Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
This week: the African movement, persecution in Russia, all eyes on India, the relentless US culture war, Title IX for dummies, an ex-ex-gay, musketeer/pirate shirts, the AMA President & more..
This week: the African movement, persecution in Russia, all eyes on India, the relentless US culture war, Title IX for dummies, an ex-ex-gay, musketeer/pirate shirts, the AMA President & more…
Global News
Uganda: an aberration or a trend in Africa?
The Washington Post does not see the Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill as an aberration but as part of a trend on the continent. It is a possibility. This 2019 paper suggests the correlation between progress in education and liberal attitudes toward homosexuality has been overplayed. In short: social change does not just happen over time naturally, as some would like to believe. Combining money, organizing, and campaigning is the recipe for social change. I spent the first seven years of my endless World Bank career touring the continent and believe we have underinvested in the courageous and promising LGBTQ+ movement there. In 2021, the US State Department increased its support to the Global Equality Fund, its most significant contributor by far, to $10 million annually ... That same year the Human Rights Campaign - whose global program is in limbo - had gross receipts of more than $40 million, $17 million of which went to salaries.
Russia: arrests under the anti-gay Propaganda law
The stuff of nightmares: an interracial Chinese/Georgian gay couple with a youtube channel and Tiktok account about gay life in Russia was arrested. The police had started looking for them in March KGB-style, visiting pharmacies across the city with a picture of Gogishvili, a pharmacist. They apparently caught the couple, arrested them, sentenced them, and Xu will be deported back to China, according to Out Magazine. Putin is escalating his antics as the war continues to go badly, and gay people will indeed bear the brunt of it.
“It became a living hell because the impossible happened”
India: all eyes on the Supreme Court
I arrived in bustling and vibrant Mumbai to present at the Godrej Leadership Forum (see my presentation here), attend a dinner on “inclusive India” co-hosted with Jon Tilli, Krishna Omkar, and Radhika Piramal Friday, and join Pride Circle’s Trans Inclusion Summit Saturday. Two hours after I landed, I was with Gay Bombay icon and friend Parmesh Shahani visiting the gorgeous Dior Exhibition. Next Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear the final arguments on same-sex marriage. This article claims only 44% of the country approves of the idea (the data is a bit shaky: India is a large and diverse country). Same-sex marriage, not unlike coffee or myself, is an acquired taste, and I am not optimistic about a good decision this time.
France: another Minister comes out
I will have lived to see this. After the Minister of Labor came out, possibly to distract us from the retirement reform, another Macron minister, a woman this time, followed him. See here. I have always been wary of the French elite tiptoeing around their homosexuality: discretion is often code for shame, and « Tout le monde s’en fout » is an excuse only to join the cause when the hard work is done. Courage and pride have been in short supply in the highest spheres of business, politics, media, and sports and yet visibility always mattered. Ask Senegalese homosexuals if nobody cares. Maybe things are finally changing…
United States
The Culture War: DeSantis vs. Disney, the sequel
At the root of this convoluted fight is the decision by Florida that children should not be taught gay people exist in classrooms—an egregious violation of human rights. Think how absurd this is. How absurd politicians can be. Gay people exist. It is undeniable. This is all these Floridians speak about. I’d put my money on Disney, though. Unlike Chapek, Bob Iger has determination, advisors, and experience navigating complex political issues. DeSantis is an unprincipled bully who compensates for his lack of charm as a Presidential candidate by tapping into the culture war. Whatever the outcome of this dispute, Disney will be fine, while DeSantis appears anti-business while running for the highest office for the self-appointed party of big business. Disney ranks No. 5 on the Fortune ranking, and for the 19th consecutive is the top-ranked media and entertainment company.
The Culture War II: Mulvaney and the beer ad
Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney has faced a backlash over her Nike and Bud Light partnerships. Caitlyn Jenner and Martina Navratilova could not wait to join the chorus (I’d give you the etymology of the French expression “mouche du coche” but I am running out of space). Mulvaney was gracious in her response. The “controversy” started with a posting on Instagram of the Bud Light cans featuring an image of her face to mark the first anniversary of her transition. For the brands, there is no surprise. Nothing is left to chance. You can be sure the positioning was calculated by marketing and communications teams: their consumers overwhelmingly support the brand’s voices about social issues. Read more here.
