Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: Ghana, Turkey, and Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ agenda, Gays get Guns, USAID cuts, “Be Queer, Shoot Straight”, the complexities of bathroom policing, queer talent and the Oscars, and much more...
Beyond its borders, the U.S. anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is emboldening homophobes everywhere. Concretely, this means more repression against gay people through increased censorship, crackdowns on LGBTQ+ activism, emboldened anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in public discourse and a wave of restrictive bills. I would add “Winter is coming” but that would be too 2019 and French. Meanwhile, on the bright side, here queer people caught a bit of a break this week—not because of a change of heart, but because the focus shifted to a prelude to pesky WWIII. When the only reason you’re not being vilified for “wokeness” is that Ukrainians are being vilified instead, you know the times are grim. Over the weekend, I wrote that it’s time for LGBTQ+ people to think about transnational sovereignty—because in a world where “might makes right,” our survival depends on global unity, consolidating our power and some independence.
This week: Ghana, Turkey, and Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ agenda, Gays get Guns, USAID cuts, “Be Queer, Shoot Straight”, the complexities of bathroom policing, queer talent and the Oscars, and much more…
Global News
Uganda: LGBTQ+ Civil Society Defunded
It would be too long to re-explain here why Uganda is both a practical and symbolic example of our fight against egregious human rights violations against LGBTQ+ people. There is a long history. This New York Times article highlights how the U.S. funding cuts dismantle decades of LGBTQ+ organizing to respond to Uganda’s abhorrent Anti-Homosexuality Act. These are our tax dollars too by the way.
An informal survey of 127 nonprofits dealing with L.G.B.T.Q. issues and other at-risk groups carried out by Uganda Key Populations Consortium, Mr. Lusimbo’s organization, showed that 97 percent of them had lost almost all their budgets as a result of the U.S.A.I.D. cuts. Mr. Lusimbo said he had to let most of his staff go in the past month.
Ghana: Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Resurfaces
A group of Ghanaian MPs has reintroduced their infamous anti-LGBTQ+ bill (background here) that would impose prison sentences of up to 10 years for advocacy and three years for simply identifying as gay. The legislation was previously passed by parliament but left unsigned by former President Nana Akufo-Addo. Our community does not have the same leverage as a few months ago: whether it is with trade, international aid, or support from the private sector. However, the bill’s fate is unclear, as President John Mahama does not want it. Read more on BBC.
Turkey: Proposed Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Sparks Alarm
A draft bill in Turkey could criminalize LGBTQ+ advocacy and enshrine “biological sex” into law, imposing prison sentences of up to three years for promoting LGBTQ+ rights and up to four years for conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies. The proposed legislation would also raise the legal age for gender reassignment from 18 to 21. It is part of President Recep Tayyip’s “Year of the Family” (see Erdoğan’s Fertility Crusade Gets Homophobic) and his crackdown on so-called “perverse ideologies” (yep, that’s YOU).
Hungary Moves to Ban Budapest Pride March
Now that Amb. Pressman is gone, Orbán has Carte Blanche. Pressman had leveraged his position to confront Orbán (see Super Pressman vs. László Kövér in a previous edition), ultimately becoming the regime’s bête noire (see also his interview on NPR). Now that he is gone, Orban Hungary’s government is pushing for legal changes that would effectively ban the Budapest Pride march in its current form, citing "child protection" as justification. Despite government hostility, pride organizers are still preparing for the 30th Budapest Pride on June 28. 📖 Read more on France24. Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, was quoted as saying:
We believe that Pride marching through downtown, now that the US ambassador can no longer lead it, should not be tolerated by the country
India: First Transgender Clinic Hit Hard by USAID Cuts
BBC reports that India’s pioneering Mitr Clinics, which provided essential healthcare to transgender individuals, have shuttered in Hyderabad, Thane, and Pune following a halt in USAID funding. The clinics, launched in 2021 with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), offered HIV treatment, counseling, and other critical services to thousands.
US News
Standing Against Trans Erasure
Marc Solomon, a partner at Civitas Public Affairs Group, tells it like it is on Bulwark this week. He describes the Trump administration’s aggressive rollback of transgender rights as an outright attempt to erase trans people from public life by isolating and dehumanizing them. It’s time to speak out he warns—because when we stay silent, we enable injustice.
If we don’t speak out now and show Trump and his supporters that Americans disapprove, it will only make it easier for this administration to come after other marginalized groups.
Democrat Senators Block Trans Athlete Ban
High school athlete Payton McNabb, who says she was harmed by trans people playing in girls' sports, was a star guest of Trump’s address to Congress yesterday. Last week, Senate Democrats successfully blocked a GOP-led bill that would have banned transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, denying Republicans the 60 votes needed to advance the measure. While Democrats frame this as a victory, the bill’s failure hands Republicans a potent weapon. The ostentatiously pious new Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted on Fox News:
Look at Democrats: yesterday, 45 Senate Dems voted against keeping men out of women's sports. How can you be against that when 80% of the country is for it?
