Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: Ghana's legislative limbo, Attal's class warfare, Qatar's Grindr entrapment, nonprofit salaries, the "WPATH files", Queer Eye's dirty laundry, more Florida shenanigans and much more...
Welcome back to the latest installment of your Wednesday noon (one hour late, I apologize; this time, I have no excuse) beacon of all things significant, stimulating, or depressing (mostly depressing this week) in the global LGBTQ+ sphere.
This week: Ghana's legislative limbo, Attal's class warfare, Qatar's Grindr entrapment, nonprofit salaries, the "WPATH files," Queer Eye's dirty laundry, more Florida shenanigans, and much more.…
Global News
Ghana: The Puzzling Predicament of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
It has been a confusing week in Accra. First, we learned that the "Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill," passed on February 28, was actually never finalized. The Ghanaian parliament voted on a piece of legislation it had not seen. I know little about lawmaking, but this does not sound right. It might explain why President Nana Akufo-Addo has yet to see the bill: scribes are still writing it. Another reason could be the electricity outage in parliament this week, which once again showcased that homosexuals are by far the last thing Ghanaians should worry about. It’s not even in the top ten. In the meantime, Akufo-Addo managed to kick the can down the road to the Supreme Court. This is ironic, given that the Constitution was written with the help of queer icon Paul Murray. The saga is not over.
Ghana (too): Who Leaked the Minister of Finance memo?
Those who knew me circa 2014 may remember I am a renowned leak specialist. Locke Lorde even investigated me for one once. Good times. It's no wonder I am entirely gray. So, my interest was sparked when the finance ministry’s warning against the bill's signing mysteriously appeared in the media. The move made the bill sponsors apoplectic, I am told. In the leaked document, the ministry cautions that the bill could lead to a staggering $3.8 billion loss in World Bank funding over the next half-decade, derailing the nation's fragile economic recovery. If asked, I would have added to the report the concrete risks to the vital cocoa supply chain and the tax cost of judging, imprisoning, and overall harassing a sizeable percentage of the population. The law is a formidable self-inflicted wound.
Africa: switching from a “reactive” approach to anti-LGBTQ+ Bills
Fun fact: similar bills are pending in Kenya and Namibia. Something is baffling about donors waking up after the law passes and asking, “What can we do?” “Where can we send money?” These questions would have been better answered before. Strengthening civil society, funding scientific approaches to social change, and funding campaigns are critical to social change, yet the movement is wholly underfunded. We must graduate from this reactive approach and invest in social change.
West Bank: An Interesting Biden Executive Order
The Ghanaian Bill saga reopened the question of the nefarious influence of foreign evangelical groups in Africa, namely The World Congress of Families, a US coalition that promotes “Christian values” internationally. There might be an unexpected way to neutralize them, though. Last month, Biden issued an executive order cutting all funding - really US funding - to four Israeli settlers involved in violence in the West Bank (see Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank), a bottleneck to any peace effort. The intermediary banks immediately stopped “gofundme” transfers in fear of running afoul of the order. This sets a precedent where the government could act against the funding of anti-LGBTQ+ hate by evangelical groups in Africa. Now run with it…
France: 'Let them eat cake’
Should gay men not be more empathetic to those economically marginalized and critical of our unsustainable economic system? Super leftist- ok communist - l'Humanité accused Gabriel Attal of having turned the gold-rimmed halls of our Republic into a millionaire's club (see the Daily Mail), with half his cabinet reportedly swimming in what l'Humanité considers “wealth.” Something you, my readers, are more likely to call “New York poor.” Now, Attal is accused of flirting with class warfare by announcing a series of reforms targeting the poorest, including squeezing unemployment benefits. La France Insoumise commented:
Meanwhile, there are 300,000 people homeless, and one in two people is forced to miss a meal.
Qatar: entrapped on Grindr and jailed
Tetu reports that a 44-year-old Mexican-British employee of Qatar Airways (and formerly a manager at BA) has been detained since February 4th for being a homosexual. He was entrapped by Grindr, a tactic frequently used in Arab countries that Human Rights Watch called out last year, arguing that the platform is not doing enough to prevent it. The employee’s brother alleges that police planted a quarter gram of methamphetamine in his apartment to additionally charge him with drug possession, a grave offense in Qatar. The prisoner reportedly has endured psychological torture and was coerced to denounce other gay people. Manuel, who lives with HIV, has been denied access to his antiretroviral treatment. Remember when British Home Secretary Cleverly suggested we show some “flex and compromise” during the Qatar World Cup?
In other related news this week, two men were robbed in France with a similar Grindr tactic, and this story from Tehran is preoccupying and debunks myths about Iranians’ respect for trans identities.
US News
Florida: A Dog Park Tragedy Pits Homophobia and “Self-defense”
Homophobia and guns do not mix well. Human beings and guns do not mix well in general. Walt Lay, a gay man, was fatally shot after what witnesses describe as months of homophobic harassment. The shooter, claiming self-defense under a “stand your ground” law, has not been charged. There is not much to add. In America, you can legally kill people you don’t like with a firearm; this bodes well for 2025! Read about it in People Magazine.