The Culture War III: Judge Blocks FDA approval of abortion pill
LGBTQ+ rights are inextricably linked to women’s rights, although they have strangely more support than abortion rights in America. So there are good reasons to worry when Trump-appointed judges overrule a Food and Drug Administration’s decision that took place decades ago. The National Center for Lesbian Rights was quick to condemn the ruling. David Mixner reminded us yesterday why Republicans’ intrusion in our private lives would be comic if it weren’t a question of their and our survival now.
The Culture War IV: Title IX, DOE, sports, and the general public
The New York Times has you covered if, like me, you are confused as to why the new DOE Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is criticized by US LGBTQ+ activists. They are taking issue with this exception: “recogniz[ing] that in some instances, particularly in competitive high school and college athletic environments, some schools may adopt policies that limit transgender students’ participation.”What is certain is that public opinion is not on our side here, and our messaging is hard to grasp for the neophyte.
Is “Diversity fatigue trending
The question of whether the George Floyd momentum was sustainable over the years might be getting an answer, as many DEI professionals I met over the past few weeks mentioned “diversity fatigue” in companies. Even the World Economic Forum had an article on combating it this week. The reality is that commitments to diversity work have ebbed and flowed over the two decades I have been living here, usually in connection with social upheaval, which has become increasingly frequent. It’s a sad thing to write, but this is also why I am not too concerned about companies’ commitment fading anytime soon.
Queering the Boardroom
Esther Aguilera leaves the Latinos Corporate Directors Association
Our inspiration for the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors has been the LCDA. Ozzie Gromada Meza, their Vice President, Member, and Talent Services now acting Executive Director (see article in Al Dia), is on our Advisory Board (which is 50% Latino). Many of our members are also members of the LCDA. The organization was created in 2013. Esther has been at the helm since 2016. Read her parting words.
April 17th: NASDAQ/Equilar Board Leadership Forum
Next Monday, NASDAQ and Equilar are jointly hosting the Board Leadership Forum 2023. The second session, “Board Composition and Diversity: Shaping Your Board of the Future,” will discuss board assessment, succession planning, and best practices for maintaining a robust and diverse board leadership. Please let it be known: we have binders and binders of talented LGBTQ+ board-ready professionals, as Mitt Romney would say.
The semi-cultural desk
Watch Maestro in Blue on Netflix
By now, you must be done with Fleichman Is In Trouble, and it is time to anesthetize yourself with something new. A good friend recommended Maestro in Blue on Netflix. The series, which features a gay love story, has had tremendous success in Greece this fall and now globally through Netflix.
GLAAD Media Awards, Jennifer Coolidge, and a fashion review
Jennifer Coolidge got a social impact award at the Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards with the charming quote below - that’s cool. Last year, after paying $1,5K to attend the NY gala, I was threatened with deportation - no, no, I am serious - for commenting afterward on Cynthia Nixon’s mustard yellow leather pantsuit, asking if she had just gone off a fishing boat. To show I learned my lesson, I will share my gratitude that someone finally decided to opt out of her “Victorian satin shirts with tie neck and volume sleeves”-look because this substack could not take it anymore. I believe that once you reach a certain threshold, you can stop shopping from the international male catalog. Although the timing might be wrong with the new Three Mousquetaires movie being a huge success in Europe (see the trailer below):
Here I am again surrounded by gays. Wow, it’s the story of my life.
Aging, living in the Past, and the TikTok Dilemma
Talking about period pieces: I will turn 45 next week with little to show for it. I increasingly live in the past. I am not talking about 1978; I mean further than that. I dress like it’s the 1950s, I watch period dramas and read Les Pieds Nickelés, and the Comtesse de Segur. My sons force me to venture into the present by discussing Minecraft, but that’s about it. I lost access to my Twitter account and did not even notice it, so maybe I should check out TikTok regularly to remain relevant (albeit also to follow nostalgic accounts like Old Gays, a quad of TikTok stars bringing global visibility to gay senior citizens). If Congressmen are as effective with TikTok as with gun control, it won’t go anywhere soon. I am afraid TikTok is a mind trap, though, thus my first poll:
Jeffrey McCall: the ex-ex-gay of the Freedom March
Is it uncouth to ask Jeffrey McCall to reimburse me for my copy of "For Such a Time: From Transgender to a Son of God"? McCall is now back to being Scarlet. Last year he had already admitted to having restarted sleeping with men. The whole thing is just confusing.
