Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: the impact of aid cuts, WorldPride 2025, McBride’s Via Crucis, the return of the pink triangle, Trump’s Trans Mice, Target losses, Gina Ortiz Jones runs, Pickles to Penguins, and much more…
Someone told me last week: “your newsletter is very gloom and doom lately”. I would add it’s a little more US-centric than usual too but it’s not my fault: the context is improbable (look at the headlines today: “The Supreme Court Might Re-Legalize LGBTQ Conversion Therapy”, LGBTQ+ people have not played their cards well, also I am French and a “Debbie Downer” to start with. Of course, I could concentrate on the silver lining like Marco Rubio’s “Gay Foam parties” or that it feels like Spring in NYC but admit I don’t have much to work with. I am randomly peppering this newsletter with smiley faces 😊 (6 exactly) as a first step to answer this feedback though.
This week: the impact of aid cuts, WorldPride 2025, McBride’s Via Crucis, the return of the pink triangle, Trump’s Trans Mice, Target losses, Gina Ortiz Jones runs, Pickles to Penguins, and much more…
Global News
Japan: Court Decision On Same-Sex Marriage Ban
While Japan remains the only G-7 country without any form of same-sex union, the Nagoya High Court ruled that the country’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage violates the Constitution. This is the fourth such decision after Sapporo, Tokyo, and Fukuoka courts reached similar conclusions. The case, brought by a same-sex couple from Aichi Prefecture, argued that the ban breaches Article 14 (equality under the law) and Article 24, Paragraph 2 (marriage based on individual dignity), increasing pressure on lawmakers to introduce reforms. See on AP.
Turkey: Activists Need Our Support
I mentioned recently that LGBTQ+ rights in Turkey are facing an alarming crackdown, with proposed legal amendments threatening to criminalize LGBTQ+ existence, advocacy, and even parental support. IGLYO and its Turkish member organizations have raised the alarm over leaked changes to the Turkish Penal Code and Civil Code that could impose prison sentences on LGBTQ+ activists, reintroduce forced sterilization for trans people, and severely limit gender-affirming healthcare. The arbitrary detention of journalist and LGBTQ+ advocate Yıldız Tar further underscores the growing repression. Meanwhile, Turkish parents of LGBTQ+ children are fighting back: “We will not abandon our children.” Read more on IGLYO’s website.
Global: Aid Cuts Devastate Global LGBTQ+ Rights
A new report from Outright International details the dire global consequences of Trump’s foreign aid freeze. Advocacy groups in over 100 countries have lost critical resources, forcing them to shut down life-saving programs and exposing vulnerable individuals to increased violence and discrimination. The truth is that our movement made mistakes relying almost exclusively on Democrats and the U.S. to advance gay liberation: we need more independence 😊.
WorldPride 2025: Navigating the Trump-Era Minefield
Again I hate to be negative but given what happened to BLM Plaza, do you think “they” won’t get in the way of Washington, D.C. hosting WorldPride 2025 in June? With sponsors pulling out, venues mysteriously canceling, and fears that federal funding could be yanked, the event’s planning has turned into a high-stakes logistical puzzle. Some international groups, like Egale Canada, are even backing out over safety concerns for trans attendees. Read more in Them and in the Blade.
US News
Newsom Breaks With Democrats on Trans Athletes
California Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines on the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports this week. Speaking on his new podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, the potential 2028 presidential contender told right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk that allowing trans women to compete is “deeply unfair.” HRC swiftly condemned Newsom’s comments as a betrayal. See on CNN.
Supreme Court to Review LGBTQ ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to Colorado’s 2019 ban on LGBTQ+ “conversion therapy”. Licensed counselor Kaley Chiles argues the law violates her free speech rights, while Colorado officials defend it as a legitimate regulation of professional conduct. The case, backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), joins other high-profile cultural disputes before the Court this term, including laws on transgender healthcare and LGBTQ-inclusive education. Arguments will take place in the term beginning October. See here.
Many of her clients seek her counsel precisely because they believe that their faith and their relationship with God establishes the foundation upon which to understand their identity and desires.
Republicans Are Testing McBride’s Patience
Keith Self (R-TX) misgendered Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first openly transgender member of Congress, during a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing. Self introduced McBride as “Mr. McBride” to which she spiritedly responded by addressing him as “Madam Chairman” 😊. Self doubled down when challenged by Representative William Keating (D-MA), who rebuked him: “Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?” Instead of correcting himself, Self abruptly adjourned the hearing. See the video below:
The Pink Triangle’s Unexpected Return
Trump shared an article on Truth Social featuring a Nazi-era Pink Triangle symbol, historically used to mark gay men in concentration camps. Whether Trump understood the symbolism or not, the message is chilling. Read more.
