Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: Attal's Ascension, Vatican Vexation, Uganda's Crisis, Ohio's Overhaul, Biden's ship, Corporate Shifts, the DEI backlash, Cultural Chronicles, Russian Resistance, Swiftie Stir, Davos & more
Welcome to this week's edition of Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality. In a world where change is the only constant, we bring you the latest, most impactful LGBTQ+ developments from across the globe every Wednesday at noon sharp. From groundbreaking political appointments to challenging narratives in trans care, this newsletter is your window to understanding the shifting landscapes of LGBTQ+ rights, business, and representation.
This week: Attal's Ascension, Vatican Vexation, Uganda's Crisis, Ohio's Overhaul, Biden's ship, Corporate Shifts, the DEI backlash, Cultural Chronicles, Russian Resistance, Swiftie Stir, Davos & more
Global news
France: the historical appointment of Gabriel Attal
The only silver lining to making it to my age is witnessing things you’d never imagine happening. Attal became the youngest and first openly gay prime minister yesterday, a strategic move ahead of the Paris Olympic Games in July/August and the European Parliament elections in June. It might also position him ahead of the 2027 presidential elections - Macron has reached the term limit - amid challenges from the far right. After a noticeable tenure in the education ministry, Attal brings a distinct style change to the government when Macron is going through several political crises. Three facts about him: he was a socialist until 2016 (for my American friends, in France, socialist is not an insult; in fact, in most of the world), he experienced homophobic bullying, he went to Ecole Alsacienne which is the most Boujee private school you can imagine.
Vatican: retropedaling and switching to the next social issue
Pope Francis's conflicting action this week - a harsh rebuke of surrogacy after he endorsed same-sex unions juxtaposed - are opportunistic and political, not pastoral. They are meant to appease conservative elements, rebelling hard against the blessing of same-sex unions. The Vatican already retro-pedaled on “Fiducia supplicans” this week. The Pope's blanket condemnation of surrogacy fails to recognize ethical practices and unjustly stigmatizes many LGBTQ+ families (Disclaimer: I had my children through surrogacy). It is also ironic for the Church to criticize 20,000 remunerated pregnancies when it champions forced pregnancy for millions around the world every year. As I wrote in 2015 about Francis citing the pain caused by the Church's historical teachings:
[our] eagerness for reconciliation makes us particularly vulnerable to letting our guard down, settling for less than we deserve, and accepting the first signs of progress as the end of our struggle [with the Church].
Uganda: AHA’s dramatic consequences
A recent article by The Guardian describes how the law has led to increased attacks and social ostracization, like Arianna, a transgender woman, suffering brutal violence and being forced into hiding. Healthcare access for the community has been severely hindered. Even if activists succeed in swaying the Supreme Court, the law has deeply ingrained anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in Ugandan society. Steven Kabuye, a notable activist, was brutally stabbed on January 3rd near Kampala. This attack occurred after his return from Kenya, where he had been in exile since March 2023 due to death threats. Kabuye blamed Uganda's harsh anti-LGBTQ+ legislation for his stabbing.
Canada: forced migration is never a happy voyage
Read Junior Nsamia Mayema's journey from the DRC to Montreal, underscoring the harrowing plight of being black, gay, and a refugee. Facing death threats at home and discrimination abroad, he sought asylum in South Africa and the United States without success. Now, in Montreal, he grapples with a slow integration process. Mayema's story highlights the challenges LGBTQ+ refugees face in finding safety and acceptance but also the urgency of global social change on LGBTQ+ issues.
US News
Ohio: Multiple Threats to Transgender Healthcare
I once visited Parma; trans kids are not what Ohio legislators should focus on. It’s hard to follow, but Governor Mike DeWine vetoed House Bill 68, which sought to ban all gender-affirming care for minors, citing the belief that such decisions should be left to parents rather than the state. The legislature is still planning to override the veto. Yet, DeWine issued an executive order banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors, emphasizing the need for stringent psychiatric review before treatment for both transgender adults and youth. ACLU Ohio wrote:
The restrictions would prohibit most primary care providers from providing hormone treatments to transgender people of any age, enforce a list of cumbersome requirements unfounded by medical evidence, and threaten to shut down care across the state.
Biden 2024: a little optimism?
