Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: Dominica, Tokyo Pride, Ben Ryan vs. Erin Reed, the World Bank Gender Strategy, rich gays, poor gays, the White House Correspondent Dinner, Baby Reindeer, and more...
Welcome to this week’s (very late) issue of "Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality." From Dominica's historic decriminalization to Tokyo's milestone Pride, en passant the 27 LGBTQ+ people in the Boardroom who pocket more than $2 million a year, we track the pulse of global LGBTQ+ advocacy. Dive into the shifting tides of DEI in the U.S., witness the evolving corporate narratives post-affirmative action, and celebrate unsung heroes breaking the rainbow ceiling in the boardroom.
This week: Dominica, Tokyo Pride, Ben Ryan vs. Erin Reed, the World Bank Gender Strategy, rich gays, poor gays, the White House Correspondent Dinner, Baby Reindeer, and more…
Global News
Uganda: Activists Call for EU Sanctions
Last Thursday, activists, including Hillary Innocent Taylor Seguya and Micheal Ighodaro, gathered before the European Union Delegation in D.C., urging the EU to implement sanctions against Uganda. They called for reassessing financial commitments from the EU for various developmental projects, particularly those directly involving government entities. This comes from the Ugandan Constitutional Court's decision on April 3 to uphold the law. See the Blade’s article about the action. In the meantime, Ugandan activist Frank Mugisha was listed among Time’s 100 Most Influential People, along with Sri Lankan activist Rosanna Flamer-Calder.
Dominica: Decriminalization
Dominica's High Court has struck down colonial-era laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations. The court's decision declared that these laws breached fundamental rights to liberty, privacy, and expression under the national constitution. This recent trend in the Caribbean bodes well for the future as each Caribbean nation has one vote at the UN.
Ukraine: a European Court Condemnation
The European Court of Human Rights found Ukraine guilty of failing to effectively investigate incidents of homophobic violence eight years ago in the case of Karter v. Ukraine. Karter experienced two separate homophobic attacks in 2015 and 2016, which involved physical assault and verbal abuse. The court criticized the Ukrainian authorities for their sluggish and ineffective response and a systemic disregard for the seriousness of hate crimes based on sexual orientation. The ruling emphasized the necessity for law enforcement to rigorously investigate hate-motivated offenses to uncover any homophobic motives, condemning the indifference that equates such crimes with ordinary offenses.
Tokyo: 30 Years of Rainbow Pride
Tokyo celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first Pride parade this weekend. Tokyo Rainbow Pride, one of Asia's most significant LGBTQ+ events, attracted approximately 15,000 participants, a strangely low number compared to its inception in 1994 when only 1,100 people marched. This year's theme, "Until it changes, don’t give up," reflects remaining challenges despite positive developments such as a court ruling against mandatory sterilization for gender change and a high court's recognition of same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. As a reminder, Japan remains the only G7 nation not recognizing same-sex couples.
World Bank: SOGI Task Force and Inclusive Initiatives
Civil society led by Outright’s Andrew Park met with the World Bank's SOGI Task Force during the Spring Meetings. The meeting focused on initiatives such as the EQOSOGI Index, which evaluates legal norms across 64 countries, or the revised gender strategy, which incorporates a non-binary perspective on gender issues, set to influence global policies significantly. Twelve years ago, I waged a campaign to persuade the 2014 Gender Strategy's authors, Sudhir Shetty and Ana Revenga, to mention “gender identity” and encountered fierce resistance. Not everybody gets to be visionary and/or courageous. The International Development Association’s (IDA) 21st replenishment process presents an opportunity to include SOGIESC references in IDA’s framework, which could further LGBTQ+ inclusion in some of the world's poorest countries.
US News
North Carolina: UNC System Reconsiders DEI Initiatives
Isn’t it baffling how conservative narratives are making inroads in America - managing to turn "diversity" into a bad word is a coup-de-maître? The University of North Carolina's Board has voted to repeal a key policy promoting DEI within its university system. This decision could dismantle DEI offices across campuses, echoing similar actions at other major universities like the University of Florida. With states like Texas already implementing similar rollbacks, the future of DEI in public institutions hangs in the balance.
Pennsylvania: the cancelling of Maulik Pancholy
The Cumberland Valley School District in Pennsylvania has canceled an anti-bullying talk by actor Maulik Pancholy, citing concerns over his activism and openly gay "lifestyle." Pancholy, known for his roles on "30 Rock" and "Phineas and Ferb," was scheduled to speak next month at Mountain View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. The unanimous vote by the school board to scrap the event has sparked outrage within the community, with critics labeling the move as homophobic. The decision has led to a petition for reinstating the event, gathering substantial support from parents and residents who argue against the board's dismissal of inclusivity and empathy in education.
Title IX: Biden Expands Title IX Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
The Biden administration has introduced sweeping updates to Title IX regulations, enhancing protections for LGBTQ+ students and modifying how schools handle sexual assault allegations. Effective August 1, the administration has extended Title IX's scope to explicitly include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, addressing gaps in advocacy and legal challenges faced by pregnant, gay, and transgender students.
Also, consider donating to “Coast To Coast for Equality”
It might be the best use of your dollars right now.
Just as Kirk douglas stood up against McCarthyism and the tyranny of Hollywood’s blacklist, we must take a stand. We must support those like Equality Florida who have dedicated their lives to the protection of our freedoms.
The Gay Boardroom
Who makes the most money in the Boardroom?
Hint: it’s not who you think. Sue Nabi (Coty) tops the chart with an annual compensation of $149 million ($3,554,486 in cash compensation and $145,875,000 in Equity compensation). Perhaps more surprisingly, George Arison, the CEO of Grindr, made $44 million in 2022, a little less than Tim Cook at Apple ($63 million, his cumulated compensation tops $2.2 billion) but more than Jim Fitterling at Dow ($10 million). See the list of the 27 LGBTQ+ People in the Boardroom who made more than $2 million in compensation at the end of this newsletter.
