Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: a Shanghai airport parable, Ley Integral Trans, Scout toujours, the Lilly Contino controversy, the U.S. v. Skrmetti aftermath, lessons from the corporate exodus, JoJo Siwa, and more...
The aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti sucked all the oxygen out of the room this week (besides of course a little WWIII scare)—exposing some fractures within the U.S. LGBTQ+ movement. It felt like a gunfight at the OK Corral in most listservs I am on. While the ACLU’s Chase Strangio was in Provincetown defending a legal approach now under fire, insiders took to newspapers—of all places—and private chats to settle scores. A blistering NYTimes feature, driven by on-the-record critiques from within our ranks, argued the case never should have gone to the Supreme Court. A crisis of cohesion joined the already brutal hostility of a conservative judiciary. And it’s not over, Mahmoud v. Taylor is in the pipeline next, which will feel like another nail in our coffin. My take? No deus ex machina is coming to rescue us within institutions, whether courts, corporations, development institutions, or the democratic party. Some are already working on the next phase of our fight, which means: i) renewed solidarity within the LGBTQ+ coalition, ii) a refreshed global strategy—including new components such as a real economic agenda, iii) a more covert approach (which was incidentally the theme of my piece this weekend).
This week: a Shanghai airport parable, Ley Integral Trans, Scout toujours, the Lilly Contino controversy, the U.S. v. Skrmetti aftermath, lessons from the corporate exodus, JoJo Siwa, and more...
Global News
Mexico: A Radiant World Record
Let’s start (or restart) this newsletter with a not-so-French optimism, as at breakfast today, a paying subscriber complained I wallow in a doom fest. Over 6,000 LGBTQ+ activists defied rain and danced in unison to form the world’s most significant human rainbow flag in Mexico City’s iconic Zócalo. Organized by the city and led by Mayor Clara Brugada, the display kicked off Pride Week with umbrellas, choreography, and heart. “Mexico City is the capital of pride,” she declared. I have never been, but it’s on my list 👉 Full story.
Colombia: Closer to Landmark Trans Rights Law
Oh, look at us… We are on a roll this week. In a historic vote, Colombia’s Congress approved the Ley Integral Trans in its first debate. Co-drafted with over 1,000 trans and non-binary individuals nationwide, the bill seeks to guarantee gender recognition, trans-inclusive healthcare, labor protections, and anti-discrimination measures in education and public life. While conservative pushback led to the removal of several provisions, including those related to healthcare and sex work, the law’s core remains intact. Read more in El País.
China: Shanghai PRIDE Charlene Liu Barred from Entry
ShanghaiPRIDE co-founder Charlene Liu was detained for 14 hours at Pudong Airport last week and ultimately denied entry because she posed a threat to “public harmony” and “national security.” Liu, a longtime community leader who helped launch the city’s first Pride festival in 2009, was interrogated, body-searched, and held overnight under harsh conditions before being deported to Kuala Lumpur under police escort. Liu’s experience (and her courage these past years as she relocated her family) illustrates the unspoken plight of the LGBTQ+ community in China.
France: Lesbian Socialist Named Head of Catholic Scouts
Did I ever mention to you that I once was a Marine Scout? I was in the 7ème Marine Charcot for several years. I dug out the picture below as proof. Tragically, one of my chiefs ended up becoming a leader of the anti-gay marriage movement. I could not help but think of how things would have been different if Marine Rosset—a lesbian, mother, and Socialist local elected official—just appointed president of France’s Catholic Scouts and Guides had been leading the movement during my time there. Rosset, a longtime member of the 100,000-strong organization, was elected with near-unanimous support (22 out of 24 votes) on June 14. Yet, her political affiliation and family life triggered furious attacks from conservative outlets like Boulevard Voltaire and Salon Beige, and even dissent from within the clergy. Critics cite her support for abortion rights and same-sex parenting as “incompatible” with Catholic teaching. Rosset insists: “Our family is capable of expanding.” Read more via Le Monde
Hungary: Budapest Pride to March On
Budapest Pride is going ahead on June 28, despite a formal police ban issued under Hungary’s draconian “child protection” law. Now in its 30th year, the parade has become a flashpoint in a showdown between authoritarian Orbán and Budapest’s defiantly progressive mayor, Gergely Karácsony. The police offered organizers a stadium, away from the public eye, but Karácsony declined. He declared the march a municipal event that does not require state approval. Marchers risk €500 fines and facial recognition surveillance, but the LGBTQ+ community is undeterred. Over 30 foreign embassies, including France, Germany, and the UK, have expressed support, though notably, not the U.S. The EU is watching closely, with legal challenges pending and MEPs planning to join the protest. Read more here.
