Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
THIS WEEK: Slovenia approves same-sex marriage, Russia fines TikTok, Remembering Monica Boll, the Hermès street party, a Trans spy, reception for Will Rollins Saturday, ROMBA in DC 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: Slovenia approves same-sex marriage, Russia fines TikTok, Iceland's LGBTQ+ Action Plan, Remembering Monica Boll, the crazy Hermès street party, PwC releases Corporate Director Survey glazing over LGBTQ+ Board diversity, and more.
Global News
Slovenia approves same-sex marriage
The Slovenian Parliament adopted yesterday a family law amendment authorizing the marriage of same-sex couples and adoption, after an earlier ruling by the Constitutional Court. The amendment was passed by 48 MPs, 29 parliamentarians voted against and another abstained. Slovenia thus becomes the first country in Eastern Europe to approve same-sex marriages. Read about it here.
Russia fines TikTok over LGBTQ+ content
A Russian court fined TikTok $50,000 (a lot of rubles I assume) for not deleting LGBTQ+ content. This seems counterproductive on so many levels: first, the golden rule not to go after the private sector when your economy is shaky, and second the fact that TikTok is Chinese-owned - pretty much the last Russian ally. Read about it here.
“TikTok is […] "promoting non-traditional values, LGBT, feminism and a distorted representation of traditional sexual values."
Iceland has a plan
Iceland got kudos for its newly published action plan on LGBTQ+ issues. The plan focuses on improving hate crime legislation and Trans healthcare, addressing domestic violence, ending the discriminatory blood donation policy, and supporting diversity in the labor market. Governments must be intentional about improving LGBTQ+ lives if we are to see meaningful change.
Colombia: the lesbian Mayor of Bogota three years into the job
Can you get Paris Match delivered in the US ? to keep up with Elysée intrigues and leftbank gossips? Here is their portrait published this week of Claudia Lopez, the lesbian mayor of Bogota. Elected in 2019, Lopez is also Colombia's capital city's first female mayor in an important advancement for both women and LGBTQ+ rights.
US News
US Army’s First Trans Officer, that we know of, was … a spy (?)
Spying has no gender. This is what Metro Weekly claims in this bizarre piece of news. A military doctor, allegedly the first-known active duty Army officer to come out as transgender in 2015, has been indicted for being a spy. They have been accused of passing confidential medical information to a Russian diplomat who was actually an undercover FBI agent. Washington DC is so much fun! I had forgotten. Let’s make sure Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn’t pick up on that piece of news. Read more here.
“Bros” flops at the box office
You can (must ?) also read my review below – I can tell you the entire theater (AMC Lincoln) was queer when I watched the movie. Billy Eichner was not happy about it and expressed his discontentment in a series of tweets that blamed … ”straight people”. Maybe it was also a rainy few days and the marketing scared them away.
Gays Against Groomers is really a thing?
This piece of news should really be filed in the “Semi-Cultural Desk” section but here you are. The vehemently anti-trans group Gays Against Groomers has been banned from PayPal/Venmo. I like that expression “financially de-platformed”: I was previously describing myself as “without a Trust Fund” but I will now go for “financially de-platformed” instead. You can read more about it in the Los Angeles Blade.
The Boardroom
PwC’s Corporate Director Survey glazes over LGBTQ+ Board diversity
An interesting read. One of PwC’s key findings is that directors still look down on diverse candidates. The good news: more companies disclose their Board composition. We are disappointed that once again, PwC decided that sexual orientation and gender identity are not part of Board Diversity, which is at odds with most players in this space from NACD to Nasdaq. Here is a link to the report.
“Directors see board diversity benefits, but question the candidates [..] many think the new candidates are unneeded (34%) or even unqualified (31%)”
The NACD Summit this week in DC
I am looking forward to joining the NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) on behalf of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors starting on Saturday in DC. Board diversity is a team sport and I will look for allies as we try to place more LGBTQ+ talent in the Boardroom. Please hit me up if you are there. The Association is hosting a dinner at the cosmos Club at the end of the conference.
My NASDAQ’s Spiffy interview
My interview about the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors with Nasdaq's Spiffy blog, Proudly Making LGBTQ+ Board Inclusion the Norm, I didn't come up with the headline but I endorse it. Read it here.
“The idea is to say we have to elevate and help each other to succeed”.
LGBTQ+ Business
DEI professionals' turnover is 2 years on average
Entrepreneur published an article highlighting the challenges faced by in-house DEI professionals. What strikes me the most is that the “average tenure of a DEI leader is less than two years”. DEI jobs can be motivating and exciting provided, along with leadership commitment and they have clear goals whether it is employee recruitment, work experience, retention and representation at all levels, or brand impact and relationships with customers and investors.
ROMBA conference starting tomorrow in DC
Friday/Saturday, I will attend the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ business students and alumni. They constitute the pipeline for Boardroom candidates. See the Agenda here.