Policing Gender in the Bathroom Is Proving Complex
A few weeks ago, I reported on how Lauren Boebert had to apologize after spotting a trans woman using women's restrooms who eventually happened to be a cis woman. I’d suggest creating a federal bathroom agency in the U.S. but assume it would put DOGE in a bind. This week Kalaya Morton, a 19-year-old Black cisgender lesbian, was confronted by police in a Tucson Walmart restroom after an employee allegedly assumed she was a trans woman. While using the stall, two male deputies burst in, shining flashlights and demanding she prove she belonged there. Stunned and humiliated, Morton recorded part of the incident—her video has since gone viral, amassing over 3.7 million views on TikTok. “The only men in the women’s restroom were the cops,” she told The Advocate, highlighting the absurdity of the encounter.
The Rise of the LGBTQ+ Gun Culture
With slogans like “Be Queer, Shoot Straight,” the NYTimes showcases this week how the Gun industry is evolving to adapt to demand from LGBTQ+ people who feel threatened by America’s polarization. The industry is shifting focus to high-end accessories and lifestyle branding to appeal to LGBTQ+ gun owners. Companies like Rooftop Defense are profiting from a collector’s obsession with military-style firearm modifications, while brands like A Better Way 2A are reshaping gun culture by marketing apparel and gear to women, minorities, and queer firearm enthusiasts.
GLAAD Calls Out Liberal Media
GLAAD - a U.S. media watchdog group - is calling out liberal media, scrutinizing how well they meet its standards for covering Trump’s anti-trans executive orders. Their latest report analyzed 35 articles from six historically LGBTQ-friendly publications. It deemed them inadequate—only 13 quoted a trans person, and just six challenged misleading claims—a message reinforced by last week’s protest outside The New York Times headquarters. Read more in The Advocate.
Queering the boardroom
Glass Lewis Stands Firm on Boardroom Diversity
Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis will continue to flag boardrooms lacking gender, racial, or LGBTQ+ diversity, despite mounting political pressure against corporate DEI initiatives. In contrast to rival ISS, which recently abandoned diversity considerations in its recommendations, Glass Lewis reaffirmed its 2025 guidelines urging shareholders to vote against directors at major U.S. companies with non-diverse boards. See on Reuters.
LGBTQ+ Boardroom and C-Suite Shuffle
Opal G. Perry takes flight as Chief Data and Technology Officer at easyJet, bringing her expertise to the airline’s digital transformation. Meanwhile, Holden Lee joins Sonen Capital’s board (see Press Release), reinforcing the firm’s impact-driven investment strategies. Bill Contente announced that he is joining the board of Barbican Advisory. On the departure side, Sigal Zarmi steps away from HashiCorp’s board.
Webinar Tomorrow: LGBTQ+ Leadership in the Boardroom
As the fight for board diversity faces new challenges, the mission of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors is more critical than ever. Tomorrow at 4:15 p.m. EST, I’ll join Jim McCoy, Vanessa Ruda, and Beth Sasfai for a virtual discussion hosted by NACD Northern California Chapter on what LGBTQ+ Excellence in the boardroom looks like in 2025. Register here.
The Gay business
Will Inclusion Survive Under New Semantics?
Walmart shut down its Center for Racial Equity, Meta scrapped diversity hiring goals, and McDonald’s quietly renamed its DEI division the “Global Inclusion Team.” This shift isn’t just corporate optics; it reflects mounting legal threats, social media backlash, and the implications of the "our country will be woke no longer" mantra. Federal agencies have already begun shutting down civil rights offices, and most federal employees working on DEI have been placed on leave. Universities like Dartmouth have pivoted to “socio-economic inclusion” to maintain diversity efforts, and companies facing investor pressure—like Apple—are holding firm on equity commitments. Read more on BBC News
Invest in LGBTQ+ Sovereignty: Sponsor Koppa’s Forum
Economic independence is a key aspect of LGBTQ+ sovereignty. The Global LGBTQ+ Inclusive Finance Forum (October 9-10, 2025, NYC) is pivotal in building financial power, fostering investment, and ensuring our community’s resilience. Hosted by Koppa at Mastercard in NYC, this groundbreaking event unites global leaders, investors, and innovators to bridge economic gaps and unlock opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals and businesses. Sponsoring this forum isn’t just about visibility—it’s about fortifying the movement with the financial strength it will need in the years ahead. Contact us.
The semi-cultural desk
LGBTQ+ Cruise Rescues 11 Refugees in Gulf of Mexico
I had to start with this. Passengers aboard a VACAYA LGBTQ+ cruise became unexpected heroes when their Royal Caribbean charter ship spotted a distressed boat between Cuba and Mexico. Crew members swiftly launched a rescue mission, bringing 11 refugees aboard and providing them with food, medical care, and dry clothing. VACAYA CEO Randle Roper praised both the crew and queer passengers for their compassion, calling it a defining moment of the company’s values. See here.
