OutPerform | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality - Issue #44
This week: Oh, Indiana and Florida: you will never change, US Military adjusts to pronouns, German LGBTQ+ priests' manifesto, GLAAD 2022 nominees, Jojo Siwa's queer anniversary and more....
Welcome to this edition of my weekly equality news digest, where I share important (and less important, let's be honest!) news, updates, and commentary about the LGBTQ+ equality movement globally.
This week from my New York City home office, I am surrounded by mysterious moving boxes filled with years of over-shopping.
Questions, feedback, and comments are always welcome. Would you mind sharing with your network to continue helping us move the LGBTQ+ equality conversation forward?
US News
Oh Indiana: when will you ever learn?
Despite the efforts of a coalition led by Freedom For All Americans and Athlete Ally to drum up support against it, HB1041 passed the House education committee Monday. The bill would prevent transgender girls from competing in girls' scholastic sports (see my readout published on Monday here). It could appear on the House floor as early as Thursday. Consider reaching out to Speaker Todd Huston (h37@iga.in.gov – legislative assistant: Brittany Jenkins: 317-232-9677, brittany.jenkins@iga.in.gov) to tell him that the legislature would do best to focus on the state's economic recovery instead (or maybe find more convincing arguments in Out Leadership's trans guide published in June 2021).
And Florida: can you grow up?
Florida wouldn't want to leave the culture war monopoly to Putin or Indiana, would it? Therefore, it passed a "Don't Say Gay Bill" in committee, which drew the ire of soft-spoken Chasten Buttigieg, basically the gay first man of America. Buttigieg warned the bill, motivated by political purposes, could lead to more suicides of LGBTQ+ youth. Can we just settle on removing Ron DeSantis from any future curriculum instead?
US military: adjusting to pronouns.
In the Washington Times (which I occasionally read, so you don't have to), Jennifer Dane, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, an LGBTQ advocacy group, is quoted as saying, "To get the talent, obviously, you've got to kind of get with the times." The Air Force apparently began allowing personnel to include their preferred pronouns in their signature block on military emails in December. I remember when my former roommate, Kevin D., who was second (or third) oboist in the Air Force Band, had great difficulties hiding his queerness on tour even in uniform to keep his gig going. That's how old we are. See where each branch of the military stands on pronouns.
Global News
Germany: the priesthood comes out.
Over 120 priests and employees with the Catholic church community in Germany came out as LGBTQ people last week, creating incredible buzz, opening a taboo conversation, and getting national attention (read it in America Magazine). As a reminder, a hundred Roman Catholic parishes in Germany held services to bless gay couples in May. This is not only a German issue, as Fr. James Martin highlighted in 2018, "The intensity of hate and level of anger directed at gay priests are unprecedented in my memory." This is sadly ironic when you understand that homophobia among Catholics is the number one reason gay men massively staff the Church. In July 2021, I wrote about our shared responsibility towards these priests caught between a rock and a hard place. Read their manifesto, core demands, and press releases here.
Singapore: Samsung caves to online pressure.
A week ago, Samsung Singapore removed a video advertisement that featured a Muslim mother expressing support for her son, a drag queen, after negative comments from Muslim viewers. Their statement made matters worse: "We are aware of the feedback that one of our recent campaign films for our wearable products may be perceived as insensitive and offensive to some members of our local community." Also, Samsung should be aware that videos rescinded for breaking gender stereotypes go to online video paradise – watch the banned content here.
Council of Europe: how to make enemies.
The Council of Europe overwhelmingly approved a report calling out "virulent attacks" against LGBTQ+ people in Hungary, Poland, the Russian Federation, Turkey, and … the United Kingdom. Let's just assume that the UK did not enjoy being placed in the same bag as the countries notorious for sponsoring homophobic rhetoric for political purposes in the region. Fourat Benchikha (the COE rapporteur who authored the report) never struck me as someone who would wear silk Derek Rose pajamas or Penhaligon's perfume (unlike someone I know).
Eastern Europe: the frontline of gay liberation.
East Meets West published its 2021 state of the Central and Eastern Europe LGBTQ+ world. A must-read because East meets West is at the frontier point of LGBTQ+ equality where the Russian-manufactured narrative ("Family and tradition" vs. Equality – no offense to Indiana and Florida who play a minor but very annoying role too) meets the reasonable Western version ("Equality benefits all"). The organization led by Pavel Subrt and Ludo Swinnen is not shy: EMW hosted their 2021 Conference in Warsaw. If there is a "culture war," then EMW is the peacemaker by leveraging the power of business at the tension point. Read the report here
Montenegro: a turn for the worse?
