Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: a sad French Pride, the Turkish resistance, Run Sarah! Run!, the "Born This Way" limitations, NYC Pride, bisexuality, Stonewall Rebels,Larry Kramer's memorial , nipplegate and much 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: a sad French Pride, the Turkish resistance, Run Sarah! Run!, the "Born This Way" limitations, NYC Pride, bisexuality, Stonewall Rebels,Larry Kramer's memorial , nipplegate and much more...
Global news
France: a Pride victim of its orthodoxy
The French movement can also be obsessed with virtue signaling and the purity test. Sigmund Freud called this “the narcissism of small differences.” This year, this meant no floats, contingent, music, or corporate participation in Pride. So French Pride looked and felt like a funeral procession, which is what the organizers were veering for. Geoffroy de Lagasnerie even called for a “Stonewall against inter-LGBT” (inter-LGBT is the all-powerful French equivalent of the HRC or Stonewall but without the cash). Gay intellectual Édouard Louis wrote:
This is precisely the particularity of a Pride march: it is the only political movement to have placed joy at the heart of its action. Why? Because when you're a gay, lesbian, or trans kid and you've lived your entire childhood and teenage years hiding, being ashamed, lying, and suffering in silence, suddenly being able to experience who you are in joy is revolutionary.
Turkey: real resistance
Do you know who would have loved floats and music? The Turkish people whose Pride was again banned, resulting in the arrest of 50 activists in Izmir. It best illustrates some of our challenges abroad, as Istanbul Pride was once a vibrant event (see this 2009 article in the NY Times). All Pride events were banned for the ninth consecutive year in the country. The Istanbul governor stated on social media that there would be no permission for events that "threaten [the] institution of the family." Read Human Rights Watch’s report here.
Kyrgyz Republic: renewed attack on Freedom of Expression
A little-known fact: I have been to Bishkek many times as I covered the post-revolution Kyrgyzstan Republic at the World Bank, among other countries in Central Asia. Authoritarian regimes are the region's hallmark, with Uzbekistan being another concerning place for LGBTQ+ rights. A new bill in the Kyrgyz Republic would expand the definition of information harmful to the health and development of children to include information about “nontraditional sexual relationships.” Read Human Rights Watch’s article here.
U.S. News
Sarah McBride is running for Congress in Delaware
I saw Sarah McBride at the Equality PAC dinner on Thursday at Union Station in DC. Her speech concluded with members of the Caucus chanting, “Run Sarah, Run Sarah '' showing her comprehensive support from the party apparatchiks. McBride is also famously close to Joe Biden, who has known her since childhood (hers, not Biden’s). She announced on Monday that she would run for Delaware’s at-large U.S. House seat — a bid that, if successful, would make her the first openly transgender member of the U.S. Congress. You can read her subsequent interview in the NY Times here.
The transgender family handbook in NYMagazine
Now this was such an excellent dossier in New York Magazine. Probably a breath of fresh air for the parents of trans kids constantly faced with the Republican instrumentalization of their kids and personal lives. It could be read with Brynn Tannehill's new book; My Child Told Me They’re Trans…What Do I Do? which came out earlier this year. As a side note, at the end of this issue, there is an interview with Parker Posey, my spirit animal, and it’s perfect. I consider “House Of Yes” a masterpiece if you have never watched it.
Same-sex marriage in the US
This map in Axios is fascinating. First, DC is the gayest place ever - but we already knew that. More importantly, maybe, let’s not give up on Florida! It is also our state.
Murdoch’s hateful coverage of NYC Pride
All Murdoch’s outlets, determined to make the label “Groomers” stick, have focused on the allegation a chant — yelled Friday at the annual Drag March “We're queer! We're coming for your children!” which they said was a provocation and could legitimize more anti-gay hate. My response is this pic of my sons at Pride taken by Dean Moses:
Facing the backlash: back to basics
I also enjoyed this Washington Post article on a strategy for the community to build bridges with the labor movement.
Business
Which companies are actual LGBTQ+ allies?
