Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: the murder of Edwin Chiloba, Indian same-sex marriage hearings, Russia's banned book, Sundance returns, Davos, George Santos, the Golden Globes, and more
Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
Welcome to my weekly equality news digest, where I share important (and much less important) news, updates, and commentary about the global LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business.
This week: the murder of Edwin Chiloba, Indian same-sex marriage hearings, Russia’s banned book, Sundance returns, Davos, George Santos, the Golden Globes, and more
Global News
Kenya: the killing of Edwin Chiloba
In what appears to be a case of domestic violence, LGBTQ+ activist and fashion designer Edwin Chiloba, who was only in his mid-20s, was murdered by Jackton Odhiambo. Several days ago, the police discovered his body in a metal box on the outskirts of Nairobi. Jackton and Chiloba had an altercation hours after attending a New Year’s Eve party. The landlord seemed somewhat oblivious to their relationship (a neighbor once asked me in DC if my kids' other dad and I were brothers - I remained speechless for 30 seconds):
“They lived together for close to a year, and I always thought they were siblings.”
India: same-sex marriage hearings
A sympathetic Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Chandrachud started hearing arguments on same-sex marriage last week. Chandrachud then ordered all the petitions pending before India's High Courts to be transferred to the Supreme Court and listed the petitions for 13 March. Stay tuned and read my take on this development with seismic potential.
Cambodia: country visit by the UN Independent Expert
The United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on SOGI (a mouthful! let’s just call him the “UN Gay Czar” as the Heritage Foundation does), Victor Madrigal-Borloz, is in Cambodia this week. See the UN press release here. LGBTQ+ travelers find Cambodia welcoming but growing up LGBTQ+ in the Kingdom is a struggle. Hun Sen, who has been the prime minister since 1985, once repudiated his lesbian adopted daughter (read the 2007 New York Times story here) and claimed - oblivious to the way I drive my Triumph Bonneville in the streets of NYC:
“Most of them are good people and are not doing alcohol, drugs, or racing vehicles.”
UK: "An explosion" of girls questioning their gender identity?
In a recent article, The Guardian looked at historical data (in a tiny sample) showing that ten years ago, there were just under 250 referrals, most of them boys, to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) in London while last year, there were more than 5,000 (double from the previous year), two-thirds of which were girls. One element of explanation could be that a welcoming environment pushes people to come out but most probably the historical sample is not very telling. The responses from readers were of course polarized and the Reddit thread was endless.
Russia: Anti-gay propaganda law first case
Russia’s Interior Ministry has opened its first investigation into the violation of the expanded "LGBTQ+ propaganda," by the novel Love in a Young Pioneer’s Tie” which the New York Times reviewed last month in an opinion piece. Aleksandr Khinshtein, a parliamentary deputy and hardline member of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, announced the investigation on his Telegram channel on Tuesday.
US News
Trans people in Sports: opinion column by Iszac Henig
For someone who dislikes Sports – probably because I felt excluded from soccer as a child – I have to read a lot about competitions and games these days. However, this column in the New York Times by trans athlete Iszac Henig, a varsity swimmer and senior at Yale, is a good read.
“I can understand why some people might worry about fairness or equality. But what seems to be missing from that conversation is our humanity.”
More on out Republican Congressman Santos
The news cycle has yet to move on from the story on compulsive liar George Santos. Part of it is that ethical complaints submerge Santos: yesterday Rep. Torres and Goldman filed their own (read about it here). Part of it is that Santos is the gift that keeps on giving. Thankfully, New York Magazine made a list of his lies here so we can keep track. The list is not exhaustive, though, as a few hours later, The Daily Beast suggested Santos might have lied about both having had COVID and a brain tumor (see here). New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on CNN shared that the George Santos coverage is a 'death of local media' story. Watch the below clip for more.
Being LGBTQ+ in Alabama
The NYTimes had a great piece on being LGBTQ+ in Alabama, the epicenter of laws targeting LGBTQ youth in the US, this week. This is a stark reminder that we only have scratched the surface of LGBTQ+ equality in America.
New York Times hires David French
The Washington Blade published a column penned by GLAAD denouncing the decision by the NY Times to hire David French, who has a history of having taken anti-trans positions, as a columnist. In the meantime, the New York Times celebrated the hiring with the following introduction:
“[French has] become increasingly alarmed about the extent of American polarization, and his most recent book, “Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation,” is a warning against the dangers of rising partisan animosity.”