What is our leadership thinking? Teach-In at Politics & Prose
At a packed March 8 Teach-In at Politics & Prose in D.C., HRC President Kelley Robinson declared: “The only thing standing between Donald Trump asserting his power as a king and that becoming our reality is good people like us saying, ‘Hell no.’” Joined by Rep. Jamie Raskin, ACLU’s David Cole, and Democracy Forward’s Sky Perryman, the panel called for relentless civic action. Robinson added: “look courage is like glitter if there's any gays in the room you know that if you get glitter on you it ain't coming off”. As for Raskin, he said:
The more difficult the struggle, the more glorious in the end will be our victory
Trump’s Trans Mice Meltdown: A Lab Experiment in Fearmongering
Transgender mice was all everybody was talking about after Trump spun a bizarre tale about taxpayer dollars funding mouse transitions. In reality, researchers use animal models—including mice—to study how hormones affect human health, something done for decades without incident. But thanks to the White Coat Waste Project, an anti-animal research group, Trump found his newest boogeymouse.
Political Science Finally Catches Up with LGBTQ+ Lives
A new study published in PS: Political Science & Politics challenge some stereotypes on LGBTQ+ Americans: they are no more politically engaged than their straight counterparts, are in significantly worse health, and—as my Koppa colleague Prof. Lee Badgett relentlessly reminds us—do not enjoy higher socioeconomic status. Full article here: Cambridge University Press.
Buffalo Mourns Beloved LGBTQ+ Couple
Buffalo’s LGBTQ+ and artistic communities are mourning the tragic loss of Mickey Harmon, 40, and Jordan Celotto, 37, a beloved couple found dead in their home in what police are investigating as a double homicide. Harmon, a celebrated muralist and co-owner of The Good Stuff, was known for his bold personality and dedication to uplifting Buffalo’s queer community, while Celotto, a DJ, brought joy through his love of disco and house music. Read more on NBC News.
Queering the Boardroom
A Conversation on LGBTQ+ Corporate Leaders in the Boadroom
I moderated a conversation last week with Jim McCoy (Atlas), Vanessa Ruda (RHR International), and Beth Sasfai (Cooley)to discuss the new Boardroom landscape and how it impact LGBTQ+ Board Members. Watch the conversation below:
Survey Reveals Growing Concerns Over LGBTQ+ Board Representation
The LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Board Diversity Sentiment Survey sent by the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors highlights some legitimate anxiety. 78% of respondents believe that recent policy rollbacks—including the repeal of NASDAQ’s board diversity rule and Goldman Sachs ending its diversity requirement—will have a significant negative impact on LGBTQ+ board appointments. Political backlash was cited as a primary driver of DEI discussions by 65% of respondents. Despite these challenges, 87% affirmed that the mission to promote LGBTQ+ representation on corporate boards is now more relevant than ever.
The Gay Business
The Economic Blackout Day Hit Target
The February 28 “Economic Blackout” protest, organized by The People’s Union USA, may have impacted major retailers, with Target seeing a 9% drop in website traffic and a 14% dip in app usage. While the boycott didn’t explicitly target brands rolling back DEI policies, Costco—one of the few retailers reaffirming its DEI commitment—saw a 22% surge in online traffic the same day. With Target’s quarterly earnings report due soon, the full impact of the boycott remains to be seen. Read more on Forbes.
Anheuser-Busch’s “Commitment” to DEI? Just Look at Their Exec Team
Anson Frericks’ op-ed yesterday in the NYTimes criticizing DEI in corporate America is just weird when you consider Anheuser-Busch’s own executive team in the U.S.— all men, with the lone woman in charge of HR. Frericks argues that DEI initiatives were always performative and ultimately alienated customers, pointing to the Bud Light backlash as proof. I feel that Anheuser Busch is instead a great example of why American badly need inclusion efforts. People agreed with me on LinkedIn, a clear sign that I am right 😊.
The principles that built great American companies are simple: Hire the best people, serve your customers well and let merit and financial results determine success.
Semi cultural desk
What to read? Sacha Sperling
These days, French homosexuals seem far more in touch with reality than their American counterparts, who loudly declare their success while exhibiting pathological behavior at every turn. Sacha Sperling's writing cuts through the noise—his raw, unfiltered portrayal of youth, sexuality, and power dynamics in France is a reminder that our journey as a people is far from over. His novels remind us that desire, class, and identity still intersect to render our lives incredibly complex.
Beigbeder: The Straight Man’s Complaint?
In Le Figaro Magazine’s cover story Vive les Hommes !, Frédéric Beigbeder laments what he sees as the decline of masculinity, arguing that men—by which he clearly means straight men—are now unfairly vilified. He rails against feminism, cancel culture, and changing gender norms, presenting heterosexual men as victims of an era that no longer celebrates them. But in his nostalgic ode to a lost golden age of manhood, which he clearly feel the gays undermine, Beigbeder cannot hide his contempt for homosexuals (watch him whining again yesterday about the feedback his silly article triggered).
