Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: A Conclave, SCOTUS on LGBTQ+ Books in schools, Cuts to Youth Suicide Prevention, the Senate Twink’s comeback, Protect the Dolls, Los Frikis, JoJo Siwa, and much more…
The passing of Pope Francis dominated our social media feeds this week for good reasons. For LGBTQ+ people, exclusion from places of worship and spirituality remains one of the most painful and cruel indignities we face. Francis, to his credit, attempted to soften that exclusion where he could. In 2023, he made a landmark statement: homosexuality is not a crime. Later he authorized the blessing of same-sex couples (although, not in Africa, because it’s “special”). While he still regarded homosexuality as a sin, his call for the Church to help repeal “unjust laws” signaled a meaningful shift. And yet not a panacea. Francis took positions that echoed the Church’s old missteps (I wrote on the capricious rejection of gender-affirming care, calls to ban surrogacy and here is a 2015 piece I penned during his U.S. visit). What I found most striking, as the negative Frenchman I am, was not his outreach though, but the intensity of the backlash it generated in the Church. A sobering warning that many still would like to see us subjugated.
This week: A Conclave, SCOTUS on LGBTQ+ Books in schools, Cuts to Youth Suicide Prevention, the Senate Twink’s comeback, Protect the Dolls, Los Frikis, JoJo Siwa and much more…
Global News
Pope Francis: A Complicated LGBTQ+ Legacy
Pope Francis, a well intentioned spiritual leader, was a complicated figure for LGBTQ+ people. While bound by Catholic doctrine and the resistance of his flock, he made space—however small—for dialogue and dignity. His calls for compassion in the face of suffering, and his willingness to acknowledge structural injustice, mattered. Fr. James Martin - who was very close to him - had a great oped yesterday in the NYTimes. Francis’ clearest legacy is found in statements like this one reflecting how twisted our values can be:
Nobody gets scandalized if I give my blessings to a businessman who perhaps exploits people—and this is a very grave sin. But they get scandalized if I give them to a homosexual. This is hypocrisy.
The Next Pope: LGBTQ+ Anxieties
Our community - now smugingly proficient on the topic of papal succession thanks to Conclave - is anxious about the next People. Will the next pontiff carry forward cautious inclusivity or retreat into doctrinal rigidity? I like to remind people that Rome is really the stage of a fight between conservative and progressive gay cardinals as Frédéric Martel clearly showed in his book. Among the papables, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna stands out for his active engagement with LGBTQ+ Catholics (see this 2022 story). Similarly, Germany’s Cardinal Reinhard Marx has called for a rethinking of Church teachings on homosexuality. Meanwhile, conservative figures like Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea and Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, could signal a return to a more hardline approach. One thing is certain: the last thing gay people need at this point is a foe in Rome. Read more on PBS.
Russia: Apple Faces Russian Court Over Rainbow Wallpaper
Apple is under fire in Russia after media regulator Roskomnadzor filed a civil case accusing the company of spreading “LGBT propaganda” via a rainbow-colored wallpaper included in its latest iOS18 update. The image, released in celebration of Pride Month, has prompted a potential fine of up to 4 million rubles (€42,400). As Novaya Gazeta Europe reports, this latest case underscores the growing risks for global companies attempting to maintain inclusive messaging in authoritarian markets. Also worth noting, the Russian Justice Ministry has named a queer journalist Vadim Vaganov as a member of the international LGBT movement - although not in a complimentary kind of way.
Ghana: Political Calculus on LGBTQ+ Rights
A new article by Kwaku Adomako in The Round Table explores how political leaders in Ghana are navigating—and manipulating—LGBTQ+ rights rhetoric to suit shifting audiences. The piece traces how figures like former President John Mahama and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia adopt fluctuating positions depending on whether they’re addressing local voters, religious institutions, or international observers. Read the full article here.
UK: Aftermath Of A Seismic Court Decision
One week after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of “woman” under the Equality Act refers exclusively to biological sex, ripple effects are unfolding across sports, public services, and politics. The ruling, hailed by the UK government as providing “clarity and confidence” (The Guardian), permits single-sex services—including sports leagues and hospital wards—to legally exclude trans women. While the plaintiff For Women Scotland celebrated with champagne, LGBTQ+ organizations, including Stonewall, warned of increased discrimination and mental health risks, especially for youth. Sporting bodies are reassessing policies—though many already restrict trans participation—while grassroots sports may see faster shifts.