The fragile governing coalition, comprising both pro-Serb and pro-European alliances, which narrowly won a parliamentary election in 2020, ending the three-decade rule of Djukanovic's Socialists, has been facing setbacks in the past few weeks. This is not good news for the equality movement in the Balkans, which could benefit from a rapprochement with the EU rather than Russia.
Afghanistan: LGBTQ+ population forgotten and targeted.
Today HRW and Outright released a report, "Even If You Go to the Skies, We'll Find You': LGBT People in Afghanistan After the Taliban Takeover," highlighting the concrete ways the Taliban have been targeting people with non-conforming gender identities or openly expressed sexual orientation. HRW urges readers to pressure their governments to keep the doors open for LGBTQ+ asylees.
Namibia: won't recognize same-sex marriage sealed in other countries.
Our friends at Human Rights Watch report a disappointing decision by Namibia High Court. However, the decision's text itself, which condemns discrimination based on sexual orientation, is positive. Local activists described it as "a step in the right direction [because] judges were "affirming the existence of LGBTI people as part of our community." Read HRW's analysis here.
Guatemala: anti-trans bill in Congress.
During her June visit to Guatemala, US Vice President Kamala Harris met with representatives from LGBTQ+ groups continuing the Obama administration efforts. Guatemalan lawmakers did not get the memo as they produced a backward piece of legislation that would ban trans identities from being mentioned in sex-ed. Bill 5940 was denounced by HRW this week. While writing this paragraph, I was thinking about this segment from La Cage, but then again, I think about La Cage all day every day.
From the (semi) cultural desk
Rev. Albert Ogle: unsung hero of the global fight.
Before anybody wanted to touch LGBTQ+ people with a ten-foot pole in development, my friend Rev. Ogle brought LGBTQ+ voices from the Global South to the World Bank to ask for their share of international development money. Now retired, he has time to read, paint and write his memoir. I am always interested in understanding why people become passionate about social justice (in his case, growing up in a homophobic society also plagued by sectarian violence played a role). You can also read his souvenirs – including his links to Sir Blunt here.
GLAAD Awards Nominees.
I am moderately hopeful this newsletter will get a GLAAD Media Award by 2028. Until then, Lil Nas X, 'Yellowjackets,' and 'Eternals,' received a 2022 GLAAD Media Award nominations. I have no idea who these people are – ok, maybe I know Lil Nas X – which is a good sign given that I spent 2020 and 2021 as a hermit. See you on May 6 at New York City's Hilton Midtown.
JoJo Siwa has been out for a year.
Now Jojo Siwa – I know her – because when I want to annoy the twins, I ask Alexa to play "like a boomerang" (launched before she came out, which explains it). It warms my heart that she has been out for a year as she is popular with my sons' generation. See her message to kids on this anniversary.
Shortbus: new 4K restoration.
To many, Shortbus is THE seminal LGBTQ+ movie: a celebration of queerness. There is an IFC screening in the village tonight at 7 p.m. with John Cameron Mitchell himself and cast members, including the very on-trend Justin Vivian Bond.
Coming, going places, and opportunities
Brendan Gaul: rising star in the ad world.
The Brand Film Awards US 2022, focusing on brand storytelling, presented by PRWeek US, Campaign US, and MM+M, announced this week that Out Ad executive, Brendan Gaul, would be Executive Chair. Two years ago, Gaul, who produced among many other films the moving documentary "5B" on the AIDS epidemic, was promoted to Mediabrands Global Chief Content Officer.
Casey Conway at Westpac.
In my humble opinion, Casey Conway is one of Australia's best-kept secrets. The out former rugby player just joined Westpac as Senior Manager, Inclusion and Diversity. Go Casey!
GaYme Changer: contender for the Business Book Award.
Jens Schadendorf, who rumor has it is already working on a new book on an adjacent topic, is a contender in The Business Book Awards 2022 for 'GaYme Changer: How the LGBT+ Community and Their Allies Are Changing the Global Economy' published by LID business media last year.
UN Human Rights is hiring a JPO from the Global South.
The Junior Professional Officer's position, funded by the Netherlands, is part of a decade-long effort to bring some diversity within the LGBTQ+ Human Rights team. There is no age limit (which is weird for a Junior position), and the deadline is mid-February 2022.
Now I am off to understand why there are so many boxes in such a small apartment. Do not hesitate to share this newsletter with your network.
See you next week at the same time!