US LGBTQ+ non-profits plagued by “greedflation”?
After much delay, a national organization disclosed its forms 990 for FY21 and FY22, revealing that its “President and CEO” 's total compensation had increased by 15% annually since 2014 to reach more than $600K in 2022. You will argue once again that qualified non-profit leaders will only take these jobs if the salaries are competitive with “the market.” Allow me to differ: the US President, the World Bank President, and Congresspeople all earn less than this, yet competition for these jobs seems sharper than ever. Leading a national LGBTQ+ organization is an honor and is often parlayed into a lucrative job afterward. I would argue that a sense of public service rarely accompanies greed. Frequently, “CEOs” (when did executive directors start getting corporate titles?) hold dictatorial power over the board of directors stacked with corporate executives. Precious funds are diverted from the actual work, perverse incentives around fundraising and growth are created, and leadership refreshment stagnates. Standing up for marginalized communities is hypocritical when one’s compensation strategy perpetuates economic disparities.
Controversy Surrounds The WPATH Files by Environmental Progress
The conservative media had a field day with the recent release of 'The WPATH Files' by Environmental Progress, a report based on leaked internal communications of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The Telegraph wrote “Doctors admit link between transgender hormone therapy and cancer in leaked emails” while the Catholic News Agency claimed, “Leaked files reveal transgender group’s ‘pseudoscientific’ crusade, ethical abuse”. The trans-medicine community denounced its lack of scientific grounding and ethical considerations in trans care. Erin Reed posted a point-by-point reaction to the files - see here.
Pennsylvania: traffic arrest goes viral
Celena Morrison, Philadelphia's executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, and her husband, Darius McLean, were detained following a confrontation during a traffic stop (see here). Morrison, a prominent figure in the LGBTQ community, was arrested after allegedly interfering with the trooper's attempt to arrest McLean. Video footage of the incident raised questions, with Morrison stating she was punched. Both were released without charges, and the arresting trooper is on restricted duty pending an investigation. Mayor Cherelle Parker expressed concern over the incident.
Queering the Boardroom
Launch of the Australian LGBTQ+ Board & Executive Inclusion
Lucy Turnbull -who has had a formidable career and is also married to Malcolm Turnbull- launched the non-profit ALBEI last week. Here is a link to ALBEI's research into ASX200 diversity and inclusion and LGBTQ+-inclusive board diversity policies - presented in an interactive way that makes our Association jealous.
Only 1 Australian company (out of the ASX200) reports more broadly on diversity at the board level across LGBTQ+, First Nations, Cultural background – Woodside Energy.
Reminder: Virtual DDI learning sessions
Our friends at UNC Director Diversity Initiative are hosting a panel today at 5 p.m. today, "Understanding Board Opportunities: Nonprofit and Advisory Boards, and the Board Observer Role," for those wanting to understand how nonprofit boards can serve as a stepping stone to for-profit board seats, offering an insightful perspective on diversity in governance. Also, include on your calendar “Crafting Your Board Journey: Developing Your Board Resume and Board Bio” on Thursday, April 25th. Also, check out their May Bootcamp.
NACD Opens Nominations for the 2024 DE&I Awards
The National Association of Corporate Directors has announced the opening of nominations for the prestigious 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards. It is open to various categories, including Public (Large, Mid, and Small Cap), Private, and Not-for-Profit organizations. For those interested in nominating a board that embodies these values, visit the NACD website for more details and eligibility guidelines. The deadline is April 22nd.
The Gay Business
Plagiarism: the weird way the DEI battle is being fought
If you are part of the “DEI ruling class,” as the National Review puts it, and did a little copying/pasting in your youth, tremble! Particularly if you are black. It’s now the playbook of anti-DEI crusaders: making AI searches and demanding the resignation of anybody guilty of plagiarism. I am immune, though; plagiarism is a concept that never existed in France; we call it “borrowing good ideas.” Alade McKen, Columbia University’s DEI maestro, was under attack this week for plagiarism. He has not yet resigned. In the meantime, Bill Ackman is still livid that the same weapon he created was used against his wife and vowed to ruin Business Insider, as New York Magazine reported in a chilling article this month. Ultimately, hedge fund billionaires are just misunderstood little Glasgow Oompa Loompas like all of us.
Whether [Ackman] decline[s] to file or actually lose[s] in court, the result will be a victory for Americans who want to say and write things without fearing that a billionaire will sue them into oblivion simply because they really, really, really don’t like it.
A Dire Forecast: The Trump Administration's Threat to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Great DEI Cleansing at the University of Florida, which made headlines this week, is just the beginning. Insiders are sounding the alarm on Project 2025, led by the Heritage Foundation, aiming for a wholesale purge of DEI from federal agencies upon a Trump win. A New York Times piece, “What I Learned When I Read 887 Pages of Plans for Trump’s Second Term,” warns us of a looming modern-day witch hunt for anyone affiliated with DEI or Critical Race Theory. 2025 might feel a lot like 1933 Germany. The LGBTQ+ community may well become a prime target, as fears mount that being out could be interpreted as an implicit endorsement of DEI, warranting dismissal or worse. I like to think that my Substack constitutes a list of political dissidents I might be able to exchange for the safe passage of my family to France (just kidding, just kidding…)
The semi-cultural desk
A Gay Wedding at Mar-A-Lago
Another insurance against the upcoming purge might be joining the Log Cabin Republicans. The Tennessee contingent swapped policy debates and Trump's apology last week for toasts and tuxedos to celebrate the union of John Sullivan and Dan Medora at Mar-A-Lago. Not everybody is happy about it. Between the stately walls, where lousy taste and white jackets intertwine, guests witnessed the union of grooms who looked like twins. Here’s to gay love, the end of DEI, and unbridled capitalism—may it be as enduring and timeless as book burnings.
