Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
THIS WEEK: Pressure intensifies ahead of World Cup, IGLTA in Milan, the Italian Minister of Equality, la Manif Pour Tous, lessons from the Kanye West debacle, the passing of Leslie Jordan, and more
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: Pressure intensifies ahead of World Cup, IGLTA in Milan, lessons from the Kanye West debacle, the passing of Leslie Jordan, and more …
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Global News
Qatar: HRW intensifies pressure ahead of World Cup
A few weeks from the start of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Human Rights Watch reports that Qatar security forces have arbitrarily arrested LGBTQ+ people and subjected them to ill-treatment in detention. As I was briefly in Paris yesterday courtesy of Air Chance, I got to read an interview with former French President Sarkozy in the Journal Du Dimanche who noted on the topic: “The World Cup does not belong to the West”... true but then human rights is actually a global agenda, not a Western one. Sarkozy's reaction feels a lot like radical pragmatism. LGBTQ+ people interviewed by HRW said that their mistreatment took place as recently as last month. In the meantime, UK activist Peter Thatchell held a one-man protest last week. Read more about HRW’s report here.
More Qatar: the UK’s Foreign Secretary ask us for “a little bit of flex”
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said this week that LGBTQ+ football fans should show “a little bit of flex” and “be respectful of the host nation” of Qatar. The issue here is that cultural norms cannot trump human rights. The Secretary would surely not call for flexibility and respect if the topic was slavery or child labor. It is sad that a UK Government official still considers human rights, a “cultural issue”. Read more in The Mirror.
Russia: the never-ending calvary of Brittney Griner
Yesterday, a Russian court upheld the sentencing of Brittney Griner to nine years in a penal colony for drug smuggling. A clear pawn in the depressing geopolitical game rocking Eastern Europe, the situation of Griner is outrageous. Read about the appeal’s rejection here.
France: the alumni of La Manif Pour Tous ten years on
Born almost 10 years ago to oppose same-sex marriage, the movement of La Manif pour Tous (LMPT) is withering away despite having shifted its focus to surrogacy. Surrogacy remains illegal and frowned upon in France. A large number of those who demonstrated (including some of my family members I must note) no longer assume their past commitment with LMPT. It is understandable: the discourse in 2012 was particularly hateful comparing our relationships to incest or claiming LGBTQ+ people are a threat to family, tradition, and children. Ten years on, the gays are married, France is still standing and the kids are fine, thank you. Read about it here.
“The scandals invite the Church to a certain modesty on its claim to be the reference point on questions of sexuality”
Italy: Prime Minister Meloni’s new cabinet causes unease among women and LGBTQ+ people
Among Meloni’s most controversial appointees is ultra-conservative Catholic Eugenia Roccella, the minister of the newly named Ministry of Family, Natality and Equal Opportunity. Roccella was quick to imply “I will take care of women not gays”. Read about it in the New York Times. In the meantime I had lunch today with Igor Suran, who leads Parks - Liberi e Uguali, at the Società del Giardino to discreetly plot a more equal Italy.
US News
Who is going to hell? the endless creativity of Republicans
Calling it a Federal “Don’t Say Gay” is misleading. The federal bill introduced this week by a Louisiana representative is worse. It threatens to deny schools, libraries, and museums federal funding for discussing LGBTQ+ issues or providing even basic sex education to children. Read about it on LGBTQ Nation. Rep. Mondaire Jones, who will be sorely missed after the midterms and was maybe the only voice in the Equality Caucus to express outrage this week, wrote on Twitter:
“Last year, nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth contemplated suicide, but that didn’t stop 33 of my GOP colleagues from introducing a federal ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill today. I’m confident the people introducing this bill are more likely to go to Hell than the kids they’re causing harm to.”
And indeed, family support is a key element of resilience for LGBTQ+ kids
New research from The Trevor Project finds that LGBTQ+ youth with high levels of family social support, regardless of what age they came out at, report half the rate of suicide attempts compared to LGBTQ+ youth who did not. So it does look like, homophobic and transphobic rhetoric kills. Who would have thought? Learn more here.
Pennsylvania politics are somewhat less depressing
Trump-backed Pennsylvania GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Mastriano, who attended the January 6th rally and crushed his chances of winning, felt the need to claim this week that his challenger Josh Shapiro is complicit in the “grooming of children”. Watch his insane remarks here. But on a more positive side, a CNN survey found Fetterman with a six-point edge over his opponent, a TV host named Dr. Oz (I know it sounds weird …).
"I think Doug Mastriano is running perhaps the worst campaign in a swing state in America"
Some Kanye West lessons for our movement
I am not being cheeky here. I vaguely know he is a rapper and was married to a Kardashian influencer but that’s pretty much it. Still, I understand Kanye has influence apparently and his anti-semitic comments galvanized neo-Nazis everywhere and in particular above the 405 Freeway in LA. The business community (e.g. Adidas or CAA) rallied swiftly to condemn and boycott him. A blunt reminder for our community and its allies who, when DeSantis peddles homophobia, always seems hesitant to go all in. See my April 24th post on the topic.
In the Boardroom
The Latino Corporate Directors Association Annual Convening in NYC
Our partner board diversity organization, the LCDA is hosting its annual convening at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan today. The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors is being represented by our Advisory Board Member, Chiqui Cartagena.
Meet the New Board — Same as the Old Board
In the Fall issue of MIT Sloan Management Review, Bentley University’s Cynthia E. Clark and Jill A. Brown make a forceful case that many companies are just going through the motions of recruiting more diverse board members. They argue it’s time to get serious about board refreshment. The article is well worth a read.
