Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: a Dutch electoral shock, Thailand’s leap for love, IWEI2023, tinted moisturizer-gate, the crucifixion of Santos, Grindr tapped by JPM, FCA consultation, Francois-Marie Banier, IDAHOBIT2024
Welcome to the 146th issue of my equality news digest. I share important news, updates, and commentary about the LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection of business with a touch of signature sarcasm and a side of reality check. Let's start, shall we?
This week: a Dutch electoral shock, Thailand’s leap for love, IWEI2023, tinted moisturizer-gate, the crucifixion of Santos, Grindr tapped by JPM, FCA consultation, Francois-Marie Banier, IDAHOBIT2024, and much more…
Global News
Netherlands: More Gloom than Bloom
The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) won the general election on an anti-immigrant platform. While they champion gay rights (as a not-so-subtle nudge against Islam, really), their manifesto is anti-trans, calling out against "gender insanity" and “diversity posturing.” Reminds you of someone? Some interpreted it as writing on the wall for the US elections, maybe because Geert Wilders and Donald Trump have the same haircut. Read more here.
Thailand's Leap for Love
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said last Tuesday that his cabinet approved a draft law on marriage equality and that it would be brought to parliament during a session starting in December. Is APCOM’s Midnight already taken? Cue the wedding bells 🏳️🌈💍
India: LGBTQ+ Community Pride Marches
Thousands participated in Pride events in Dehli (see here) and Bangalore this weekend. Even Modi said he was proud in Bangalore… oh, my bad, completely different reasons. This comes after news that the Indian Supreme Court might give petitions against the Supreme Court verdict on marriage equality another look 🇮🇳👀(see here). Please don’t get your hopes up; it won’t lead to much.
India: IWEI 2023 - A Beacon of Inclusion
I gave the keynote with my colleague Prof. Lee Badgett at the 4th India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) Awards Friday in Bangalore. The event celebrated companies on a journey towards greater inclusion. I met trailblazers like Prachi Rastogi (IBM), Yerram Raju Behara (Novartis), Bharat Patel (NASDAQ), and so many others leading the charge in the corporate world.
US News
Florida: because there's always room for more censorship
The Sunshine State is at it again, with a bill seeking to expand the infamous 'Don't Say Gay' law to include government workplaces and nonprofits. One does not change a winning horse (si, si, it’s a French proverb; my family owned Hyeres III). As usual, the bill is both vague and impossible to implement. See here. This is not heading in the right direction for America, but there is a silver lining, as I was reminded by reading this hilarious quote in le Mage du Kremlin yesterday:
The advantage of civil war over others is that you can go home to eat and sleep.
The Murfreesboro Mess
All you need to know is that it’s not as bad as the left would have you believe but not as benign as the right tells you. In Tennessee, the city council of Murfreesboro gets a gold star for sneakiness, covertly banning LGBTQ+ books under the guise of an ordinance against "indecent exposure" and "lewd behavior." Fortunately, the ACLU of Tennessee swooped in, challenging the ordinance and getting homosexuality removed from the list of public indecencies. I googled the place, of course. First, it sounds like Smurfreeboro. Second, I didn’t see anything about Footloose but read news about “food desert,” “stabbing,” and watched this fantastic video. I'm not sure homosexual books are what should keep Murfressborans at night. Read more
Is there more to the Santos Saga?
Some wondered if Congressman George Santos is not being expeditiously expelled because his GOP colleagues never liked … an effeminate man among them. Amid a slim House majority, his colleagues’ bid to dismiss him is a daring strategy. With his New York seat now leaning Democrat, this move signals a significant shift, prioritizing integrity over precarious political margins. Does that sound like Trump's GOP? Santos is facing a 23-count charge from the DoJ. Don’t fret anyway: deception and downfall are a sure pathway to fame and riches in America. Ask Ana Delvey or the Fyre Festival guy. Santos' brazen attitude towards his expected expulsion, labeling it a ‘badge of honor,’ only adds to the drama of this political saga.
Queering the Boardroom
Notable LGBTQ+ movements
Beth Brooke left the Beta Bionics Board, where she has served since December 2020. Jan Siegmund, who had served as Chief Financial Officer of Cognizant since September 2020, transitioned to being an advisor.
India: NASDAQ Disclosures and Global Ripple Effects
LGBTQ+ diversity at the top of business is not yet a topic in India, where I just spent ten days. It remains focused on improving gender representation. Between 2013 and 2022, the NIFTY 500 gender representation passed from 6% to 18%. However, the recent decision by NASDAQ to require disclosures on Board diversity, including LGBTQ+ Board Diversity, might have ripple effects on India very soon. There are 12 Indian companies listed on NASDAQ, including Wipro and Infosys; they must justify the lack of LGBTQ+ diversity on their Board. For example, see Yatra’s Board Diversity Matrix here.
UK: FCA's Diversity Rulebook: More than Just a Numbers Game
Who says finance is all spreadsheets and suits? The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is rewriting the diversity script. Their latest paper, CP23/20, is more than just another document to file away. It's a wake-up call that diversity isn’t just about filling seats with different faces. It's about bringing in minds that think differently. LGBTQ+ leaders take note: this is our cue to innovate, not just integrate. See the consultation paper here.
The Gay Business
Qatar Airway: tinted moisturizer-gate
Gilbert Ignatius, a former flight attendant, faced the absurd accusation of being a sex worker by Qatari police, all for the crime of wearing tinted moisturizer. The airline's response? A quick deportation. Read more. You can still fly Qatar Airways, provided you take this critical step.