Developing your Board Resume and Board Bio
Join the DDI Programs virtually from 4 - 5 pm ET for the "Developing Your Board Resume and Board Bio" session with experts Deb Wheatman and Suzanne Miglucci (register here). Then, on June 4th, join “Leveraging Your Online Presence” from 4 - 5 pm ET (register here).
This week’s movement in the boardroom
Edna Conway joins Glilot Capital Partners as an Advisor. With her extensive background in cybersecurity, Edna's strategic insights will fortify Glilot's position at the forefront of investment in innovative tech ventures. Clarence Patrick Machado departs as a former Board Member at Turnstone Biologics Corp. Additionally, Martin Babler joins the Board of 89bio, developing transformative therapies for liver and metabolic diseases.
The Gay Business
Reevaluating Corporate DEI Commitments Amidst Intense Scrutiny
Recent shifts in corporate reporting on DEI initiatives reflect a growing trepidation among businesses grappling with the legal and social ramifications of the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action decision. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis - read more on the WSJ - many companies have started to obscure or eliminate references to specific DEI goals in their annual reports. This change stems from fears of legal challenges and backlash from segments of the public who view these initiatives as unnecessary or discriminatory.
Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling
In the upcoming release "Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: How LGBTQ+ People Can Thrive and Succeed at Work," author Layla McCay addresses the underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ individuals in top professional roles. Music to the ear of the Association, which observes our severe underrepresentation. This book looks at over 40 LGBTQ+ leaders who have paved their paths to success. Set to launch on May 21 by Bloomsbury Business, I plan to interview Layla in this newsletter.
The semi-cultural desk
Reed vs. Ben Ryan
Despite what America would have you believe, dissent in the community is healthy. This week, Ben Ryan accused the prominent transgender activist and blogger Erin Reed of persistently disseminating false claims about pediatric gender-transition treatments and the findings of England's Cass Review. The Cass Review, a detailed examination of pediatric gender medicine, concluded that the supporting evidence for such treatments is weak, a view that Reed does not share. This controversy illuminates the tensions between activist narratives and clinical evidence in the increasingly politicized field of gender medicine. Read Ryan’s article here.
Even when fact checked, Erin Reed, who has a popular Substack and X account, has repeatedly made demonstrably false claims about England's Cass Review and about pediatric gender-transition treatment.
Ex-Cop Turns Fugitive in Mississippi Murder Mystery
Former police officer Marcus Johnson is accused of the dramatic murder of his ex-boyfriend, Carlos Collins, in Jackson, Mississippi. Johnson allegedly used both a gun and an ax in an attack that ended in Collins’ death at their shared apartment complex. Johnson, whose short stint with the Jackson Police ended amid disciplinary actions, led authorities on a cross-state chase before his arrest in Louisiana. Collins was a bright young nurse with a promising future. Read more here.
Birdogging is back
Read Eliel Cruz’s column at Gay Times.
Do yourself a favor - watch “Baby Reindeer”
I know it’s not LGBTQ+-related, but that’s good TV:
Lesbians ring the bell at the London Stock Exchange
Koppa’s efforts to orchestrate the first “ring the bell” for Equality in multiple stock exchanges on May 17th have been slow to pick up. However, our friends marked “lesbian visibility week” at LSEG with a bunch of events and, of course, closing the market. See a video here.
Today, the LSEG is the Lesbian Stock Exchange
The Gay Agenda
This weekend: WH Correspondents' Dinner and Mixner Memorial Dinner
I am off to DC (again) tomorrow for the White House Correspondents' Dinner festivities. Thursday, Eric Kuhn and Sarah Kate Ellis - who just hopped off an Olivia Cruise - will co-host the Bytes and Bylines, an opportunity for SKE to share with her guests how she inspired the character of Norma in Palm Royale. I hope they pay her royalties. As the city lights up with journalism's finest, the Association hosts a David Mixner Memorial Dinner. They are scheduled at the Cosmos Club on Friday, featuring Congresswoman Maxine Waters as the keynote speaker, with Steve Clemons introducing her (although the Semafor WHCD party coincides with it, so we will probably only get Steve’s double). See the complete list of WHCD events here.
August 26: Global Black Pride 2024 in Atlanta
The vibrant city of Atlanta is set to host the historic Global Black Pride for the first time in the United States from August 26 to September 2. In partnership with Atlanta Black Pride Weekend and Atlanta Black Pride Inc., this event will feature a human rights conference, a film and fashion festival, and a workshop for Black LGBTQI+ elected officials. Read more here.
April 29th: GLSEN's Respect Awards Gala
Join me for an evening celebrating inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Honoring Republic Records with the Visibility Award for their commitment to uplifting LGBTQ+ artists, the event features renowned figures like Billy Porter and Kim Petras. With performances by The Scarlet Opera and appearances by Wilson Cruz, Anthony Rapp, and host Miss Peppermint. Tickets here.
May 17th: Celebrating IDAHOBIT
This year, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is themed "No one left behind: equality, freedom, and justice for all." To enhance the campaign's outreach and impact, ILGA World has prepared a comprehensive Communications Kit (on Google Docs). If you plan an event, please register it on the campaign website.
I know, I know, this newsletter is more than three hours late. I blame the twins’ Spring Break and a bunch of calls this morning. As usual, it was a pleasure chatting, and I hope to see you tonight at the Design On A Dime Gala Dinner.
Who are the 27 LGBTQ+ boardroom members who make over $2 million in total compensation? See the list below:
