Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
Braverman triggers the gays, Stefanos Kasselakis, a Lebanese delegation, Fl book bans, casual homophobia in Morocco & Algeria, “Bottoms,” Sondheim & Ralph Lauren townhouses, remembering Eric Scharf...
Welcome to the 136th issue of my equality news digest. I share important (and much less important) news, updates, and (snarky) commentary about the LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business.
This week: Braverman triggers the gays, Stefanos Kasselakis, a Lebanese delegation, Fl book bans, casual homophobia in Morocco & Algeria, “Bottoms,” Sondheim & Ralph Lauren townhouses, remembering Eric Scharf...
Global News
UK: Home Secretary dog-whistling comments on LGBTQ+ asylum in DC
Frankly, the headlines might have been more atrocious than the comment, but even Elton John had to react. During her American trip, Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the right-wing American Enterprise Institute that fearing anti-gay discrimination should not be enough to qualify for asylum. In 2022, there were 1,300 asylum applications based on sexual orientation, mainly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, or 1.5% of the total claims for that year. This is not a national emergency, unlike Harry's upcoming divorce or the NHS's collapse. Still, I interpreted her comments as a wake-up call for companies to invest much more into fostering social change in countries where societal attitudes lag instead of, let’s say,… OutDATED™ pinkwashing operations.
Malaysia: Prime Minister Anwar on LGBTQ+ acceptance
Malaysia just passed a law banning rainbow Swatches because, you know…evil watches. In an interview with Christiane Amanpour this week, Anwar said Malaysia would never recognize LGBTQ+ rights, but no harassment of the LGBTQ+ community in the country would be tolerated. First, you should never say never. Secondly, his comment feels OutLANDISH™, given that Anwar was condemned to nine years in jail in 2008 for trumped-up charges he sodomized a male aide.
Balkans: World Bank estimates self-inflicted economic wound
In 2014, Prof. Lee Badgett provided the first economy-wide estimate of the cost of homophobia published by the Bank with funding from a Nordic Trust Fund, looking at productivity loss, health costs, and premature mortality. Ten years later, the World Bank published two estimates of the 'Economic Cost of LGBTQ+ discrimination in the Labor Market in North Macedonia and Serbia' reports, still funded by a Trust Fund and Global Affairs Canada. The research estimates that the GDP of both countries would increase by 0.6 percent if inclusion in the labor market would improve.
Greece: a gay leader for Syriza
At 35 years old, Stefanos Kasselakis, an openly gay Greek-American with a background in finance and a prosperous shipping company, has surprisingly risen to a leadership position within Greece's primary opposition party, Syriza. All week, I felt like writing to him, “Let me be your Jackie O.” but I have too much self-respect.
Hungary: Elle trolls Viktor Orbán
Elle Hungary makes a statement on its September cover: take that Viktor.
Uganda: protest over EU funding to Uganda
Dozens of activists protested outside the European Union mission to the U.N. last week over its refusal to re-examine funding from the Ugandan government in light of the anti-homosexuality Act.
Lebanon: a civil society movement to support
This morning, I received a delegation of LGBTQ+ Lebanese organizations visiting the United States under the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (pictured here with some of my students) at Columbia University’s SIPA. We discussed anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, the political scapegoating of LGBTQ+ people, the private sector's role, and how to build intersectional movements.
US News
Florida: an explicit book ban on LGBTQ+ content
I spent my childhood hunting furiously for LGBTQ+ representation in literature (and the dictionary and the Catholic Catechism). I still remember stumbling at my grandparents on Les amitiés particulières, a 1967 book on an intimate relationship between two boys at a Roman Catholic boarding school. It was a bit of a lifeboat and made me feel less of an OutSIDER™ (ok, I will stop now even though I find myself hilarious), even if the end was tragic. I am sad to read about this regressive school district superintendent in Charlotte County who ordered librarians to remove all books with LGBTQ characters from school premises.
However, on a positive note, watch this ad by Equality Florida on school Boards.
US Census and LGBTQ+ socio-economic data
Some more good news. Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau asked the Biden administration to sign off on plans to test questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. This could be transformational in gaining an understanding of the socio-economic disparities of LGBTQ+ people.
“What is a woman”
I finally watched "What Is a Woman," the Daily Wire movie that garnered Elon Musk's endorsement, sparing you the need to do so. I must admit that I didn't approach it with an open mind but persevered through it. From the outset, statements like, "Give my boy a BB gun; that's all the emotional support he needs. My daughter, on the other hand," made me cringe. Honestly, it’s 1h30 of Matt Walsh being rude towards numerous individuals and growing increasingly aggressive. Jordan Peterson and Scott Newgent also came across as equally irate. With a staggering 40,000 reviews, its current 8.3 rating appears slightly manipulated.
A must-read: NYTimes column by Jeffifer Finney Boylan
Jeffifer Finney Boylan published a beautiful op-ed in the Times. Boylan, who famously said, "I've been maybe three or four different women at this point in my life,” calls for fostering “moral imagination” and empathy for trans people through visibility.
