Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: la résistance in Turkey, Hungary, the US, Russian and Chinese crackdown on queer content, SCOTUS and Alito destructive messaging, the Andrew Sullivan lure, Elio’s post mortem & much more
It was an emotional week. While our opponents doubled down on pettiness and backlash, the global LGBTQ+ community responded with strength, resilience, and joy. From the defiant parades in Istanbul and Budapest to the sun-soaked streets of San Francisco, Pride reminded us that visibility is power. Amid the deepening leadership vacuum and fragmentation in the U.S., Pride offered a brief reprieve, though not without moments of provocation, such as Andrew Sullivan’s inflammatory NYT op-ed. Still, this week's message was unmistakable: we are United, Fearless, and Unstoppable (which happened to be the Lambda tag line on our T-shirts)
This week: la résistance in Turkey, Hungary, and the US, Russian and Chinese crackdown on queer content, SCOTUS and Alito's destructive messaging, the Andrew Sullivan lure, Elio’s postmortem, and much more….
Global News
India: Trans Women Are Women
In a landmark ruling, the Andhra Pradesh High Court declared that transgender women in India must be legally recognized as women, regardless of their reproductive capacity. The decision ensures that trans women are entitled to the same protections under Section 498A of the penal code, which addresses domestic cruelty and dowry harassment. Activists nationwide celebrate this Pride Month milestone as a powerful affirmation of dignity, identity, and constitutional equality. One advocate said, “This verdict is a beacon of hope for a more equitable future.” See in the Washington Blade.
Hungary: Orban 0 – LGBTQ+ 1
In an ironic twist of authoritarian overreach, Viktor Orbán’s attempt to suppress Budapest Pride has backfired spectacularly, transforming a banned parade into the largest anti-government protest in recent Hungarian history. Over 100,000 demonstrators—many first-time Pride participants—flooded the streets, not only waving rainbow flags but symbolically dismantling the illusion of Orbán’s invincibility. Reuters suggested the event morphed into a mass rejection of Orbán’s rule, despite facial recognition surveillance, fines, and far-right intimidation. The mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, mockingly declared from the stage, “We look like we're peacefully and freely performing a big, fat show to a puffed-up and hateful power.” The Guardian wrote, “Orbán has become the king of European Pride. No one before him has mobilized so many people against themselves in one day.” His party’s crusade to conflate LGBTQ+ visibility with child endangerment backfired, and polls show Orbán trailing opposition leader Péter Magyar by 15 points.
Turkey: Mass Arrests Around Pride Attempt
In a stark escalation of Turkey’s ongoing repression of LGBTQ+ rights, at least 50 people—including activists, lawyers, and journalists—were violently detained in Istanbul during the 23rd Istanbul Pride March. Arrests extended beyond the march, with undercover officers targeting individuals in distant neighborhoods who were suspected of participating. Reports confirm detainees spent the night in custody, with some now facing travel bans and three awaiting potential transfer to jail. This marks a grim intensification of Turkey’s decade-long ban on Pride events. Read more in DW.
Russia: “Extremism” Label Takes A Toll
According to a chilling new report by Human Rights Watch (June 30), Russian courts have issued over 100 convictions—some criminal, many administrative—for the mere display of LGBTQ+ symbols or alleged involvement in the so-called “International LGBT Movement,” now officially branded as “extremist” by the Russian Supreme Court. One man was sentenced to compulsory labor for using a rainbow emoji, while three publishing staff face up to 12 years in prison for distributing LGBTQ+-themed fiction. HRW reports that dozens of LGBT support spaces have shuttered, thousands have sought asylum, and even frog-shaped rainbow earrings were grounds for arrest. As Hugh Williamson of HRW warns:
Russian authorities weaponize and misuse the justice system as a tool in their draconian crusade to enforce ‘traditional values.’
Spain: Appoints LGBTQ+ Rights Envoy
Argentina, the US, and the UK once had similar ambassadors. Until recently, the French one, Jean-Marc Berthon, was the only one left. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the creation of a new Ambassador on a Special Mission for LGBTQ+ Rights. Unveiled alongside a joint declaration by 14 other countries condemning anti-LGBTQ+ violence and persecution (the U.S. was not part of it), the appointment signals Spain’s intention to play a leading role in defending queer rights worldwide fillign the vaccuum left by the U.S.. Read more.
China: Crackdown on Female Authors of Gay Erotic Fiction
In a chilling new wave of censorship, China has arrested at least 30 young female writers since February for publishing danmei—gay erotic fiction popular among women—on Taiwan-hosted platform Haitang Literature City. The crackdown targets authors under the country’s vague pornography laws, with some facing over a decade in prison for stories centered on male-male romance and power play. While heterosexual erotic content often escapes scrutiny, danmei's subversive gender politics and its appeal to women rejecting traditional norms have made it a prime target. Online solidarity swelled before posts were swiftly censored, leaving many writers silenced, afraid, and facing harsh legal and social repercussions for their art. Read more on the BBC.