In his article "Biden’s 2024 Chances Are Much Stronger Than People Realize," Simon Rosenberg outlines three critical reasons for optimism: Biden's successful leadership through COVID-19 and economic recovery, the Party's solid performance in recent elections, and Trump's increasing political baggage. Rosenberg suggests Americans will be swayed by Trump’s role in Roe v. Wade’s reversal and his numerous legal controversies. On the other hand, the Economist shared its view this week that Biden and Democrats are “sleepwalking towards disaster.” The article blames Biden’s inner circle's desire to remain close to power for his bid for a second term. And then it concludes that it’s too late to say anything:
If you are all stuck on a boat of questionable seaworthiness, it is natural to wish for a finer vessel but unproductive to poke holes in the hull or stoke a mutiny.
I want your opinion:
The higher Education drama
The world is witnessing the drama unfolding on U.S. college campuses, marked by the firing of Harvard University's President Claudine Gay, infighting on Campus, and backlash against DEI. Critics argue these programs compromise academic integrity and free speech, fueling a broader cultural and political campaign to limit or dismantle DEI efforts in higher education institutions. As usual in the U.S., nobody even questions money's role in inclusivity, loss of public trust, academic freedom, and response to identity-based issues. Higher education has become a rampant capitalistic venture, with the most prominent colleges at the mercy of their private donors and paying students and their families. You get what you pay for.
A detransitioner volte-face
Carey Callahan, once a narrative source for anti-trans legislation, is now actively opposing such bills. Initially, her personal experience as a detransitioner was utilized to support restrictive laws. However, Callahan is now advocating for comprehensive and cautious medical care for transgender individuals, challenging the very bills her story once endorsed. Listen to NPR’s “Why one Ohio therapist changed her mind about gender-affirming care for kids” or read this Post article.
Honor the Resistance
It’s always good to know what your opponent thinks. Read “How Democrats Set The Stage In 2023 For An LGBT Onslaught In 2024”. Also, LibsOfTikTok has been debating allegations that the Iowa shooter (you might have missed it as it is a regular occurrence, but there was a school mass shooting on January 4th) might be part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Boardroom
Key LGBTQ+ appointments and departures
Troy M. Cox was appointed as a Board Member and part of the Audit and Compensation Committees at StandardBioTools following its merger with SomaLogic. Robert Lee Hanson, the Wine and Spirits Division President at Constellation Brands, is set to depart the company on February 29. Jonathan Mildenhall took on the role of Chief Marketing Officer at Rocket Companies. on January 8, 2024. Dr. Kristina M. Johnson is now a Board Observer at ColdQuanta.
The Association debuts its mentorship program
As we start our third year (see 2023 in review here) leading efforts for greater representation of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. Boardroom, the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors matched three candidates with a mentor on Monday to accelerate placement.
The Gay business
Elon Musk and DEI
In this thread, American businessman Mark Cuban responded to Musk's criticism of DEI, emphasizing the importance of tapping into overlooked talent pools for business success.
We live in a country with very diverse demographics. In this era where trust of businesses can be hard to come by, people tend to connect more easily to people who are like them. Having a diverse workforce representative of your stakeholders is good for business.
The Rainbow Ceiling
Last week, in my list of books to watch out for in 2024, I forgot “Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling” and “Day” (see below). Layla McCay's book, coming out on May 23rd, "Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling," explores the barriers LGBTQ+ people face in reaching senior roles. It combines research, personal experiences, and insights from interviews with LGBTQ+ leaders across various levels.
The semi-cultural desk
I am reading Michael Cunningham's “Day”
Michael Cunningham's (The Hours) new novel "Day," explores themes of love, loss, and family dynamics amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s nice to feel seen:
It is, in fact, time to start dating again. But Dan has no idea what that means for a gay man well into his thirties who has neither money nor abs. Dan lives on the straight planet, where a thirty-seven-year-old guy who’s single, presentable, and capable of sustained interest in another person is considered a prize. On Planet Gay, the conditions are less forgiving.
I watched Good Grief and Our Son
In short, you can skip both; they are unnecessarily melodramatic. The premise of “Good Grief” is that Dan Levy is a desperate widower in beautiful Paris with a single facial expression. In “Our Son,” Billy Porter is a divorcee with a single facial expression. Strangely enough, Luke Evans has become the go-to guy for playing the lousy husband in gay dramas 🎬💍. In “Our Son”, Billy Porter divorces him. In “Good Grief”, he dies. Maybe he's so good at avoiding chores and forgetting anniversaries that casting directors can't resist.