Matt Bomer and the Gay Golden Girls
Matt Bomer’s upcoming sitcom, is set to redefine the art of retirement with three fabulous gay men living their best lives in Palm Springs (I hope they consulted John Tanzella on this script). Think Golden Girls, but with more glitter and alcoholism. See here.
Edward II: A Queer King’s Tragic Legacy Revived
The Royal Shakespeare Company's latest revival of Edward II brings fresh urgency to Christopher Marlowe’s 16th-century tale of a monarch undone by his love for another man. 🔗 Read more
Lord Ivar Mountbatten on The Traitors (US)
Talking about gay Royals…Lord Ivar Mountbatten, the first openly gay member of the British royal family’s extended circle, is back in the spotlight for his reality TV debut. The aristocrat and businessman, who married James Coyle in 2018 in a same-sex royal wedding, recently joined the cast of The Traitors (US) Season 3, which premiered on January 9th. See here.
Miséricorde
Some people hated it but I loved it. The filmmaker Alain Guiraudie, known for Stranger by the Lake and Staying Vertical, returns with Miséricorde, a twisted crime drama steeped in queer eroticism and small-town intrigue. Set in a picturesque French rural village, the film follows Jérémie, a handsome yet enigmatic drifter who returns home for a funeral, only to become the object of fascination—and danger—for the locals, including a widow, her volatile son, and a conflicted priest. See in Variety and trailer below (I did not choose the snapshot below just FYI).
David Coote’s Gay Card Failed
We learnt this week that David Coote did not manage to avoid punishment despite coming out as gay. After a viral video showed him snorting cocaine and calling Jurgen Klopp a “German c**t,” Coote apologized—and casually came out as gay in the same interview. Lianne Sanderson argues in Metro that tying one’s coming out to a public downfall fed into tired tropes rather than challenging them.
Colman Domingo’s Love Story
I met him once (in Paris) and strangely enough heard that story. Colman Domingo may have lost the Best Actor Oscar, but his real-life love story won the internet’s heart. The Sing Sing star and his husband Raúl stunned on the red carpet, sparking viral adoration for their meet-cute straight out of a movie. In 2005, the two locked eyes outside a Walgreens in Berkeley but didn’t speak. Days later, Domingo considered posting a Craigslist “missed connections” ad, only to find Raúl had already written one for him. Nearly 19 years later, their love story continues. I need to spend more time at the Pharmacy. See here.
The Oscars: Still Rolling the Credits on Queer Talent
The Oscars have had a complicated relationship with LGBTQ+ representation—equal parts triumph and tokenism. Yes, Brokeback Mountain and Moonlight made history, but Hollywood’s love affair with queer stories often comes with a catch: they prefer them played by straight, cis actors. While trans actress Gascón’s nomination this year is groundbreaking, it’s overshadowed by controversy. Meanwhile, openly LGBTQ+ actors have been historically snubbed, with Colman Domingo only the second out gay man ever nominated for Best Actor. Read about it on PinkNews.
Coming and going
Evan Low Takes the Helm at Victory Fund & Victory Institute
Evan Low has been named President and CEO of the Victory Fund & Victory Institute. A former California Assemblymember who just lost a bid for a Congressional seat, Evan now steps into a challenging role as the context is tense. Political representation in the US is slightly better than representation at the top of business but far from where it should be.
Sophie Delannoy Honored with National Order of Merit
In France, Sophie Delannoy, a trailblazer in inclusive sports participation and a dedicated advocate for transgender rights, has been named Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite for her 33 years of service. Founder of an association supporting trans individuals and leader in sports event participation, she underscored the honor; ‘s significance—not just for herself, but for every LGBTQ+ person fighting for recognition and dignity. See Sophie on her boat here.
Quote of The Week
I know this section never existed, but I like the quote below because it illustrates what I see well. LGBTQ+ people - often marginalized economically - found some success in the inclusion and advocacy business, which is now collapsing. Elon Musk, would probably respond gleefully that it shifts workers from low-productivity public service roles to high-productivity jobs in manufacturing. I would not know where to start to explain to him how unfair and ignorant that is:
To make ends meet, she said, she has taken on work as a party decorator.
The Gay Agenda
March 11-22: CSW69 at the UN
Next week, the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) will convene at the United Nations. 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. Tomorrow, Outright is hosting a panel on what’s at stake, register here.
Erratum: On Masha Gessen
In last week’s newsletter, I misgendered M. Gessen, who uses they/them pronouns. I deeply regret the error, especially given their long history of advocacy and critical thought on LGBTQ+ issues.
Well, that’s it for this week. I had to replace my motorcycle, which had a rough winter. You can check out the new bike on Instagram (they are all called Artur and I think it is Arthur VI). It’s green, which is the color of hope. Here is to a better future for my rides and our community.