EU: LGBTQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030
ILGA-Europe has launched a call to action as the European Commission opens its public consultation on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2026–2030. It will host a call in late May for member and community organisations to align on priorities ahead of the June deadline. Sign up here.
US News
SCOTUS Signals Support for Parental Opt-Outs
In a piece last Friday, I wrote that LGBTQ+ representation in school curriculum is a sine-qua-non to building a generation of queer kids with a true shot at happiness and dignity. Yet, the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared sympathetic to religious parents challenging a Maryland school district’s LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum. The Montgomery County schools introduced storybooks featuring same-sex couples to promote inclusivity, but some parents sued, claiming the content violated their religious rights by not allowing them to opt their children out. During oral arguments, the justices clashed over where to draw the line between exposure and coercion. A decision is expected this summer. Read more on APNews. I like how Salon put it:
Rep. Mark Takano Is La Résistance
In a personal MSNBC op-ed, Rep. Mark Takano—Congress’s first openly gay person of color and now the Chair of the Equality Caucus—draws parallels between the internment of his Japanese American family during World War II and this administration’s renewed use of the Alien Enemies Act.
We cannot normalize cruelty. When the government abandons constitutional rights for some, it endangers those rights for all.
Rep. Nancy Mace Meets The Gays In Supermarkets Aisles
In Charleston, South Carolina, a routine Ulta run became national news when gay small-business owner Ely Murray-Quick asked Rep. Nancy Mace a question about holding a real town hall. Mace responded by filming him, shouting “F**k you,” and posting the exchange online to frame him as a threat. The video, viewed nearly 7 million times, shows Murray-Quick standing calmly at a distance. See in the Advocate.
Proposed Cuts To LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention
In a draft 2025 budget proposal, the Trump administration plans to eliminate all federal funding for LGBTQ+ suicide prevention services, including the 988 Lifeline's specialized support for queer and trans youth—just two years after it launched in response to an escalating crisis. Organizations like The Trevor Project, which received millions in federal support and handled over 231,000 crisis contacts last year, warn this would gut essential mental health resources for a demographic already four times more likely to attempt suicide. See in the HuffPost.
Queering the Boardroom
Appointments/departures
Charles Myers became a board member of The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Jana Rich is stepping back from her role as Founder & Executive Chairman of Rich Talent Group. Allyn Shaw recently announced he joined Truist as their Chief Technology Execution Management & Performance Officer.
April 29: Detroit Dinner
Next week, the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors will host its inaugural Detroit Dinner—an evening celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ+ executives and allies.
The Gay Business
Pride 2025: Visibility, Resistance, and Reimagining What Matters
Pride 2025 is shaping up to be amazing. The jury is still out on whether corporates will adopt a low profile but what is certain is that queer people are going to show up en masse. See the U.S. Pride calendar here, and IGLTA has a global calendar here.
Earth Day Spotlight: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Climate Action
Climate and LGBTQ+ inclusion are in a fierce race—to see which urgent issue can be dismissed as Trump era radioactive the fastest. Yesterday felt like a very subdued Earth Day 2025. Yet, GiveOut has released Bridging the Gap: Resourcing LGBTQI Climate Action, a report that highlights how LGBTQI communities are uniquely affected by the climate crisis—and why their solutions must be funded. As Koppa’s Kelly Widelska notes, this is essential reading for anyone working at the intersection of sustainability and social justice.
Goldman Sachs Shareholders Reject Anti-DEI Push
At its 2025 annual meeting, Goldman Sachs shareholders overwhelmingly rejected two proposals targeting the firm's DEI initiatives, with 98% voting against each measure. The proposals were spearheaded by the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR). In response, Goldman’s Board reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion, stating that diversity is essential to the firm’s commercial success. This marks yet another defeat for anti-DEI shareholder activism in 2025, following similar rejections at Apple, Disney, and Costco. Read more here.
The semi cultural desk
The Return of the Senate Twinks
I had almost forgotten about that juicy sex scandal until I read that headline in People magazine. Aidan Maese-Czeropski—dubbed the “Senate Twink” after a 2023 sex tape scandal in a U.S. Senate hearing room—has reemerged with an unexpected new chapter. Now based in Sydney, Australia, Maese-Czeropski has embraced his controversial notoriety with an OnlyFans account and a candid public presence. There is a silver lining to every crisis: I would not want to work on the Hill these days for all the gold in the world. Also let me take this opportunity to predict that Sam Brinton too will make a comeback.