Ilana Wolfe and Jennifer Reynolds in American Banker
Ilana Wolfe, who is heading Goldman Sach’s board diversity initiative, was featured in an article on how women executives in Banks can access board seats this week. Jennifer Reynolds of Women on Boards was also interviewed for the piece. While the topic of LBT women was not mentioned, we have been collaborating with the latter (WoB) to ensure greater attention to LBT Board Members. Read the article here. Wolfe appears optimistic:
"I've seen a lot more inbounds for a breadth of backgrounds"
LGBTQ+ Business
Queering venture capital investing
Christian Tooley, Founder & CEO of i³ investing, and Innovation & Ventures Expert at Bain & Company spoke live with Ian King on Sky News discussing the launch of their new syndicate. They support startups from pre-seed to Series A via special purpose vehicles with the likes of Marta Kupriska at Google for Startups and Harry Briggs at OMERS Ventures on the advisory board. More about Christian's coined philosophy, including "queer capital" and "intersectional incredibles", can be found in FT's Sifted coverage. Please reach out to Christian if you are a Founder or Investor and want to chat further. All active investors - angels, VCs, or others - can request to join the syndicate here.
From the semi-cultural desk
How can we go on without Leslie Jordan?
Leslie Jordan, who played Beverley Leslie, the socialite frenemy of Karen Walker in “Will & Grace” and some character in “American Horror Story,” (I don’t watch the latter, my life is sufficiently stressful, thank you), has sadly died. The Emmy winner, whose videos turned him into a social media star during the pandemic, was only 67. Read the New York Times obituary here.
A St James/Etienne Daho collaboration
I am clearly in a French mood but my favorite (Britton) brand collaborating with one of my favorite (gay) singers, is worth a mention. How perfect as we enter sweater-season. For some reason, it felt more meaningful than “Bros”. You can see the collection here.
Also French: a TikTok star’s wedding in Vegas
I know that TikTok Stars Nicky Champa and Pierre Boo are probably as familiar to you as the stakes of the Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan match last night is to me but these are things you ought to know. The young gay influencers tied the knot last week in Vegas. Interestingly enough, Pierre Amaury shares his second name with my brother. Read more here.
The anxieties of growing old when you’re LGBTQ+
This article is an important one. As SAGE pointed out: “The AIDS crisis decimated a generation of gay, queer, and trans folks, and those that survived face daily challenges as they age”. Our remaining elders are a precious source of leadership, knowledge and for our collective memory. We should pay attention to them but also strengthen older LGBTQ+ people communities.
Chicago: exploring how the “first homosexuals” self-perceived
The First Homosexuals’ Exhibition at Wrightwood 659 explores early understandings of Homosexuality, through the lens of how LGBTQ+ people understood themselves, and its evolution. The exhibition is presented by Alphawood Foundation whose Executive Director is our very own Chirag Badlani. I vote for 1883 “Thomas Eakins and his students swimming nude”. Read about it here.
The Gay Agenda
An UES fundraiser for Zimmerman last Thursday
I attended a fundraiser in the Upper East Side for long-time LGBTQ+ community champion Robert Zimmerman, who is running to represent New York's redrawn 3rd Congressional District, co-hosted by the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Board Member, Richard Socarides. In the room, Sean Eldrige, husband to Facebook founders’ roommate Chris Hughes, and Broadway producer Eric Falkenstein who told me he is working in Paris on a JP Gaultier musical (Gaultier is 70, which makes me feel old and dilapidated). Read more about the candidate.
Sunday: what is the wondrous Parmesh Shahani up to these days?
Indian author, culture curator, and inclusion advocate Parmesh Shahani was in town this weekend as part of a three weeks tour of the US. We discussed many LGBTQ+ economic empowerment schemes he is bringing to post-decriminalization India. He was also telling me about the incredible all-drag wedding of Keshav Suri and Cyril Feuillebois (yes Cyril, such a very French newsletter this week). The moment was memorialized with a terrible picture of me but a great picture of my very spirited sons.
Last night: Athlete Ally’s Action Awards
You probably know their work, which is essentially to end homophobia and transphobia in sports. And to use the power of athletes and athletics to make (positive!) social change. As a Frenchman who grew up in a country obsessed with soccer, it always struck me as such a natural avenue for social change and the topic is close to my heart. Dallas Mavericks’ Reggie Bullock and Gotham FC’s Imani Dorsey received an award. Read more about it here.
Tomorrow: Join our panel at IGLTA in Milan
IGLTA Milan is underway and it has already been a fascinating few days. I attended the IGLTA Foundation think-tank meeting on emerging markets at Google Italy. I am moderating a panel “ESG Tourism: Myths and Opportunities” tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. with Anne-Sophie Beraud of Accor, Luca Martinazzoli of Milano & Partner, and Raj Tamang, Chief Artisan of Boutique Adventures.
Coming and Going
Opening at the United Nations Global Compact
The UNGC is hiring a new Senior Manager for Human Rights (applicants need to have a US work permit). It would be wonderful to have an LGBTQ+ person on the team. Here is the job description.
All Out recruiting two global south board members
All Out is looking for two Board members to join the All Out Board for a term of three years. Check out this voluntary position here.
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Do you want your team to be more plugged into the global LGBTQ+ movement? We offer a corporate subscription to this newsletter: pricing is based on the number of Users within your team, department, or company. If you're interested in learning more, email us at: info@fhconsultinginc.com.
Signing off from Milan, see you at the same time next week!