Global LGBTQ+ Funding: $182M Pledged.
The Fund Our Futures campaign has secured $182 million in new pledges from 64 philanthropic organizations, governments, and individual donors (see the Press Release here). Launched by the Global Philanthropy Project, this is the first-ever global pledging campaign for LGBTI movements, smashing its original $100 million target. More here.
Outright Launches Global Pride Report
Outright International marked Pride season with the launch of “Show Up With No Shame”, a new report on the evolution of Pride around the globe. The 2024 edition tracks visibility events in at least 100 UN member states and highlights the rise of decentralized Pride, held outside capital cities in 65 countries.
US News
An Amazing Pride in New York
Spending Pride on the Lambda Legal float Sunday was a nice break after seven difficult months spent dealing with the regulatory and corporate retrenchment from the issues I work on. Alongside CEO Kevin Jennings, who told me “we have no choice, we must fight”, Board Member James Dale Jr., Congressman Mark Takano, and a proud crew of Lambda soldiers, I felt the full force of our shared history and purpose as we rolled through the heart of New York City. The crowd was alive with energy and gratitude. Along the route, I spotted icons like Sean Strub, Richard Socarides, Tim Warmath (serving 15,500 cups of water), David Hochberg, Hugh Ryan, Rob Smith, and many other changemakers who’ve shaped our movement over the decades. It wasn’t just a celebration; it was a powerful reminder that we stand on the shoulders of giants, and that our fight—and joy—continue.
SCOTUS “Don’t Say Gay” Decision
The Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor (read more on CBSNews) may seem limited—granting religious parents the right to opt their children out of LGBTQ+-inclusive storytime—but its impact will be far-reaching. I have little patience for gay people who think we should stay out of schools (see my 2022 piece on “The strange phenomenon of gay men supporting Florida’s 'Parental Rights in Education bill”). While the curriculum itself remains intact, the ruling shifts the burden onto educators, discouraging them from including LGBTQ+ content for fear of backlash or administrative complexity. In practice, it legitimizes selective exposure to diversity and emboldens broader efforts to erase queer representation in classrooms under the guise of religious liberty. The most significant harm will fall on LGBTQ+ students and children from queer families, who may now see their lives treated as optional—something others can choose not to acknowledge. Of course, not everybody sees it this way, as illustrated by this SCOTUSblog piece, which claims:
In a pluralistic democracy, protecting diversity means more than celebrating many voices – leaving room for meaningful dissent.
Alito’s Pensée: Queer Joy Is the Threat
In his majority opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor, Justice Samuel Alito didn’t just side with anti-LGBTQ+ parents—he ridiculed queer existence itself. As The Nation dissects in a blistering analysis, Alito used scare quotes around LGBTQ+, fixated on pronouns, and presented children’s books like Uncle Bobby’s Wedding as subversive for depicting gay marriage as joyful. His language reads less like constitutional reasoning and more like a culture war polemic—revealing the depth of his hostility, not just toward legal equality, but toward the normalization of queer lives. Read the article.
But other Americans wish to present a different moral message to their children. And their ability to present that message is undermined when the exact opposite message is positively reinforced in the public school classroom at a very young age.
Renaming the USNS Harvey Milk
The U.S. Navy’s decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson in the middle of Pride is petty and insulting (see on NPR): I hope someone is taking notes. Replacing Milk’s name effectively undermines the visibility of LGBTQ+ service members and the historic progress his recognition symbolized.
Andrew Sullivan Was Never A Nice Person
The most unsettling part of Andrew Sullivan’s essay, “Gay People Won. So Why Does It Feel as if We’re Losing?”, wasn’t his usual claim that trans rights have gone “too far” or the idea that we won, although 66 countries still criminalize homosexuality and hold less than 1% of Board seats in Corporate America—it was how many of my friends praised it as brave, overdue, or intellectually refreshing. In doing so, they echoed a dangerous, familiar refrain: that affirming trans identities—especially among youth—is the reason why we are on our back heel. There are a few things that ring true in the piece. Of course, like every movement, our movement has its fair share of “crazies.” Still, if Sullivan weren’t so egotistical and desperate to appeal to the “normal gays”, he would understand that his article isn’t helping. Becoming more “palatable” or denying the trans experience won’t be enough to save us from being the scapegoats of the new “world order”. We need leadership, a project that brings cohesion and some sovereignty.
Personal View: It Will Probably Get Worse In The U.S.