Ghana: A Queer Chief Holds His Ground
As Ghana’s Parliament reopens debate on one of Africa’s harshest anti-LGBTQ+ bills, Chief Davis Mac Iyalla—Amankorehen of Yamonransa and Executive Director of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa, offers a radically different vision (see here). Installed in a palanquin despite protests and tabloid scandal, Mac Iyalla insists his gay identity is no obstacle to cultural legitimacy. “The ancestors chose me,” he says. His leadership focuses on development, interfaith dialogue, and community care, earning trust even in deeply conservative settings: maybe there is a lesson for us here.
US News
A New York Times Article Exacerbates Fractures
A New York Times feature published last week, is mandatory reading this week. Nicholas Confessore's piece charts what he frames as a series of strategic missteps culminating in Skrmetti—the 6–3 Supreme Court ruling that upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The article triggered immediate backlash and exposed raw divisions within the LGBTQ+ advocacy world. One could argue that no trans people were quoted in the article, although a competing opinion piece by M Gessen ran simultaneously. Still, lawyers, activists, and medical experts quoted in the story began distancing themselves from the legal strategy behind the case, questioning whether taking it to the Roberts Court was an avoidable overreach. Confessore aired long-whispered concerns about inconsistent expert testimony, poor coordination among legal teams, and a failure to prepare the public for emotionally fraught debates. By the end of the day, progressive legal circles were ablaze with recriminations. For some, the piece captured a movement adrift, unable to course-correct; for others, it was a public airing of internal dissent that risked further fragmentation. And then there was this Strangio quote:
A penis is not a male body part. It’s just an unusual body part for a woman.
Another Sarah McBride Interview
I think we understand her position by now. Still, in The Ezra Klein Show interview below, Sarah McBride reiterated her views on the setbacks the trans rights movement has suffered—and her vision for rebuilding. McBride reflects on how the left’s embrace of rhetorical purity and absolutism has alienated imperfect allies and narrowed its coalition. “We’ve been shedding imperfect allies,” she warns, “and we’re going to have a really morally pure club in the gulag. (a good quote, sure, but a little outlandish. It’s the vibe in the U.S. lately.) Arguing that the movement overreached—going to “Trans 301 when the public was still at Trans 101”—McBride calls for a return to the hard, unglamorous work of persuasion, rooted in empathy, storytelling, and what she terms a “politics of grace.”
And Now The Bathroom Selfies at Disney
Strangely enough, I this story is probably the most symptomatic of the U.S. movement's perception problems this week - the “cultural war aggressor” vibe I decried on Sunday. Lilly Contino, a U.S.-based transgender influencer with over 500,000 followers, has ignited fierce debate after posting viral TikTok videos in which she “rated” Disney World’s women’s bathrooms using mirror selfies—sometimes with unsuspecting park guests in the background. While Contino defends her right to public bathroom selfies as an act of everyday femininity, many trans women have publicly distanced themselves from the behavior, calling it “predatory” and “harmful.” Critics accuse her of “rage-baiting” for clicks, arguing such content reinforces transphobic stereotypes at a time when the community is under legislative and social siege. A Change.org petition urging her ban from TikTok and Disney World has surpassed half a million signatures, and trans creators including Jade Dugger and Amelia Majesty have issued video rebuttals. The Florida AG is allegedly investigating Contino.
Trans and Nonbinary Political Representation Soars
According to a new report from the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming representation in U.S. public office has surged 1,800% since 2017. The 2025 Out for America report shows over 1,330 LGBTQ+ elected officials, with trans and nonbinary officials making up a rapidly growing share. Yet the surge in representation coincides with a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and violent incidents, most targeting trans people. As Victory Institute CEO Evan Low said, these leaders are “the antidote to combat the anti-equality virus in our halls of power.” Read more on Axios.
