Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: a UN victory, Macron’s ministers, Slovenia is No 32, queering the Boardroom, a trip to Disney, Lavender Law, the great American auto-da-fe, pre-endemic Monkeypox, non-binary week & more...
Welcome to my weekly equality news digest, where I share important (and less important) news, updates, and commentary about the global LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business.
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Global News
United Nations: we won
The mandate of the UN Independent Expert was renewed last week: a key victory. The resolution was adopted by 23 in favor, 17 against, and 7 abstaining. Latin America stood out with its unity. Ukraine voted in favor (and also announced it is considering legalizing same-sex marriage). Qatar’s “no” vote is a reminder that the FIFA World Cup has nothing to do there this November (see below). The abstention by India was disappointing (that of Poland, good news?). In private, some expressed concern over the voting pattern of Commonwealth countries who made up a large proportion of the negative vote despite clear provisions in its Charter on human rights. I congratulated mandate holder Victor Madrigal the following day (at the fancy Flame’s Diner). Victor was in NYC for the HLPF where he reiterated the link between gender equality and LGBTQ+ acceptance. Read about the vote here.
France: fiertés rurales
I found this article about Pride in France’s farming communities interesting. Pride tends to be focused on cities but what about rural areas where change is happening? In the US, Beth Ford, the only lesbian CEO of a Fortune 500 (Land O’Lakes), has been the voice for economic and social inclusion of farming communities. We should not assume farmers are straight or cisgender.
France (again): the problematic Ministers of Emmanuel Macron
Caroline Cayeux is among three ministers in the newly appointed Macron government who are under scrutiny for having taken strong positions against LGBTQ+ people in the past. If Cayeux, who claimed gay marriage was "a design that goes against 'nature'", had spoken this way about any other minority, she would already be gone. She yesterday "maintained" her remarks then apologized in the afternoon.
Iraq: queer people are not the issue
Amir Ashour (Founder Iraqueer) reports on this thread about a confused parliament attempt at banning “queer identities”. The least of the risks facing Iraq today are gay people. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is a distraction from economic and security challenges.
Qatar: a tall cup of shame
Human Rights Watch is not having it with Qatar (read the piece here):
« Journalists, human rights organizations, and football associations have widely criticized allowing Qatar to host the World Cup in the first place. FIFA has a responsibility to hold host authorities accountable to an international rights-respecting standard… ».
As my friend Roee wrote:
“If cancel culture were real, FIFA wouldn't allow the games to be played in Qatar”.
Russia: the arbitrary detention of Brittney Griner
A week ago, Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia (read about it here on NPR). As formerly incarcerated lesbian Evie Litwok (who was just featured in the New Yorker) told me, her imprisonment will take a toll that will be hard to recover from. This is a tragic reminder to FIFA that for sports federations (and anybody really), flirting with dictatorships can backfire pretty quickly.
Romania: a feisty Pride
As Romania’s parliament is considering a so-called “anti-gay propaganda law”, thousands courageously marched in Bucharest (read about it here). In the meantime, Russian legislators want to take their own law one step further. the But how can we push back against it, when Florida has a “don’t Say Gay” law on the books?
Slovenia: recognizes same-sex marriage
Slovenia is the 32nd country (16% of all countries have it) to pass same-sex marriage and the first in the former Soviet Union to do so. (read about it here)
US News
It is time you run for school board
The Hill reports this week that less than 1% of school board seats are occupied by an LGBTQ+ person. Despite our focus on Federal and State legislatures, local government is key. As a (recovering) Frenchman, I am always amazed at how this country managed to maintain a highly decentralized system of social order. You can also imagine that if (or when) things turn sour, local governments will have the power to protect minorities (think “sanctuary cities”). I had an interesting experience last year when city-to-city dialogue in Poland turned out to be more effective than influencing the central government (see "protect our twins" led by UK liberal democrats).
Monkeypox: more information, less stigmatization
Mark King is raising virus awareness on his platform “my fabulous disease”. He just interviewed Brian Thomas (here) who came down with monkeypox. In Mark’s words:
“No, it isn't a gay disease. Yes, it has found harbor within our ranks, following our social and sexual interactions, and that will likely change and broaden”.
In the meantime, Bill De Blasio, of all people, blasted the Biden administration for moving too slowly on vaccines. Yesterday as I was loitering in the steam room of Equinox on Broadway and 92nd (just sayin’) after a moderate workout, I thought “is that a good idea?”. This question illustrates the CDC's shortcomings. I learned today that routine smallpox vaccination protects you from the virus, so if you were born before 1972 (disclaimer: I am 1978), here is your silver lining.
America’s great auto-da-fé
I loved this article in the New Yorker. I keep a copy of referenced “Daddy’s roommate” in the twins’ bookcase because it is hilarious in its desuetude. The pettiness of erasing us from the classroom is enraging. When a family member regretted once that: “the gay lobby has been very successful at placing gay people everywhere in the media”, I responded, “clearly not as successful as the tree lobby”. You cannot censor reality forever, ask the Church.
More on LGBTQ+ Books
Subsequently, publisher Dana Rudolph, who runs the brilliant Mombian database of more than 1000+ LGBTQ Family Books, wrote a post with this astute point:
“[I prefer Books] that are meant simply to offer representation and show LGBTQ people in the fullness of their lives. [There is a] need for more children’s books that simply have LGBTQ characters and don’t focus on their queerness or on showing people it’s “okay” to be queer (usually after a negative incident).”
The survey that hurts
Pew reports that 43% say trans or nonbinary issues are changing too quickly. 60% say that whether a person is a man or a woman is determined by the sex assigned at birth (up from 56% in 2021, 54% in 2017). For all of GLAAD’s endless and excruciating self-congratulating parade, trans people are not visible, and when they are represented, it's often poorly. We will lose the battle of public opinion if we do not change course.
The tragic end of the gayborhood
When in DC, I lived in DuPont Circle at 17th and Corcoran. I remember with nostalgia the feeling of being held by the neighborhood (both figuratively and literally). The New York Times has a bleak view of gayborhoods’ future: “Once a Crucial Refuge, ‘Gayborhoods’ Lose L.G.B.T.Q. Residents in Major Cities”. Our well-being relies heavily on them. Our ties to family, community of origins, or places of worship are almost invariably looser than that of our straight and cisgender peers. The drama of our mainstreaming is that the queer relationship with the world is actually different. If we do not invest in gayborhoods, we will not only lose our places of safety, we might lose ourselves.
Queering the Boardroom
The KPMG Board Survey: LGBTQ+ diversity remains on the backburner
Read “Poised for Change? Boardroom Diversity Survey” by the KPMG Board Leadership Center sharing highlights from their Boardroom Diversity Survey (full board survey here). In the US, 48% of the directors surveyed felt LGBTQ+ representation on the Board was irrelevant (although 38% acknowledged it was lacking) while only 5% were actively recruiting for it. Despite the US being the most aware of LGBTQ+ underrepresentation, Latin America is the most proactive in attempting to remedy it. My conclusions: the US is ripe for a reckoning on LGBTQ+ representation (the business case is here and our Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors has the talent pipeline) but pressure from investors, the regulator, and consumers remain necessary. The work is cut out for us.
Myrna Soto on geopolitical disruptions and the boardroom
Myrna Soto, lesbian board member extraordinaire (Consumers Energy, Spirit Airlines, TriNet, Popular Inc., and Headspace Health), was quoted in this article as feeling:
“The impact of supply disruption across her board portfolio but [saying] the multipliers of that risk are felt most acutely in the energy space, a backbone of critical infrastructure”.
Learning to read Director Moves: the Danaher example
As the Association is focused on proactively sharing member profiles with potential board openings, I have resumed my subscription to DirectorMoves (at $8.33/month more expensive than this newsletter ;)) Here is an example of what it offers:
Danaher Corporation NYSE: DHR $186.b WDC / 13 Directors Annual / Age 82 78 70 70 70 / Recent 2021 2019 2019 / Women 4 / Demographic Data Yes / Attn: James F. O'Reilly VP DGC Secy
It is a great tool as with a bit of research we can figure out the Chair of Nom/Gov committees and suggest candidates. Despite being a top company on the HRC index, Danaher does not report the sexual orientation and gender identity of board members.
LGBTQ+ Business News
The business case for LGBTQ+ inclusion
Forbes report on the limits of the “business case”. The business case for LGBTQ+ inclusion remains important but must be handled with care: research needs to be solid (not produced hastily through biased microscopic surveys as I have sometimes witnessed) and accompanied by a caveat. In the words of Kaushik Basu, the former Indian Chief Economist of The World Bank, in 2014 (context):
“If removing discrimination against a minority group increases GDP, that is good news. If enhancing justice and equality across human beings promotes GDP that is reason for celebration. But we must not argue that removing discrimination against minorities is good because it promotes GDP growth and that justice and equality are important because they lead to a higher GDP. Removing discrimination and promoting greater equality and justice are good in themselves »
A new LGBTQ+ venture capital fund: i³ investing
Christian Tooley was featured in FT’s Sifted article titled How to make VC more LGBTQ+ inclusive, and why it matters to discuss i³ investing, an LGBTQ+ venture capital fund, and the term he has coined “intersectional investing”. i³ investing focuses on LGBTQ+ founders & investors. Please reach out to them here or directly to Christian for community building, connection via deal-flow, & capital opportunities.
LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace: we are not done
The S&P ERG shared data on the state of play on corporate inclusion. While some key players achieved tremendous progress, we have only scratched the surface of equality.
« As long as the LGBTQI+ people are the only ones working for LGBTQI+ rights and equity within a company no changes will be made. Senior leadership and management must involve itself with training and active anti-discrimination day-to-day work.”
The CMI 16th survey: LGBTQ+ people are suspicious of America
The always fascinating CMI’s Annual LGBTQ Community Survey is out. Read the report here. The percentage of LGBTQ+ residents thinking the US is LGBTQ+ friendly went from 56% to 40% in one year. Target, Apple, and Disney remain the brands perceived as the most LGBTQ+ friendly. 39% of gay and bi men are still single: that was comforting. You can also watch the webinar.
From the semi-cultural desk
The Ezra Klein podcast
Everybody has been listening to this Ezra Klein podcast with Michelle Goldberg (here) or maybe I am surrounded by intellectuals. Skip it and meditate on this by Ezra:
“I also think at the same time, that a real failure mode for movements is that what is exciting becomes the only thing that there really is versus what people are living through”
French Author Edouard Louis on poverty
Edouard Louis was interviewed in the Guardian about “Who Killed My Father?” (a show he apparently hated to perform, swearing never to be on a stage again). As someone who experiencedpoverty, Louis calls on us to resurrect progressive politics.
Juan Viana in Colombia’s Semana on conversion therapy
I was impressed by my Colombian friend (and FTI Consulting employee) for speaking so openly about his experience in Semana. Juan was in conversion therapy in the US:
“When I came out, Church leaders came to save me. (...) I ended up isolated, with my whole life stuffed into a little suitcase hastily packed as I was running from the threat of eternal damnation”.
Banning conversion therapy is still debated in Colombia as 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ people there go through some form of conversion therapy.
Ukraine: looking back at the early coverage of LGBTQ+ within the war
Media attention has moved on from Ukraine as we knew it would, distracted by shootings, elections, or hearings. A few months into that mainstreaming of the war, Inna Iryskina penned this piece, “The Not-End of History: What’s Wrong with the Western View of the Ukrainian LGBT+ Community During the War”, calling out an oversimplification of the conflict, our desire to identify victims and heroes to cope with a shattered view of history and the colonial lens in our coverage. Worth a read.
70 over 70: a little more effort on YOUR part
Here is a link to the current list as an open Google Doc: we need more names, more POC, more women, and more people outside of the US. Please add your heroes!
World: the earth and its 8 billion inhabitants
The 8 billionth human is a girl named 하은 born in South Korea yesterday. Just kidding: we don’t know. It seems that the atypical demographics of our community (David Mixner responded with a stern “no” this July 4th when I suggested I may have a third child) as well as birth control should definitely be celebrated rather than shunned in this very overpopulated context.
Some additional news on the upcoming Fellow Travelers miniseries and the controversy around the James Webb Telescope.
The Gay Agenda
July 11-17 is non-binary week
Studies after studies found that more teenagers than ever are identifying as transgender or gender-fluid. The list tells us how to express support this week.
Saturday: Edafe is getting married
“Asylum”’s author and noted Nigerian homosexual Edafe Okporo is getting married on Saturday and I will be in attendance wearing a midnight blue tux.
July 17-19: Lavender Law
The 2022 National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Lavender Law Conference is taking place in LA in two weeks. I have so many lawyers at this point that it really feels like a company offsite. (read about it here)
August: Coming clean on my Disney expedition
Despite my criticism of Chapek’s handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” situation and my subsequent resignation from One Magical Weekend, I am taking the twins (and Mark Takano) to Disneyland in CA mid-August. So here: I just confessed.
Coming and going
Chris Beyrer bids farewell to DC
Chris Beyrer (famous epidemiologist and fmr president of the International AIDS Society [2014-2016]) is leaving for Duke to become Director of its Institute of Global Health (announcement). At the gathering, you could see Dr. Fauci, Chris Collins-Towery (the Global Fight), and fellow Outright Board Member Michel Ighodaro.
IGLTA Foundation hires TJ Chernick
Congrats to TJ (formerly NGLCC) for joining the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) Foundation as its partnership engagement director (here).
Tom Daley receives an OBE
Daley received the decoration from the Prince of Wales at Windsor. Well-deserved Tom. We are lucky to have you. But is that a fancy lunchbox you were carrying?
On this hopeful note, have a great week, don’t forget to follow the Association, and see you next week.
"Slovenia: recognizes same-sex marriage
Slovenia is the 32nd country (16% of all countries have it) to pass same-sex marriage and the first in the former Soviet Union to do so. "
Ooops -- Slovenia was never part of the Soviet Union. Even in Communist times, it was part of Yugoslavia.