RuPaul’s books mini-storm
Talking about books, RuPaul's Allstora caused a little online storm as critics argued it should not sell controversial books. I tried to understand the controversy (see here) but fell asleep. It all seems a little redundant, given that I have not met a gay American who reads books besides coffee table books for the past decade. RuPaul responded that revenue from such controversial sales would go to the Rainbow Book Bus to “fight book bans of diverse literature.”
Netflix's beloved 'Queer Eye’ hosts are ass**les
At least, according to Rolling Stones Magazine. I have never watched'Queer Eye,'’ but I am not sure expecting TV hosts to be luminaries was wise in the first place. Reality TV stars and public intellectuals should ideally fall into different categories. The article is juicy, though. Apparently, a storm was already brewing when the Fab Five proudly hoisted their golden statues at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. While all five are described as unbearable divas in the article, the one that gets hit the most is Jonathan Van Ness, who insiders describe as a terror.
How is it not obvious to everybody that none of these people are friends? None of them. They don’t hang out socially. They live very different lives.
How did I miss the BEE news?
Bret Easton Ellis’ boyfriend had a drug-induced nervous breakdown earlier last month. And BEE, whose celebrity is based on books about drug consumption and insanity, published a letter showing he is now part of the established bourgeoisie. In the meantime, Patrick Bateman and the boyfriend were shipped manu-military to rehab:
But recovering addicts have told me that THEY had to make the decision to get help, and being forced by others never worked. Maybe a little, but not fully.
I Saw The TV Glow, but not my TV
And many hail this new A24 Queer Horror movie (trailer below) as a masterpiece in this genre. I’ll pass as I try not to watch anything below 6.4 on IMDb. I loved watching the “Holdovers” last night, although the Paul Hunham character felt too close to home.
Queer: love and desire in 1940s Mexico
There is no trailer yet, but it sounds promising. "Queer," is an upcoming historical romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino and adapted from William S. Burroughs' 1985 novel. Slated for a release near the end of 2024, the film is currently in post-production. The story, set in 1940s Mexico City, follows an American expatriate named Lee, played by Daniel Craig, who becomes infatuated with a young man, Allerton, portrayed by Drew Starkey, a discharged American Navy serviceman. The film includes Jonathan Anderson's fashionable contributions as the costume designer. That is important because, if you live under a rock, Jonathan Anderson is THE GAY of the year.
Honoring the Resistance: Fetterman and Kink party
Conservative media is talking about Senator John Fetterman pulling his support for the taxpayer-funded William Way LGBT Community Center after its extracurricular kink activities came to light (see here). What Republicans need is a hobby.
Coming and going
The passing of Fire Island fixture: Kent Dillon
Dillon, after being diagnosed with HIV in 1989, bravely faced the challenges of living with this condition. Dillon remained stable for years, a testament to the advances in HIV treatment and his indomitable spirit. This summer, a gathering to celebrate Kent's life will be held in The Pines. See here.
Another Fire Island loss: DJ Stacey
The New York Post reports that DJ Stacey, who got around New York City on her scooter and was using it Friday night to move between gigs in Washington Heights, ran into a truck in the East Village.
Sinema’s farewell
Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the first out bisexual U.S. senator and a former Democrat who is now an independent, will not run for reelection this year. Bye, Felicia.
The Gay Agenda
Inclusive Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade
On March 17, Staten Island will host its first-ever parallel (the important word here) inclusive St. Patrick's Day Parade, welcoming LGBTQ+ groups to march under their banners. More details can be found here.
Join Me in Miami for CIES 2024
Next Tuesday, I'll be in Miami briefly for a dual engagement. First, I will participate in the CIES 2024 Conference. Alongside Christine Allison and Aleksa Savić, we'll present "Catalyzing Change: Building Community Awareness and Understanding of LGBTQI+ Issues" at the conference-themed "The Power of Protest" This session, scheduled for March 12 from 4:45-6:15 pm EST at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Terrace Level, Tuttle Center, will focus on crucial LGBTQI+ issues in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Timor Leste, and Serbia. In the evening, I will join an event hosted by JPMorgan Chase for the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors.
Well, my apologies for the delay in sending you my weekly musings, but as you can see, a lot was happening this week. I’ll leave you with this picture of my sons with David Mixner last Saturday: a fantastic opportunity to introduce them to a quintessential Southern gentleman and a pivotal figure in our history. A luta continua…
"I have not met a gay American who reads books besides coffee table books for the past decade." Hmmm... I'm Troy, nice to meet you.