World Pride 2025: A Post Mortem
I am not the only one who has difficulties being cheerful. In The Atlantic, Emma Sarappo chronicles how WorldPride 2025, initially billed as a jubilant convergence of history and hope, became a metaphor for the unease gripping LGBTQ+ America. She mentions fear, dwindling turnout, and geopolitical anxieties. Despite landmark anniversaries—the 10th of Obergefell and the 50th of D.C. Pride—attendance was muted, and Gen Z, the queerest generation yet, is coming of age under threat rather than triumph.
If even Elmo is getting called a groomer, their line of thinking goes, then being palatable doesn’t work: You might as well show up, as many did at WorldPride, in leather and drag.
Queering the Boardroom
Pride in the Boardroom: June 2025 Webinar Replay
Last week, the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors hosted a dynamic conversation with board leaders Kristin Frank, Nathan Richardson, and Adam Stanley. Moderated by yours truly, this candid webinar explored what it means to lead authentically as LGBTQ+ board members, how identity shapes board culture, and the very real value queer professionals bring to corporate governance.
Canada’s LGBTQ+ Board Representation: Still Climbing, Cautiously
In a recent interview with the Institute of Corporate Directors, our friends at LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Canada, co-founders Mark Bonham and Jane Griffith, acknowledged that while LGBTQ+ visibility on Canadian corporate boards is improving, the pace remains frustratingly slow. A Rotman School study found only seven openly LGBTQ+ board members among 9,400 profiles from 2015 to 2022. Griffith emphasized the importance of visibility without tokenism, while Bonham noted that U.S. anti-DEI rhetoric is influencing Canadian boardrooms, but many companies are simply adapting the language of inclusion. The group continues to advocate for data, representation, and safety—not quotas—as the foundation for a truly equitable corporate landscape.
Gay Business
The “Blip Theory” vs. Reality
In this week’s interview with Fortune, GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis downplayed the idea that corporations are retreating from LGBTQ+ inclusion, arguing that DEI efforts are being rebranded and “threaded through” business practices. This theory is confronted by the harsh reality that more vulnerable and affluent LGBTQ+ nonprofits face: in the U.S., sponsorships dropped, storefronts stayed muted, and nonprofit partnerships quietly vanished. Ellis’s optimism recalls HRC’s “blip” theory—charming but potentially justifying complacency. I agree with Phluid Project’s Rob Smith, who this week urged “grace” for brands navigating backlash and economic uncertainty. But a chill has undeniably set in, and betting on long-term benefits while ignoring the present disengagement risks repeating mistakes. We need to organize our economic power urgently.
The End of the Rainbow (Capitalism)
In a New York Times piece, former Out magazine editor Aaron Hicklin charts the rise and sharp retreat of “rainbow capitalism”—corporate America’s once-enthusiastic embrace of LGBTQ+ identity during Pride Month. I am unsure I understood his point, but reading the quote below, I was reminded that it is high time we start building and gathering economic power. Someone reminded me at lunch yesterday that the success of the Target boycott cannot be attributed to our community but to the NAACP.
With Mr. Trump back in office, the era of rainbow capitalism seems well and truly over. Corporations are, by their nature, opportunistic. They go where the money is.
The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Finance Forum Moves to Deutsche Bank
Initially slated for Mastercard’s NYC tech hub on October 9–10, the Global LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Finance Forum will now take place at Deutsche Bank in Columbus Circle. The forum is shaping up. Over two days, leaders from across finance, entrepreneurship, and policymaking will explore how to unlock capital for queer founders, launch new initiatives, and debate the future of LGBTIQ+ economic inclusion. From sessions on catalytic capital to an interview with Marty Chavez, we hope this is where the next chapter of inclusive finance begins. We are still looking for additional sponsors. More here.
Goats, Grit, and $150 Million: The Beekman 1802 Story
Oh, look, I found another uplifting story! When Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge lost their jobs during the 2008 recession, the gay couple turned to their upstate New York weekend farm—and 80 rescued goats—for a new start. A Google search for “what to make with goat milk” led to the launch of Beekman 1802, a goat milk skincare brand that now boasts over $150 million in sales. What began as a survival hustle—selling $80 of soap a day to cover the mortgage—grew through clever media use, cold calls to Fifth Avenue retailers, reality TV appearances (The Fabulous Beekman Boys, The Amazing Race), and a commitment to kindness as business strategy. Today, Beekman 1802 is a top brand on QVC and Ulta, and its founders continue to champion authenticity, innovation, and queer entrepreneurship.
