OutPerform | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality - Issue #24
Welcome to this week’s edition of my equality news digest, where I share important news, updates, and commentary about the LGBTQ+ equality movement globally.
US NEWS
HRC: turmoil in the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. Labor Day weekend felt like watching a “House of Cards” episode as the Human Rights Campaign Board and President Alphonso David battled each other one Twitter communiqué at a time. It culminated with the firing of Alphonso at 11 p.m. on Monday night and a Twitter post in which he warned HRC to “expect a legal challenge”.Read the NYTimes take on it.
Title VII victory against North Carolina Catholic high school. A Gay teacher fired from a catholic school in 2014 because he posted about marrying his partner on Facebook won his case last week. A Judge ruled that Charlotte Catholic High School and the Archdiocese violated Lonnie Billard’s federal protections under Title VII. In the words of Fr. James Martin: “The church must stop targeting LGBTQ employees for not “following church teaching.” On this topic, an America Magazine’s article on a Seattle taskforce on LGBTQ+ workers.
The Gill Foundation’s annual OutGiving conference on LGBTQ+ rights. The OutGiving conference, which isn’t open to the media or the public, and featured then VP Joe Biden in 2015, is taking place virtually this week. The event, two days of sharing ideas and strategizing, is intended for philanthropists whose donations to LGBTQ+ causes exceed $25,000 a year.
Texas, reproductive rights, and the LGBTQ+ community. The Blade warned its readers this week that the Supreme Court’s decision not to tackle Texas’ attack on reproductive rights, is also a warning sign for the LGBTQ+ community on fading legal recourses.
GLOBAL NEWS
Switzerland: ahead of the September 26th referendum on same-sex marriage.Out Leadership interviewed Daniel Stolz, Co-President, Marriage for all, so you can get a better read of what the referendum is about, what is at stake and how businesses can express support for the community on social media.
Spain: another violent homophobic attack. Spain’s Prime Minister is convening a hate crime commission after an assault Sunday which shocked the country (see El Pais’ article and Newsweek). A group of eight hooded assailants is alleged to have attacked a young gay man in Madrid: the group shouted homophobic insults, cut him with a knife, even carving a slur into his buttocks. According to the Madrid Observatory against LGTBQ+ phobia, there have been 103 homophobic assaults so far this year in Madrid.
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is having its annual meeting this week. The 37th IGLTA convention is taking place in-person in Atlanta. Congratulations to our friend Matt Skallerud, Longtime champion of LGBTQ+ tourism, who is recognized with a deserved award by the IGLTA.
UK: Board representation proposal leaves out LGBTQ+ people. The FCA CP21/24 proposal, focusing exclusively on gender and ethnic representation in the Boardroom, has been flying under the radar. Out Leadership believes it is damaging that LGBTQ+ representation “may [be considered] in the future”. The rule de-facto sets it as a lesser priority. We welcome any suggestion on how to campaign for changes to the proposed rules but also give visibility to the issue in the UK.
Brazil: Eduardo Leite, an option between polarizing Lula and Bolsonaro. Leite, who came out a few months ago, downplayed the importance of his sexual orientation as the first round of the 2022 Presidential elections is one year away. While, he is credited with only 4% of vote intentions, his run is a powerful signal.
IN OTHER NEWS
Prominent gay dads: do NOT read the comments. Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg and husband Chasten posted a picture of newly adopted children – Penelope Rose and Joseph August. Some negative comments and reactions are a reminder that we still have a long way to go to achieve LGBTQ+ family’s acceptance. French “La Manif Pour Tous” as an example immediately denounced surrogacy only to delete their tweet after realizing it was an adoption case.
Small differences. In the “Beware the wrath of the LGBTQ+ activist” category, the (strange) controversy around Lil Nas X’s fake pregnancy photos. Also read Henry Giardina’s letter at (not to) the New York Times.
Bisexuality still shunned in our community: an interesting study on the deep stigma against bisexual males in the LGBTQ+ community. The Chalamet fashion effect: this Italian article on how straight Timothée Chalamet encourages us to embrace our queerness. Remembering Michael Williams, who sadly passed away this week, and his gay character Omar in The Wire.
Job openings. The Kaleidoscope Trust in London is hiring for multiple positions. Family Equality is also hiring a Director of Media Relations (remote work).
Say hi at SALT next week. I will attend the SALT New York Conference at the Javits Center next week – let me know if you are attending and have time to meet.