Poisson d’ Avril pour George Santos
George Santos, addicted to being in the news cycle, tweeted this week that “Democrats are busy trying to ban toilet paper.” Even for Santos, it felt a bit bizarre. There is an explanation: he misconstrued an April’s fool day joke by a New York local official.
As a side note, on Apri Fool’s Day, I found myself explaining to Dwight McBride and the twins the French tradition of sticking a paper fish on people’s back on April 1st. A long-winded story behind it involves real fish and New Year’s Day celebrations. (on Wikipedia)
Florida State Rep quotes X-Men to justify anti-trans Positioning
I would blame the American education system, but Rep. Webster Barnaby - who made incendiary comments drawing a parallel between X-Men mutants and trans people - was raised in the UK. Still, Dennis Baxley, Joe Hardin, and now that guy, can’t Florida aim a little higher in their representation? As Logan Roy said before he abruptly crooked on Sunday:
“I love you but you are not… serious people”
PFLAG in the New Yorker
The New Yorker had a great piece on PFLAG’s 50-year history. A must-read when we have more ego and greed than inspiration in the movement.
“You don’t love him in spite of something,” she later declared on national television, her face free of shadow or blur. “You love him.”
The Gay Agenda
April 19th: at Housing Works’ Design On A Dime
Derek Blasberg is everything I am not, a writer, 40, slim, rich, adored by celebrity friends, and married. Yet, I will be there next Tuesday fighting jetlag in some corner of the room while he receives his Housing Works Groundbreaker award because I do not have a jealous bone. Join me at Design on A Dime. As Socrates used to say:
Envy is the ulcer of the soul.
April 20th: The Taiano and Houdart show
Lessons from gay men in their forties. I will say it like it is at RiseOUT in NYC with Joe Taiano: Stepping into your power. Anyway, it’s not now that I am 45 that I will start making friends. Please RSVP here to join us. I am bringing the twins as I could not find a babysitter and won’t have seen them for days.
April 21st: develop your board narrative/materials
The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors is hosting Tissa Richards on April 21st at noon EST for a session titled: "How to develop your board narrative/materials to increase success” Register here.
May 4-14: Justin Vivian Bond celebrates a jubilee
Tickets are now on sale for Bond’s diamond jubilee birthday celebration at Joe’s Pub!
July 24th: See you in Chicago for Lavender Law
I will attend The 2023 Lavender Law® Conference in late July in Chicago. Many trips to Chicago are in the cards for me, as the Association will also host a dinner there.
Coming and Going
After Mayor Pete, Dr. Jesse, a new gay CEO of AMA
At 44, Jesse Ehrenfeld will not only be among the prestigious American Medical Association (AMA)'s youngest presidents when he begins his one-year term on June 13; he is the first openly gay person to occupy the seat. An anesthesiologist Navy combat veteran, his appointment was newsworthy.
Honoring performer Heklina [1967-2023]
Heklina will be inducted into the LGBTQ Wall of Honor. It’s strange to see Drag people being vilified by fearmongers on the one hand and reading the Facebook eulogies for Stefan Grygelko on the other. Heklina touched the lives of many - I extracted this quote from a Facebook post which encapsulates what some drag performers are to our community; I wish you to be remembered that way:
The only thing that gives me any comfort is that Heklina lived a full life on her terms. She always did what she wanted and suffered no fools. She was a pillar of the community and changed an entire art form. A legend walked amongst us, and I was lucky enough to call her a friend. […] he was truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed.
As usual, thank you for reading my musings. I am jetlagged, so I take no responsibility for whatever I wrote this week - besides on the pirate/musketeer shirts - but please share it with your friends anyway.