The Semi-Cultural Desk
Bros: a neurotic review on a movie about a neurotic gay guy
I went to see the movie on Monday night by myself like a big boy. Not that you asked for my opinion but here it is. First, you should go see Bros - the first gay rom-com from a major studio with an LGBTQ+ cast. Second, you should go see it for what it is: not some be-all, end-all representation of the middle-aged gay experience but instead another step towards a nuanced representation of same-sex love in all genres.
Caitlyn Jenner takes it even further
Jenner’s tweet this week was vile. She was calling out a Vermont school district’s decision to side with a transgender volleyball player after a group of her teammates complained about sharing a locker room.
“We cannot have biological boys with penises changing next to our daughters in locker rooms, and then have our daughters scolded by the school. This is so backwards. Shame on Vermont!”
It’s confirmed - Velma IS a lesbian
Remember when Ellen DeGeneres was certain that the 'Scooby-Doo' character Velma was a lesbian? Well apparently it’s confirmed. That dorky appearance accentuated by her thick-rimmed glasses is actually the look I am going for this Fall incidentally.
Lil Nas X has a partnership with M&Ms
How far we have gone: now we have our own M7M’s ??? the sky is truly the limit for inclusion. M&M's revealed a new partnership with Lil Nas X. You can read another take here.
Coming and Going
Beth Ford listed among the 50 most powerful women
The openly LGBTQ+ CEO of Land O’Lakes, Beth Ford is listed by Fortune as the 31st most powerful woman in America in this year’s edition. See the full list here.
Remembering Monica Boll: AFSP’s Out of the Darkness walk
A year ago, Monica left us. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP)’s Atlanta Walk is on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Piedmont Park @ The Meadow. You can use the following link, organized by Ellen, to register and/or donate.
The Michael Kirby interview
What is there not to like in this interview with ret. Justice Michael Kirby. It also includes a relationship secret recipe. As my ex used to say all the time “you can be right or you can be happy” (I chose to be right obviously)
“You’ve got to have one partner in a relationship who will always give in if the bottom line has been reached and ordinary processes of negotiation have failed. One partner has to take the plunge and give in. And that’s always been me.”
The Gay Agenda
Donate as we host Will Rollins in New York Saturday
Join us this Saturday as Sean Strub, David Mixner, Charles Myers, Howard Pulchin, Mitch Draizin, Twaun Samuels and other luminaries host Will Rollins in the UWS in the magnificent house of John Berendt (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ) - the LGBTQ+ Who’s Who will be in attendance. A unique opportunity to bring a game changer to Congress, defeat a historical homophobe and see old friends in a gorgeous setting. Bring your copy of John’s book to get it signed. Register or donate here.
The crazy Hermès street party
Cub Barrett, Chris Rovzar (I intentionally placed Cub first) and Andrew Greene were among the A-list gays who were invited at the launch of the new Hermes store in NYC. The extravaganza, which included an “immersive musical” for Hermès, closed down parts of Madison Ave and 62nd and 63rd street. Three buildings were activated, with over 100 performers, 40 musicians, and a party which lasted until the wee hours. Read about the party here.
Lord Nick Herbert welcomes business leaders at Deutsche Bank
This week the Global Equality Caucus hosted Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and LGBTQ+ business and community leaders for a dinner at Deutsche Bank to discuss how the private sector can support the organization which connects some of the most isolated LGBTQ+ Parliamentarians around the world. Guests included powerhouse Meghan Stabler, Gaingel’s David Beatty, activists Eric Sawyer, Firebird’s producer Orlan Boston, Marketing Wizzard Aaron Walton, key ally Alice Syrett and the very discreet Keith Fox (Phaidon).
You can see more pictures here.
Join Harvard’s prelaunch of the UN Independent Expert’s report
On October 14 at 12:40pm ET, join us for the virtual prelaunch of the UN General Assembly Report on Peace, Security, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity by UN Independent Expert Victor Madrigal-Borloz. Sign up here.
Wade Schaming hosts first solo show
Artist Wade Schaming’s first solo show opens at the Empty Circle on October 19th. (6 to 8 pm). I hope to see you there.
October is LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month is a time to reflect on where we have been and where we are going. Because of the pace of change, best illustrated by “Bros” (see above), it is crucial that we honor our history.
The Non-Profit Corner
Save the date: OutSummit in December
Mark your calendar for OutSummit 2022: December 12th-14th. OutSummit is Outright International’s conference in NYC that brings together international and US-based activists for a day of panels and workshops on human rights issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
Outright changes its name and more
Outright (on the Board of which I proudly serve) is now officially Outright International! While the focus remains on changing the world through action to protect and advance human rights for LGBTQ+ people around the world, the organization is broadening its work into queering humanitarian response, making peace and security efforts more inclusive, and LGBTQ+ economic inclusion. Read the Press release here, and new brand video here.
I'm not excusing it in any way, but for accuracy, I note that the Russian court referred to "radical" feminism, rather than feminism, in relation to Tik Tok.