In MarketWatch this week, I discuss the difficulty in assessing who the corporate "good guys" are on LGBTQ+ issues and the importance of having a comprehensive view of Corporate Social Responsibility. I call out new conflicts of interest in the watchdogs we set up in the 80s. Some corporations strategically deploy charitable grants to induce LGBTQ+ non-profits watchdogs to make them favor them. In other cases, watchdogs have consulting contracts with the companies they were created to monitor. The Gilead Sciences case exemplifies this: the company is at odds with the community in an antitrust lawsuit over price gouging, which led HIV+ gay men to ruin. Still, it remains omnipresent in LGBTQ+ events as many EDs are on the company's payroll. As Parker Posey (twice mentioned in this week’s newsletter) says in House of Yes: “Oh please, if everyone around here is going to start telling the truth, I'm going to bed.”
"Houdart is critical of the big LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, saying they have been influenced by corporate donations throughout the years: “If we want to take a stance, we could just start by not inviting [these companies], not giving them a floor at events or giving them high scores on indexes.”
My podcast with Jennifer Brown
I had a great conversation on a similar topic with the wondrous Jennifer Brown on this recent episode of The Will To Change podcast: Brand Accountability in 2023. Spotify or Apple.
The Boardroom
Opal Perry joins the Board of Heartland Financials
Out lesbian Opal Perry, who was once CIO at Hertz, has been appointed to the company's Board of Directors. Read the announcement here.
The Association hosts its dinner in Chicago.
LGBTQ+ diversity on U.S. corporate boards is unacceptably low. For the LGBTQ+ governance community to organize itself is a first step to better representation. The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors and JPMorgan Chase hosted a dinner in the Chase Tower’s dining room yesterday. Dr. Jesse Erhenfeld, the newly anointed President of the American Medical Association - an anesthesiologist, Navy veteran, and father - gave inspiring remarks on his journey and the importance of representation. Dr. Erhenfeld’s election is a stark reminder that when LGBTQ+ people are allowed to contribute, they serve with brio at the AMA or in the Boardroom. See our post on the event here, and other posts here and here.
Tomorrow: join our NYC Pride breakfast at FGS in midtown
Tomorrow the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors and FGS Global are hosting a breakfast in New York City in midtown at 8:30 a.m. on the timely topic of “the role of LGBTQ+ Corporate Board Members in navigating the “Culture war”. If you are available, let me know, we still have a few spots: fabrice@lgbtqdirectors.org
Our Annual List of out LGBTQ+ Board Members
I received many comments on the list of the 28 out individuals occupying board seats in this year’s Fortune 500 list, including the fact that I had omitted a lesbian of color, Collen Taylor, on the Board of Lowe’s, bringing our total to 41 seats (still below 0.8%). Another comment is that my title, “Who are the most influential gay men and women in Corporate America?” invisibilized the many bisexual individuals in this list.
The non-profit corner
Who among our leaders showed up at NYC Pride?
Nothing is more telling than the way the leadership of our New York-based organization shows up at the grassroots. Despite the humidity and heat, Kevin Jennings (Lambda Legal), Stacey Stevenson (Family Equality, Michael Adams (SAGE), Alexander Roque (Ali Forney), and Maria Sjödin (Outright) were among those who joined the troops. And, as usual, absent were the ones with the fattest paycheck, always up for Le Majestic or a selfie in an airport lounge but never for the pavement. I hope I am not the only one keeping notes.
LGBT+ VC inaugural Summit: a smashing success
This Pride, LGBT+ VC hosted the first annual LGBT+ VC Summit, convening more than 500+ participants in New York City. Over five days, LGBT+ VC hosted leading VCs and founders and leaders in the business, including David Karp, Founder and former CEO of Tumblr, ally, and friend of LGBT+ VC, Charlotte Newman of Amazon Web Services, Second Secretary Mio Akita with Microsoft at the United Nations and RuPaul's Drag Race Performer Brita Filter. On Sunday, LGBT+ VC leaders marched with Governor Hochul and elected officials in the NYC Pride March. Read more about LGBT+ VC's Summit Week in Inc. Magazine.