Instead, watch these four movies.
First, I watched “How to have sex?” which is a stark reminder that being a teenage girl is pretty awful and that British tourists can be a plague (there is a lesbian couple in it). Second, I know it’s not queer, but American Fiction is the movie to watch if you live in the U.S. Third, I loved this interview in Esquire with “All of Us Strangers”’ Director. And finally, I watched “Maestro,” which I also loved although it was a long-winded way of telling us Bernsteuin slept with boys.
Queendom: Queer Resistance in Russia
Gena Marvin is a Russian 22-year-old queer nonbinary artist whose radical performances are taking a considerable amount of risk in sclerosed Russia. See the incredible trailer here. Incidentally, as part of Putin’s furious war against “debauchery,” a Russian singer was reported for “LGBT propaganda,” arrested following a nude performance at a St. Petersburg concert and now received a military summons this week. The place is officially out of control.
The trans voice of the NYC Subway
This New York Times article finally tells the story of Bernie Wagenblast, the voice behind many of New York City's subway announcements. After coming out at the age of 65, Bernie faced challenges such as mockery and the end of her marriage but also found self-esteem and community support. She embraces her true identity but still uses her iconic voice professionally.
Le Monde had an article on Twinks
The issue with assimilation is that we are losing all our secrets. Le Monde had a piece on twinks starting with Chalamet, celebrated as a Generation Z sex symbol and "patron saint of twinks," notably because of his role in "Wonka," which I also watched with the twins. What is Le Monde going to report on next? Equinox’ Sauna etiquette?
Taylor Swift Controversy Sparks Discussion on Media Ethics
The Swifties are not happy with this New York Times opinion piece speculating about her sexuality. They argue that without a person's explicit disclosure, such discussions are considered highly inappropriate, even under the guise of opinion pieces. Taylor Swift has a large and dedicated fan base that spans the globe, which is scarier than the GLAAD boycott.
Or we can ask a question, knowing full well that we may never learn the answer: What if the “Lover Era” was merely Ms. Swift’s attempt to douse her work — and herself — in rainbows, as so many baby queers feel compelled to do as they come out to the world?
The Gay Agenda
January 15-19: après-ski and dictators at Davos
Kelley Robinson from the HRC and SKE of GLAAD are probably deciding on their après-ski outfits as I write this (I suggest SKE borrow this from her friend Cynthia, it’s waterproof). Davos, where LGBTQ+ issues get less attention than the fondue menu at the after-party, starts next week! On the 18th, at Dome A, Ice Village, the obligatory annual LGBTQ+ session will delve into the fifth pillar of the UN Standards of Conduct for Business, which I co-authored in 2017. The panel will include Robinson, Ellis, Dominic Arnall of Open for Business (of which I am proud to be an advisor), my friend Marco Ziegler from Accenture, and Alex Kalompari, the lobbyist for Gilead Sciences(see How a Drugmaker Profited by Slow-Walking a Promising H.I.V. Therapy). Besides British and Americans, Yanzi Peng, the former Executive Director of LGBT Rights Advocacy China, will be in town.
January 17-21: Creating Change 2024
"Creating Change 2024," the leading LGBTQ+ political and leadership National conference, is in New Orleans. Hosted by the National LGBTQ Task Force, this event has had a long-standing impact since 1988. You can see the schedule here with sessions such as “Act Out!” Young People Fight Back Against LGBTQ Attacks”, “The Black Gay Community and Crystal Meth” or “The Authoritarian Threats to the LGBTQ Movement”.
January 20-21: Pride ski weekend in New York
It’s not Davos, but the Pride Center of the Capital Region is hosting a 2024 Pride Ski Weekend, January 20-21, at Belleayre Mountain to support the state’s LGBTQ+ community. You can register here.
Coming and Going
Karine Jean Pierre: White House Communications Turmoil
Axios reports that tensions simmer behind the scenes between White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council's John Kirby. Despite sharing press briefing duties, insiders reveal a battle for the podium as they navigate a dual-role dynamic—Jean-Pierre for domestic policy, Kirby for foreign affairs. With Biden's re-election campaign on the horizon, the discord presents a unique challenge.
What a week from the Vatican playing both the saint and the sinner to the rollercoaster of American politics and the transgender debate. Remember, in the world of LGBTQ+ equality, the only certainty is change, served here with a side of sarcasm and a pinch of skepticism.