Now, we can no longer afford to mock our religion, our army, our values, or our homeland. To ethnic and sexual minorities: you do not have a monopoly on pride. We must stop deconstructing honest, simple men. There is no reason to be ashamed of being a heterosexual white Christian over 50, any more than of being a mixed-race transgender atheist of 20. Who cares! The silent majority must stop being mute.
Gay MAGA Influencer Dies While Awaiting Murder Trial
Garrett Bruno, a West Hollywood travel influencer known as Garrett Travels, was found dead at his parents’ home in Florida while awaiting trial for second-degree murder. Bruno, 33, was accused of causing an October 2024 car crash that killed a 83-year-old woman and seriously injured her husband. Bruno had previously stirred controversy in LGBTQ+ circles for his vocal support of Donald Trump and JD Vance. Read more on Pink News.
Luigi’s fashion
I reported a few weeks ago, that BCBG/”Preppy” wear is back in, the Gothamist confirms it with a piece on Luigi Mangione’s outfits.
What to watch?
Shannon Pufahl’s On Swift Horses (2019) is a novel about forbidden love and self-discovery in 1950s America, now adapted into a film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, and Will Poulter. After premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the movie is set for release later on April 25th. Trailer below:
Why Are Lesbians Invisible?
Photographer Marie Docher takes on a crucial question in her latest book, Pourquoi les lesbiennes sont invisibles (Why Are Lesbians Invisible?, Éditions du Seuil). Blending personal testimonies with a sharp analysis of erasure mechanisms in art and society, she reveals how she once had to adopt a male pseudonym, Vincent David, to be taken seriously in the photography world. The book also explores how the heirs of lesbian artists, like Berenice Abbott, have often concealed their subjects' true identities. This follows Docher’s previous work, Et l’amour aussi, which showcased 50 portraits of lesbians from different generations, reinforcing much-needed visibility. Borrowed from Pigments, with thanks! Read more in Têtu here.
Reality TV Needs More Queers?
GLAAD’s latest petition, co-authored by Peppermint and Frankie Grande and signed by the likes of Elliot Page and Alan Cumming, demands more queer and trans representation in reality TV. Maybe another gay on The Bachelor will be our salvation. Maybe not. Read more here.
Love, Loss, and Coal Dust: Viet and Nam Heads to U.S. Theaters
Banned in Vietnam but celebrated on the international festival circuit, Viet and Nam is finally making its way to U.S. theaters on March 28. Directed by Truong Minh Quy, this haunting queer love story follows two coal miners torn apart by ambition, immigration, and a doomed future. The film has drawn praise since premiering at Cannes as a must-see:
Coming And Going
Peter Thiel’s Influence Runs Deep in Trump’s New Administration
Yes, the Gays have some power—but not how I envisioned it. Billionaire Peter Thiel has stacked the Trump administration with his allies, from VP J.D. Vance to defense and tech insiders, all cashing in on government contracts. His companies, like Palantir and Anduril, are raking in billions, proving once again that queer representation in power means nothing when the elite feels disinterested in the plight of LGBTQ+ people globally. See in Bloomberg.
Mary Trump Keeps the Family Secrets Flowing
Trump’s lesbian niece, Mary, was asked this week if she could recall a time when Trump had ever been kind to a woman in their family and she responded “no”. She dismissed any notion of a "softer side," calling him a "monster" shaped by their grandfather’s abuse. Read more here: LGBTQ Nation.
Super-Lesbian in San Antonio Mayoral race
Gina Ortiz Jones, former Under Secretary of the Air Force in the Biden-Harris admin, and the first out-lesbian and first woman of color to serve as the under secretary of any military department, is running to lead and serve San Antonio, her hometown and the 7th largest city in the country. More people live in San Antonio than in 10 states. Learn her platform at ginaortizjones.com. The maximum contribution is $1K, and you can donate HERE.
The Gay Agenda
SxSW in Austin
Talking about Texas. SXSW is taking over Austin but LGBTQ+ voices fele a little more invisible than usual. I did read a piece on SHE'S THE HE (see the trailer here). Eric Patton did not even comment on how the festival disrupted his life. See their LGBTQ+ programming.
Well this newsletter is more than one hour late. My apologies. I have a busy week: the Association is hosting two important dinners and I have been playing Pickles to Penguins! with my children at night 😊 which I highly recommend as an antidote to the “marasme ambiant”. More board games and less power plays is my recommendation!
The 😊 are brilliant, the spoonfuls of sugar to make the medicine go down