With Trump leaning hard on Jerome Powell for ultra-low interest rates and the economy showing signs of distress, I fear we are only going to see an intensification of the anti-trans agenda. When the numbers don’t add up, scapegoating becomes a political strategy—and trans people are once again the easiest target. As Trump pushes to name a “shadow” Fed chair and shift blame for economic decline, expect renewed attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, especially trans communities, as a way to distract and divide. The challenge for our community is to prevent a breakdown in cohesion.
Queering The Boardroom
July 9: LGBTQ+ Board Talent Gets Board-Ready
In private, I like to say that posturing and intentionality are key ingredients in one’s board search. Next week, on July 9 at 3 PM EDT, the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors hosts "Ace Your Board Materials," a live webinar with board readiness expert Debra Wheatman. This session is tailored for LGBTQ+ professionals looking to strengthen their board bios, elevate their executive presence, and frame their experience with clarity and strategy. Register here.
Welcome And Farewells
This month’s boardroom and executive moves include Robert Lee Hanson, who was appointed to Dr. Martens's board. Mario Marte now chairs the board at Gozney, while James Hilt becomes CEO of Asset Marketing Services at A-Mark Precious Metals. Meanwhile, Paul J. Hastings takes the helm as chair of Specific Biologics. Departing are Darren Walker from the Ford Foundation, Ebs Burnough from Hudson Pacific Properties, and Daniel N. Swisher Jr. from Cerus Corporation.
Why We Need Women’s Allyship In the Boardroom
This article, published recently in Research in International Business and Finance, investigates how board gender diversity and CEO power impact the adoption of LGBTQ-supportive workplace policies. The study finds that a "critical mass" of three or more female directors significantly increases a company’s likelihood to implement LGBTQ-friendly policies, supporting the idea that token representation is insufficient. On the other hand, powerful CEOs tend to hinder such inclusive efforts, with the research highlighting a particularly negative impact from "informal" CEO power (influence beyond formal authority). Female board representation can mitigate this adverse effect, suggesting that inclusive governance can counteract executive-level resistance. The study draws on a sample of 4,879 firm-year observations and emphasizes that corporate support for LGBTQ+ employees is not merely cultural—it’s structural, dependent on who’s in the boardroom and how power is balanced.
The Gay Business
Nairobi’s LGBTQ+ Rights Become Economic Strategy
Published on June 22, in the Review of International Political Economy, Olimpia Burchiellaro’s article explores how Nairobi is being framed as a “queer frontier” for global capital, where LGBTQ+ inclusion is marketed as a tool for economic growth. The piece argues that corporations and international actors increasingly leverage queer rights as “speculative assets”—an approach that, she claims, risks commodifying queerness while reinforcing extractive economic logics. Quoting yours truly and Open for Business’s approach, the article highlights the promises and perils of this market-driven advocacy, showing how Kenyan activists strategically broker these narratives amid complex local realities.
Rather than reading corporate investments in LGBTQ+ rights as tools for emancipation/decolonisation, I suggest we see these as sites of contestation, revealing the uneven, negotiated, and ambivalent character of their governmental effects in practice.
Rich Ditizio On The Corporate Retrenchment
Three decades after losing his brother to AIDS, Richard Ditizio, CEO of the Milken Institute, reflects this week on how far LGBTQ+ rights have come—and how rapidly they are now being eroded. From the landmark Obergefell ruling to corporate Pride floats, progress once felt inevitable. But today, amid rising political hostility, companies are withdrawing support out of fear, ignoring both the $1.4 trillion LGBTQ consumer market and the expectations of younger, values-driven generations. Ditizio argues that this retreat empowers hate and threatens broader civil rights. See in U.S. News & World Report.
Elio And Disney’s Corporate Closet
Pixar’s Elio—which opened last month to the studio’s lowest box office debut in years—was once poised to spotlight a quietly queer protagonist. But after poor test screenings and internal leadership changes, the character’s more flamboyant traits and queer-coded moments were quietly stripped. Insiders say original director Adrian Molina, who is openly gay, envisioned Elio as imaginative, fashion-loving, and possibly exploring a same-sex crush. After his departure and America Ferrera's replacement (who cited the loss of Latinx leadership), Disney executives retooled the character into something more “market-friendly.” Critics argue the move reflects a broader corporate trend: publicly celebrating Pride while minimizing LGBTQ+ storytelling in flagship content. See here.
Who’s Promoting the UN LGBTQ+ Corporate Standards Now?