What to wear? A “Protect The Dolls” T-shirt
Conner Ives’ “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt, worn by Pedro Pascal at the Thunderbolts premiere, was all over the news this week. The phrase—a nod to trans women—gained traction following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling. Worn by figures such as Troye Sivan and Lux Pascal, the shirt has become a quiet symbol of resistance, channeling funds to Trans Lifeline, a grassroots organization providing crisis support for trans people. Read more in the NYTimes. Or shop on Etsy.
What to watch? Los Frikis on Cuba’s Queer Punk Resistance
Los Frikis is about a group of punk rock outcasts in 1990s Cuba —many of them LGBTQ—intentionally injected themselves with HIV to escape repression. Why? Because the government's AIDS sanitariums, though isolating, offered food, music, and a sliver of personal freedom in a society that had criminalized their very existence. See trailer below:
What to watch? Chuck and Buck
Now that Mike White has reached the pinnacle of LGBTQ+ culture (loved the public feud with Cristóbal Tapia de Veer by the way), it is time to rewatch Chuck and Buck that he wrote and stared in years ago.
What to read? Chasten Buttigieg’s Children Book
Producing a children's book is the passage obligé of the LGBTQ+ American elite. Chasten Buttigieg’s upcoming picture book Papa’s Coming Home (Penguin, May 20) is a sweet, slightly chaotic ode to queer family life, starring Jojo and Rosie as they prepare for their beloved Papa’s return from a trip—by filling the car with every item he might have missed… except a seat for him.
What to watch? Neil Patrick Harris In ‘Group Therapy’
Check out Group Therapy, the comedy docu-series produced by Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat now on Prime, Neil Patrick Harris joins a cast of celebrities exploring mental health with humor. Group Therapy | Official Trailer | Hartbeat
In other news: Jojo Siwa is no longer a lesbian and 'My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?)' on Broadway.
Coming and Going
Rebecca Rolfe Steps Down at the SF LGBT Center
After 22 years of transformative leadership, Rebecca Rolfe is stepping down as executive director of the SF LGBT Center, leaving behind a legacy rooted in resilience, inclusion, and community-building. From guiding the organization through a capital remodel to launching one of the world’s first LGBTQ economic development programs, Rolfe helped evolve the Center from a fledgling nonprofit into a vital hub for queer San Franciscans. See here.
The Gay Agenda
April 24: Free Workshop on Creative Campaigning
Some say we have lost the plot so tomorrow SOGI Campaigns (of which I happen to be the treasurer) is having a free online workshop on narrative work. Hosted by Joel Bedos and the team behind sogicampaigns.org, the session explores how to harness the power of narrative in public campaigns that shift hearts and policies. 👉 Register here 👥 Join the Creative Campaigners Facebook group
April 24: China’s Evolving LGBTQI+ Movements
Also tomorrow, join a timely and essential conversation with Chinese LGBTQI+ trailblazers Yanzi and Xin Ying as they unpack the shifting terrain of queer activism in China. At 🕒 9:00 PM ET 🔗 Register here
That’s it for this week. I’m back in the U.S. after a lovely week at home—below is a photo from Sunday at Bagatelle with the twins, their grandmother, and a random peacock. On the way back, I found myself seated next to Bernard-Henri Lévy and his entourage at CDG where he was discussing his Tunisia’s condemnation. It’s not the first time I’ve crossed paths with the quintessential Frenchman in an airport or on a plane, but this time he was flanked by bodyguards—a sobering sign of the times.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations, institutions, or individuals mentioned.
À propos Apple, I wonder. Apple Podcasts has this odd feature that lets you manually set a different price for every country or exclude your podcast from publication in that country.
Leaving aside for a moment that I think it’s important to make so-called LGBTQI+ propaganda available to everyone in Russia, should all podcasters from other countries who speak about LGBTQI+ matters protect themselves by excluding Russia from their podcast’s publication? Asking for a friend…
Tucked between Trump’s budget cuts to public health and the bulldozing of basic human services is a quiet act of violence: the elimination of all funding for the LGBTQ+ line of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
No more trained counselors for queer kids in crisis. No more safe voice when they reach for help in the dark. Just a dead dial tone from a government that decided their lives aren’t worth anything.
https://substack.com/@patricemersault/note/c-111595238