special programming like Gay Apparel, a holiday drag show hosted by Anita Spritzer.

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Coming and Going

Buttigieg and Nessel Lead in Early Michigan Senate Poll

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and out-lesbian Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel are the frontrunners in a new poll for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. According to Blueprint Polling, 40% of Democratic primary voters favor Buttigieg, while 16% back Nessel, with a sizable 30% still undecided. If Buttigieg opts out, Nessel's support jumps to 39%. With current Sen. Gary Peters stepping down, Michigan’s political landscape is shifting fast—and two LGBTQ+ heavyweights are poised to make history. See in The Advocate.

Kara Swisher’s Trump-Era Glow-Up

It is Kara Swisher’s moment. Tech oligarch drama, regulatory chaos, and Silicon Valley power plays are precisely the disruptive spectacle she was designed to cover. The veteran lesbian tech journalist has been making the rounds this week analyzing Musk’s role as the new administration's de facto co-star.

Peter Thiel’s Faith

The New York Times report yesterday that Thiel has emerged as Silicon Valley’s most unexpected Christian influencer feels like gaslighting. Thiel’s ACTS 17 Collective—a networking group for the rich who need Jesus as much as more funding for drone warfare startups - is all the rage. It was not on my scorecard, given that Thiel is known for lacking philanthropic engagement. The article is full of delicious quotes:

He’s gay and a billionaire. How can he be Christian?

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The Gay Agenda

February 19: The Cost of Exclusion with Egale in Canada

At 11:00 a.m. EST on the 19th, join me for Egale Canada’s virtual panel on The Cost of Exclusion: Why LGBTQ+ Representation in Leadership Matters. I’ll speak alongside M.V. Lee Badgett (Chief Economist at Koppa) and Mitzie Hunter. Register here.

February 20: East Meets West in Vienna

On the 20th, I will join Austria’s BRich network with East Meets West for a virtual keynote at their Vienna event. The discussion will focus on the shifting landscape of LGBTQ+ inclusion, the risks posed by the U.S. backlash against DEI, and the strategies companies and organizations worldwide must adopt to sustain progress. 

March 11-22: CSW69: A Tense Battleground

The 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) will convene at the United Nations in New York from March 11 to 22. This year’s gathering is shaping up to be more combative than celebratory. You can expect fierce debates over trans inclusion, reproductive rights, and protections for LGBTQ+ people. This CSW will be a critical test of whether the international community can hold the line on gender and LGBTQ+ rights or if we are entering a new era of institutional regression.

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Well, that’s it for this week. I might be negative, but at least I am almost on time. I hope you are taking good care of yourself. If you have a minute, please complete Koppa’s survey on its October 2025 LGBTQ+ Inclusive Finance Conference. We must continue to make progress where we can.