In an essay for IHRB, Salil Tripathi revisits the UN Standards of Conduct for Business on LGBTI Rights - a powerful 2017 initiative now quietly gathering dust in the Human Rights Framework. Launched in 2017 with early champions like Microsoft and Godrej, the Standards were meant to be more than symbolic: they were to serve as a North Star for businesses navigating inclusion, dignity, and human rights. Yet as companies retreat in the face of political pressure, Tripathi subtly asks Geneva: “Where are the Standards now? “. Check out the discussion on LinkedIn.
The semi-cultural desk
A Cool Video To Start With
My friend Serge sent me this video!
Straight Pride Drama
In what may go down as the saddest attempt to upstage Pride Month, Idaho’s “Hetero Awesome Fest” attracted dozens (not hundreds) of attendees to a downtown Boise park to celebrate “traditional family values”—or at least try. Hosted by conspiracy-tinged bar owner Mark Fitzpatrick, the event promised “guts” over “woke,” but it was punk-folk musician Daniel Hamrick who delivered the only real headline: crashing the stage with a moving protest ballad about a trans boy, while wearing a “Keep Canyon County Queer” shirt and rainbow-patched jacket. The livestream was promptly cut, Fitzpatrick yanked the mic, and a minor scuffle ensued—but not before Hamrick earned viral status on TikTok. See the drama below.
What NOT To Watch? I Don’t Understand You
“I Don’t Understand You” might be one of the worst films I’ve seen. To make matters worse, my ex, Jon H., DM’d me on Instagram, pointing to a bloated still of Andrew Rannells and asking, “This is you on the left?”. I gained 10 pounds last year, but I had good reasons. The film itself was a mess: strangely paced, pointlessly scenic (did they want an excuse for an Italian vacation?). Now, the cool part is that Amanda Knox is listed as a consultant. Listen to NPR's Ari Shapiro speak to the movie's stars, Andrew Rannells and Nick Kroll.
A Log Cabin Republican Extravaganza at the Trump Tower
While the rest of us were making protest signs, the Log Cabin Republicans were toasting themselves at Trump Tower in New York last week. The event, held inside the very monument to the man actively undermining LGBTQ+ rights, was reportedly a full-on catered affair, with the revenue going straight into his empire’s pockets. The “after-party” crowd showed up at Manhattan’s Townhouse bar, and guests were overheard chatting up their evening at the tower. See this Instagram video.
LGBTQ+ Parenting And The Lesbian Underground
This NY Times article is a powerful reminder of how life gets affected when anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments triumph. In 1975, Georgette DuBois, a young lesbian mother facing inevitable defeat in a biased custody system, took her daughter Kara from her estranged husband and disappeared into the underground network of lesbian mothers. What Georgette saw as a rescue, Kara experienced as a kidnapping—a rupture that haunted them both for decades. Raised in secrecy among feminist collectives, Kara lived under assumed names and internalized a fear of exposure that outlasted the political fight. As the two revisit their shared past, their conversations reveal how love, survival, and identity were knotted together in the shadow of state hostility.
What to watch? Prince Faggot
Jordan Tannahill’s Prince Faggot, now at Playwrights Horizons, is a gleeful, messy provocation that dares to queer the British monarchy by imagining a future king who’s not just soft-featured and well-dressed, but defiantly, unapologetically gay. Inspired by a viral 2017 photo of a young Prince George lovingly eyeing a helicopter, the play uses that image as a queer Rorschach test: what if the institutions we were taught to admire were made in our image?
Opportunity
Marianne Initiative Opens Applications for 2026 Cohort
Applications are now open for the 5th edition of the Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders, a prestigious French government program offering four months of support, training, and international networking near Paris. Open to non-French defenders of all human rights causes, the 2026 cohort (February–June) will give special consideration to activists working on abolishing the death penalty, just ahead of France hosting the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty. Fellows receive housing, a monthly stipend, and access to a powerful professional network. Apply here.
Coming And Going
Farewell to Ted Osius
After leading the US-ASEAN Business Council with distinction, my friend and former U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius is passing the torch to Ambassador Brian McFeeters and heading to Vietnam with his family. Osius will continue serving as Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director from Ho Chi Minh City. A trailblazing diplomat and LGBTQ+ advocate, Osius remains vital in Southeast Asia’s economic diplomacy. See you in HCMC, Ted!
Sentence of the week
Sarah McBride was quoted as describing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as:
Trickle down cruelty, a golden shower of benefit cuts.
Well, that’s it for this week. I am off to a leisurely summer lunch with my friend Richard. My sons reluctantly headed to summer school today, and I plan to do the same - fewer meetings and more reviewing the lessons from the past few months. I also purchased Barry Diller’s book, which I’ll start today. I’ll leave you with this powerful quote: “Equality is a fine aspiration. It’s simply not enough.” (Urvashi Vaid, 2014), which is an excellent response to Sullivan’s piece.