The Gay Agenda
Stonewall Day: a smashing success
Last Friday, I took the twins to Stonewall Day at Hudson Yards in NYC. I am very proud to be a Stonewall Rebel, a group championing the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, a critical project for the global landmark. The who’s who of gay America was there, including Cordey Lash, Brad Baumoel, Cathy Renna. While Christina Aguilera was the main act, Mila Jam and Alok were terrific and my kids were excited to see Netta, who I had never heard off. I need to get a life. Congratulations to Diana Rodriguez, Founder of Pride Live, to pull this together.
An inspiring Pride March in New York
Twenty-two years on, Pride still feels meaningful and invigorating. I loved being with our community and its allies in the streets of New York today. My boys witnessed our community coming together in the face of adversity. I split my march between Outright International (on the Board I serve), the French luxury group Kering (with the best marching band), and the NY state government. At the beginning of the march, Gov. Hochul, surrounded by leaders of our community, including Rep. Ritchie Torres and my friends trans-District Leader Melissa Sklarz and new york state senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (with his beautiful daughter), gave forceful remarks and signed a bill to protect access to transition-related medical care for transgender minors (made me much more joyful than her subsequent announcement on congestion pricing which might doom my motorcycle). My sons cleverly photobombed the whole thing.
Gay dads unite
Gay socialites Chris Rovzar, Maneesh Goyal, and their handsome husbands hosted a Pride event for all the NYC gay dads at Maneesh’s Gramercy restaurant Sona on Saturday.
The semi-cultural desk
Andy Cohen and Nipplegate
Why was Andy Cohen caught on video (without his consent) doing homosexual things, as homosexuals often do, in a homosexual bar? Don’t we have bigger fish to fry at the moment?
Focus on Zephyr’s partner: Erin in the morning
At the Equality PAC dinner, I was seated next to Zooey Zephyr’s fiancee, who, unknown to me, is among the leading substacks in America. See here.
Not always « born this way. »: coming out later in life and bisexuality
Charles Blow in the NY Times had a column on people who come out later in life. The article refers to Pierre Lagrange, Ebs Burnough’s husband. This article also corroborates an analysis by the Pew Research Center showing that bisexuals in the US are much less likely to come out than their gay or lesbian peers. Only 19% of those who identify as bisexual say all or most critical people know their sexual orientation. In contrast, 75% of gay or lesbian adults say the same.
[Lisa Diamond] argues that the “born this way” framing is unjust to the broad range of queer identities and realities […] because it implies that L.G.B.T. individuals who fit a certain cultural stereotype, the ones who have been exclusively gay for as long as they can possibly remember, are somehow more deserving of acceptance and equality than someone who came out at age 60 or whose attractions have been more fluid or who is bisexual rather than exclusively gay
Coming and going
Glennda Testone leaves the NYC LGBTQ+ Center
After 13+ years, Executive Director Glennda left the LGBT Center in New York in December. While she did not indicate where she would do next, I would love for her to run one of our national organizations (guess which one).
Remembering Larry Kramer
While I was fighting my way in the Delta inferno to make it to Chicago, I missed a fantastic night that the extraordinary Larry Kramer Memorial Committee (including Trip Cullman, Bill Goldstein, Joe Montello, Eric Sawyer, Will Schwalbe, Tom Viola, and Larry's husband, David Webster) put together to mark this hero’s legacy. Read about it here.
Erratum
La crevette
In my previous newsletter, I erroneously hinted that shrimps could be sustainable and got this great note reminding me there is no such thing as a sustainable shrimp. Excellent conversation starter for your next cocktail party.
WWD had this little recap of Pride Month throughout the World; no wonder you feel exhausted!
You might feel that this newsletter is one hour late, but I am claiming Chicago local time as I am still at the airport. So really I am only 10 minutes late. As usual thank you for reading and please share with your network…
Outstanding as usual. The month is over. Phew!
I’d love to listen to your Jennifer Brown podcast but couldn’t find it.
Love you tons.