The Boardroom
Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi joins Acepodia’s Board
Ken Chan: LGBTQ+ absent from corporate boards
Read this piece by Ken Chan in The Conversation:
[…] it may soon be time for the European Commission to build on its LGBTQ+Equality Strategy 2020–2025 by mandating LGBTQI+ representation on boards.
LGBTQ+ representation on S&P500 Boards
Spencer Stuart reports that a fifth of S&P500 companies voluntarily disclose the sexual orientation and gender identity of their Directors. Within the companies that made that choice, meaning companies the most likely to have #LGBTQ+ Directors, only 4% of directors are LGBTQ+. It fits our assessment that overall LGBTQ+ Board representation in the grouping must hover below 1%, similar to the Association’s findings on Fortune 500. Now, because the stocks of 500 of the largest U.S. companies by market capitalization tend to be under greater scrutiny, we can imagine that representation is lower outside of that group and even lower in private Boards.
As Sen. Menendez exits (hopefully), an opportunity to hit reset
Menendez and Rep. Meeks have been presenting every year the "Improving Governance through Board Diversity Act" (a little ironic for Menendez to champion good governance but okay), which excludes LGBTQ+ people. Hopefully, the necessity to find a co-sponsor might be an incentive for Meeks to review the language to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ people. Send Meeks an email through his chief of staff at <Kayla.Williams@mail.house.gov>
What the other underrepresented groups are doing
Read about Black Women on Boards and the movie they developed, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. I guess the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors has to up its game…
The semi-cultural desk
Morocco: the King’s strange campaign against Macron
I won’t dwell on the bad blood between Morocco and France. Just know it’s terrible (Morocco has declined France's aid offer after the recent earthquake). The French media has accused the King of being influenced by the Moroccan “Raspoutine brothers” (les frères Azaitar)… and the Moroccan press accuses Macron of being a closet queen. In doubt, always call your enemy gay *eye roll*
Algeria: influencer suggests to exterminate the homosexuals
YouTuber Anes Tina released a video claiming that “homosexuality is a big problem in Algeria.” (I could cite a few more significant problems, such as denial of the right to assembly, clamp down on media freedom, and rampant corruption, but then I am not an influencer) and suggesting that “If it were up to [him], he would exterminate them.” The video is still up on Facebook/Instagram.
I watched “Bottoms,” and I laughed
For all those who wrote to me that “Bros” and RW&RB are masterpieces, Emma Seligman showed us how it’s done. Stop selling yourself short. Read this line:
Josie: You don't care about feminism. Your favorite show is Entourage!
I watched “Boy, “ and I cried
I am a bit late to the party but 2014 Dutch made-for-television coming-of-age romantic drama made me oscillate between elation that movies like this are being made and resentment my teenage crushes were cause for sadness. As LGBTQ+ people, crucial years and experiences are often robbed; it is sometimes hard for me to let that go.
Teen Vogue: Twenty Under Twenty 2023
You can see the list here. Learn their name and impress your friends.
And they sold Sondheim’s townhouse before I could bid!
Coming and Going
Mourning my friend Eric Scharf: an angel for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers
Eric Scharf passed away last week (see his necrology in the Blade). I knew him from his noble work with Center Global, a program of the DC Center, where he played a crucial role in helping LGBTQ+ asylum seekers settle in the DC area. A service will occur at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, 30 September, at St Thomas Episcopal Church. RIP Eric.
Richard Burns, Interim Executive Director at GLAD
Finally, an adult in the room of LGBTQ+ leadership. In 1978, Burns became the founding board president of GLAD. It is reassuring to know that a seasoned organizational leader with solid roots in LGBTQ+ legal advocacy will lead one of our organizations.
Janson Wu heads to Trevor
GLAD’s current Executive Director, Janson Wu, also a great leader - will step down on Oct. 6 to take a position as Senior Director of State Advocacy and Government Affairs with The Trevor Project.
The LGBTQ+ agenda
October 12th: Join me as we welcome Will Rollins
Remember how Will Rollins was one inch from flipping California's 41st congressional district from Red to Blue? We are co-hosting a fundraiser in the UWS to help him finish the job: David Mixner, Ben Garrett, and Howard Pulchin are among the co-hosts in the residence of a world-famous author. Please register here.
October 19th: The Association’s Summit
The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors’ inaugural Summit is less than a month away. It will feature prominent leaders such as Dr. Bill Carson, Sally Susman, Betsy Bernard, Beth Brooke, Esteban Lopez, Andrew Clarke, Ozzie Gromada, Alicia Syrett, Rick Pernell, Chiqui Cartagena, Jeremey Heymans, and many more...
October 20th: Athlete Ally’s Gala at Chelsea Piers
I'm thrilled to be part of the Athlete Ally's Action Awards host committee led by Steven Wozencraft and Joy Bunson. We'll honor allies and activists for their commitment and perseverance in making sport safe and accessible for all. Join us.
That’s it for this week. I know I am an hour late; my apologies.
We had four days of constant rain in New York City, probably to wash away the sins of UN week, and no way to get OutDOOR™ (I could not resist; I am trademarking everything), so I scrapped our family expedition to the Bronx Zoo and instead took the twins to the Ralph Lauren Flagship Store on Madison Avenue. See you next week.