In the Boardroom
Two key LGBTQ+ appointments in the Boardroom
This week the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors noted the appointments of Vanessa Pereguos to the Board of LivePerson and Atticus Tysen to the Board of Nordstrom. Vanessa and Atticus share a background in security and technology. I am grateful to both for allowing us to publicize their appointment as LGBTQ+ Board Members. We need to make this element of diversity more visible, and it takes courage to self-tag as an “LGBTQ+ Board Member” in the conservative US Boardroom. Vanessa was part of the Agenda/Equilar 100 list two years ago.
Harvard: Preparing to be a Board Director
Harvard Business School has a Board readiness program from 15–18 March 2023 (register here). The price tag is hefty, but it is an in-person course ($10,500).
Aspiring Board Directors Webinar: optimize your LinkedIn Profile for board search
The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors is hosting a webinar for aspiring board directors on optimizing Linkedin profiles for board service. It is taking place on Thursday, January 26 at 12:30 – 1:30pm. I will be joined by Joseph Taiano, Managing Director, Accenture Song, coach Eric Haar from Tricycle Europe, and Linkedin influencer Bill Fanter. If you are interested in attending, learn more about joining the Association here.
From the semi-cultural desk
Getting ready for “Rustin”
I might not always endorse Tom Daley’s fashion choices, but I am all in for his husband’s movies. This year Dustin Lance-Black’s script on gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin will be on Netflix. For now, the webpage is a bit bare, so I suggest you watch the documentary: Brother Outsider here.
Yesterday, the gayest Golden Globe ever
We might never get the ever-promised gayest Davos ever (see below), but the Golden Globes were super gay last night, as NBC had predicted. Once my brother suggested that the gay lobby successfully got LGBTQ+ characters in every movie, I responded, “clearly not as good as the tree lobby.” Here is what Ryan Murphy - the omnipresent gay entertainment guy - had to say:
“When I was a young person at home in the ‘70s, watching ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ I never, ever saw a person like me getting an award or even being a character on a TV show. It’s hard being an LGBTQ kid in America, in fact all over the world, then and now.”
Tár and the lesbian controversy
It was noteworthy that Cate Blanchett who won the best drama actress for Tar last night did not show up. I just watched half of Tar and highly recommend it. A great movie about the abuse of power. However, not without controversy: renowned conductor Marin Alsop "who is said to have partially inspired the movie,” said the film offended her “as a woman ... as a conductor ... as a lesbian.” Read more about the controversy here. Watch the trailer here. Also this quote from the movie:
“As a BIPOC pangender person, Bach’s misogynistic life makes it kind of impossible for me to take his music seriously.”
Now that FIFA is forgotten, can we move on to Formula One?
Outsports mentioned yesterday that Formula 1 is trying to ban Lewis Hamilton’s rainbow helmet. Formula 1 has been plagued by incidents of racist and homophobic behavior as illustrated by the recent Nelson Piquet scandal. Here is a portrait of F1’s Senior Management.
The Gay Agenda
January 16th: Davos
I won't be in Davos later this month for the World Economic Forum. The queering of Davos has been a rather disappointing venture despite repeated promises. Yet, gay journalist extraordinaire Steve Clemons will be attending and will have a pop-up newsletter, Semafor Davos Daily: sign up here. Principals with Steve Clemons is the only newsletter I read religiously every day as soon as I wake up.
January 17th: Personal identity in Diplomacy
Next Tuesday, Ambassador Ted Osius is part of a panel discussing personal identity in diplomacy. Details on how to join below.
January 19th: Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival returns to Park City and Salt Lake City in January with in-person options for the first time in three years. It promises to be very gay, with the Indigo Girls performing at the Sundance Institute's Opening Night. I had to watch this terrifying “Knock at the Cabin” trailer featuring a gay family for you.
February 9th: LGBT+ at Work Online Conference
LGBT+ at Work brings together organizations looking to demonstrate a real commitment to their LGBTQ+ staff, consumers, and service users. I will speak with Claire Harvey in the introductory session on “Attracting and progressing LGBTQ+ talent into leadership positions” with a particular focus on our work in the Boardroom.
February 28th: Out & Equal ExFo and representation in the Boardroom
The annual Out & Equal Executive Forum (ExFo) brings together LGBTQ+ and ally senior executives. An opportunity to discuss LGBTQ+ representation in the boardroom and the impact of the Nasdaq listing rule. See here.
Coming and going
Two Opportunities at ILGA World
ILGA World is recruiting a Human resources manager and calling for bids on consultancy on IDAHOBIT 2023 and campaigns.
If there are topics or stories you would like us to explore in greater depth, please let us know in the comments or via email info@fhconsultinginc.com. See you at the same time next week!