The Grindr Refinance Scene: JPMorgan goes for the win
Grindr's recent refinancing buzz is about more than just the dollars and deals. It's a who's who of banking giants. JPMorgan and BofA are grabbing the queer crown for the most prominent gay bank. Can you spot the missing G in the Grindr deal? This is a subtle yet significant observation for those queering the corporate corridors.
From the Semi-cultural Desk
Four Died Trying on Apple TV
Not Netflix's latest release, but Mark Gorton's documentary series about JFK's assassination and other key murders of the '60s is now streaming on Apple TV. It's an eye-opener.
The Gay who got $1 billion in gifts
Netflix's The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend tells the story of the scandal surrounding the L'Oréal fortune and features the infamous gay photographer Francois-Marie Banier. Banier, a close friend and central figure in the Bettencourt scandal, was convicted of extracting $1 billion from the wealthy heiress. It’s infuriating because the richer my friends are, the less likely they are to pay for lunch.
Cricket Council's Controversial Call
The International Cricket Council hits a sour note with trans women players this week 🏏🏳️⚧️. If it’s any consolation, it is the most boring game.
This means any male to female participants who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women’s game regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.
Crew's Quarters Boarding House in Provincetown
Ptown is always a good idea. Crew’s Quarter is a veritable time capsule to the heyday of gay Provincetown. Tucked at the intersection of Commercial and Carver Street, the décor screams vintage chic, and the lobby feels like a scene from a classic gay novel - complete with club chairs and a communal bar. All of it under the watchful eye of my friend Stuart Jackson, former DEI Ralph Lauren exec; it’s less of a boarding house and more of an experience in living history - but, you know, with better Wi-Fi. Dive in right here.
Unpacking the gender puzzle
Nathan Schneider's latest think-piece, The trouble with ‘gender ideology’ | America Magazine, tiptoes through a minefield. His exploration of 'gender ideology' in the Catholic context is as enlightening as provocative. For those daring enough to challenge their perceptions.
… the God of love wants us to love even when the waves of change are choppy. That means granting people the basic dignity of treating them how they wish to be treated, of calling them what they ask to be called. When you accompany people like that, the battle lines of the culture wars start falling apart.
Stéphane Bern: better dead than gay
You have no idea who he is, but he is an integral part of the French audiovisual landscape. I was struck that Bern remembering on "Quelle époque!" that his mom preferred him "dead over gay" went viral this week. Straight people always seem to discover what happened to us: “oh, really we did that?”
Coming and Going
Brian Ellner Joins One Strategy Group
Brian Ellner is joining One Strategy Group as President. He promises an inclusive, creative, and empowering culture. Read more
Honoring Amber Hollibaugh: A Radical Voice for Sexual Liberation
We bid farewell to Amber Hollibaugh, a fierce advocate who passed on. October 20. Hollibaugh, renowned for her candidness and unapologetic identity – a “lesbian sex radical Marxist ex-hooker incest survivor rural Gypsy working-class poor white trash high femme dyke” – leaves behind a legacy of challenging norms and breaking silences around sex. Her journey, from civil rights activism to pioneering the Lesbian and Gay History Project, was driven by a profound understanding of sexual desire's role in human liberation. Read more in The Nation.
Victor Madrigal-Borloz Turns Another Fabulous Year!
Hold your tiaras! Victor Madrigal-Borloz might be the retired czar of LGBTQ+ rights, but he remains part of the family not unlike Harry and Megan. Known for his regal reign over all things gay, Victor adds another candle to his cake of triumphs today. As the kind king of the gays and the sultan of social justice, Victor, not only ages like fine Costa Rican wine but glitters through his impactful incredible journey so far! Bon anniversaire.
The Gay Agenda
December 1: World AIDS Day
Inspired by the relentless advocacy of those we lost and those who survived, let's challenge stigma and ignite change. Wear your red ribbon as a pledge for action and compassion. We're not just remembering; we're recommitting to end AIDS.
December 4: OutSummit 2023
Interested attendees can join virtually or in person for a limited number. To register for the virtual event, click here. If you'd like to attend in person in Washington, D.C., RSVP by COB Today using this link.
December 4: the Stonewall Inn Brick Awards Gala
The Stonewall Inn will host its gala on December 4th hosted by Peppermint. Dominique Jackson, the 2023 Icon Award honoree, will be recognized for her impactful work. The gala featured performances and presentations by Nico Tortorella, Murray Hill, and Yuhua Hamasaki.
Two more things
Take the survey and think about IDAHOBIT 2024 theme
I got such tasty feedback on my newsletter - my favorite being “frequently, you irritate me” - that I want more. Take the survey here. Also, please email me your thoughts on a potential IDAHOBIT2024 theme that would resonate with the current state of the world and that raises us to the narrative level, for example, "building bridges above hatred."
Giving Tuesday(ish): make an Impact with Outright International
Join the movement! As a longtime Board member of OutRight International, I've seen how every dollar can uplift #LGBTQ+ lives worldwide. I am a day late for #GivingTuesday, but your support can spark real change. Donate here: Support OutRight.
I am back from India for a week in NYC and love being with my boys, who danced in a conga line because it was snowing yesterday. I am in a horrible bind because the Christmas decorations are stored in Connecticut, which felt like a good idea in March last year and a terrible one now. To end this week on a loving note, here is Ram of Pride Circle at the Bangalore Pride this weekend.