Semi-cultural desk
JoJo Siwa’s Queer Chaos
I only know her name because I used to annoy my children by playing Boomerang when they misbehaved. JoJo Siwa, a former lesbian, has officially entered her fluid era—and some fans are not having it. The former glitter-drenched child star turned queer pop icon canceled her Pride performance at Chicago’s Back Lot Bash this week, allegedly due to “scheduling conflicts,” though the internet has other theories. After publicly dating women, Siwa recently soft-launched a romance with Celebrity Big Brother UK alum and extremely heterosexual man Chris Hughes. Siwa—now 22 and firmly identifying as queer—claimed she felt pressured into claiming the label lesbian back in 2021. By whom, I could not figure that out. 📸 Full tea via Out.
What to watch? Olympo
Netflix’s latest Spanish-language drama, Olympo, is setting social media ablaze—not for its storytelling. Set in a high-performance sports academy, the show delivers a parade of perfect bodies, steamy locker room hookups, and not-so-subtle critiques of doping culture, all wrapped in a thin plot. Critics have panned the series for being more spectacle than substance, but viewers can’t look away—especially from Roque, the openly gay rugby star whose sex scenes with closeted teammates have earned the show a cult queer following. If Elite and Pornhub had a child with Olympic aspirations, Olympo would be it.
Coming And Going
Austin Wolf Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation Case
Once one of the gay porn industry’s most visible stars, Austin Wolf (legal name Justin Heath Smith) has pleaded guilty to federal charges of enticing a 15-year-old for sex. The bombshell plea came nearly a year after his 2024 arrest, and it carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Court documents allege Wolf used encrypted apps like Telegram to exchange CSAM, with authorities seizing over two dozen devices from his home. Read the full report at The Advocate
The Complicated Legacy of Eric Bauman
Eric Bauman, the first openly gay and Jewish chair of the California Democratic Party, has died at 66. A Bronx-born political operative with a Bronx-style bluntness, Bauman was once hailed as the “Godfather” of California Democratic politics. Over nearly two decades, he turned the LA County Democratic Party into a powerhouse, spearheaded historic electoral wins, and pushed progressive causes, especially during the AIDS crisis. But Bauman's career ended in disgrace in 2018 after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, including unwanted touching, harassment, and sexual assault involving staff and party members. The fallout was swift: Bauman resigned, the party paid over $1 million in settlements, and he vanished from public view, only re-emerging recently via a low-profile radio show. His death on June 16 at UCLA West Valley Medical Center, after a long illness, comes as California Democrats continue reckoning with issues of accountability and transparency. 📎 More from the L.A. Times
Upper West Side Local Races
It happens to be my neighborhood. Openly gay State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal surged ahead in the Democratic primary for Manhattan Borough President with 48.9% of the vote. Edafe Okporo, a Black gay refugee and activist, made a strong showing in the District 7 City Council race with 25.1%. Though Okporo fell short, his candidacy marked a historic moment for LGBTQ+ refugees in U.S. politics, and both results underscore the growing visibility of queer leadership in New York City (see his message to voters here). Also, if you have an hour or so free today, please read M. Gessen's reaction to Mamdani’s victory and explain it to me.
The Gay Agenda
Today – 10 Years of Marriage Equality
Join Lambda Legal for a virtual panel at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT today marking the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges. Legal experts and former clients will reflect on the ruling’s impact and discuss how to safeguard marriage equality today. RSVP here.
Friday: A Corner of Pride for David Mixner
On Friday, June 27, we will honor legendary LGBTQ+ activist David Mixner by co-naming “Mixner’s Corner” at West 47th Street and Eighth Avenue, where he used to live. The noon ceremony will kick off Pride weekend with a tribute to a man whose courage helped change the course of history.
Sunday: see you at the NYC Pride March
I look forward to marching in Pride with the twins and Lambda Legal this Sunday.
Well, that’s it for this week. Thank you for reading. As the twins wrap up their school year, I am trying to shift into summer mode: less action, fewer lunches, and more introspection. Queer liberation was always going to be a painful process. There is rarely anything nice in life that does not come with pain. Because it’s a marathon, it’s essential to take the time to recharge our batteries in the current context.