OutPerform | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality - Issue #53
Upcoming elections in France and Hungary, a suspicious (?) survey in Singapore, Andy Warhol’s romantic life, the Oscars beyond “La Gifle”, Trump 2.0. in Florida and Trans Day of Visibility
Welcome to this edition of my weekly equality news digest, where I share news, updates, and commentary about the global LGBTQ+ equality movement.
Questions, feedback, and comments are always welcome. Would you mind sharing with your network to continue helping us move the LGBTQ+ equality conversation forward?
Ukraine with an LGBTQ+ lens
Putin comes to the defense of… J. K. Rowling.
In a surrealistic reference to J. K. Rowling and “cancel culture”, Putin ramped up his rhetoric on a pure Russia courageously facing a “decadent West” in an ideological war this week (watch the video here). In the same vein, Politico had a fascinating article this week titled “How Russia Became the Leader of the Global Christian Right”. Finally, in this NYTimes opinion piece titled “Putin and the Myths of Western Decadence”, the author highlights how countries that stand for democracy and human rights are also demonstrating a decisive foreign policy – something the former US administration deemed contradictory.
Supporting Ukrainian LGBTQ+ refugees.
You can donate to:
· Outright: https://outrightinternational.org/ukraine
· Insight: https://www.facebook.com/olena.shevchenko.5876
· Ukrainians in America: https://qua.community/
· Lesbians for refugees: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lesbians-refugees-in-the-ukranian-border
US News
Republicans are crushing room for exploration of children’s gender dysphoria.
In this Chicago SunTimes article, the author advocates for room to explore children’s gender dysphoria. She acknowledges that anti-trans bills, rather than motivated by the wellbeing of children, are intended to stigmatize trans people for political gain. In passing these bills, Republicans frustrate any chance for parents and medical professionals to come up with a sensitive course of action for children but also for a science-based approach to critical issues such as reproductive capacity. Finally, she points out that these bills are cruel because having a trans child in our society is not easy and parents deserve society’s support rather than being shamed.
Florida: we won’t forget.
There is no inappropriate teaching in Florida, just a Trump 2.0 emerging (Joe Concha endorses him). Some reactions to DeSantis’ signing the “Don’t Say Gay” bills were noteworthy. Even Mayor Eric Adams spoke out. Ambassador Rufus Gifford, US Chief of Protocol, summarized best our feelings in a moving thread you can read here: “And by god I wish in first grade I could have - read a book about a family with two Moms - maybe a classroom where my teacher would have been happy to talk about his wedding with his husband - maybe a fictional story as lovely as two male penguins sharing their lives together.” His comments spoke to me as I too knew I was attracted to men as far as I can remember. I lied to my parents. I lied to my teachers. I lied to my priests. It took a lifetime to overcome this utter feeling of isolation, something I do not wish on any child. Shame on DeSantis! We won’t forget.
Florida (again): some lessons learnt from the Disney “mini-uprising”.
Now that the dust is settling and Bob Chapek can breathe again (with a rather complacent board), some lessons are emerging:
i) listen to and consult all employees beyond unions and ERG representatives who might represent different generations;
ii) set up internal space where employees can express freely their grievances without fear of retaliation;
iii) honor the resistance, don’t dismiss it;
iv) be transparent over company choices on which societal issues it takes a stance on.
Utah: overriding Governor Cox’ veto.
Last week despite an emotional plea from Governor Cox, his veto on the trans-sports ban was overridden in the House 56-18 (2 Republicans voted against) and the Senate 21-8. Two House Republicans stayed with their original vote against the bill: Rep Winder and Rep Spendlove. Two Senate Republicans did the same: Sen. Thatcher and Sen. Weiler. ACLU Utah has already said they will sue. (read the NYTimes take).
Arizona: “target” of the week.
Out Leadership encouraged Governor Ducey last week to reject both Senate Bill 1138, which bans some types of medical care for transgender youth, and Senate Bill 1165, which prevents transgender students from participating in school sports. We mentioned these bills send a negative signal about the business climate in Arizona and create an untenable situation for companies caught between politics and the well-being of their employees. You can reach out directly at dducey@az.gov cc: druiz@az.gov. See our letter here.
Global News
Singapore: an unexpected development on 377.
The government surveyed people on Section 377A last week which went unnoticed by mainstream media. The survey opened last Monday and got so many responses that it closed within days (see article here). It might be a positive development but, as a friend pointed out to me, there are also concerns it was spammed by conservative groups...and really, making or repealing laws that govern 5 million people based on what 30,000 people think, is a little flawed. In the meantime, HRW, Amnesty and ILGA Asia called out the misguided decision by Singapore Court of Appeals two weeks ago.
France: Zemmour and the gays.
Presidential elections’ candidate Eric Zemmmour is being sued by several LGBTQ+ organization for claiming the deportation of French homosexuals during WWII is a myth. I do not believe history should be rewritten to fit modern narratives - like some did for Stonewall - but even 200 French homosexuals deported for their sexuality during WWII is a meaningful number. Our community should have the right to commemorate this cruel and inhumane treatment of homosexuals without being mocked. Last night Zemmour also repeated some of the usual clichés about LGBTQ+ people: that sexual orientation and gender identity are private issues, that pride parades are an embarrassment and that children are being indoctrinated in schools (see here). It is all so very tiring but only a few weeks (elections are Sunday April 10) before he gets forgotten.
Hungary: Orbán and LGBTQ+ people face the polls on April 3rd.
LGBTQ+ Rights are a big issue in the upcoming Hungary elections as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been instrumentalizing LGBTQ+ people for political gains. The infamous referendum on LGBTQ+ rights will be held on the same occasion (read about it here). The Economist Intelligence Unit expects the ruling party, Fidesz, to win the next general election in April 2022, with Orbán reappointed as prime minister. In any case, as the Dailybeast reminds us, an Orbán loss would not solve the problem.
Europe: diversity efforts should not land on the back burner.
Corporate players in Europe might be tempted to take diversity efforts off the priority list, simply due to critical issues such as the loss of the Russian market, a probable economic downturn, an influx of refugees and a war. Similar fears were expressed at the beginning of the COVID pandemic (which Black Lives Matter quickly dispelled). I wrote a piece on the topic at the time in which I concluded: "In fact, employee well-being, and inclusion, might even become more important when financial incentives will be lower, and people will carry with them the psychological trauma of the crisis."
Sri Lanka: a landmark decision.
A UN women’s rights committee rules that the criminalization of consensual, same-sex intimacy between women is a human rights violation - setting a major legal precedent which could affect millions of lesbian and bisexual women. Our friend Rosanna Flamer-Caldera had brought the case. (Read HRW’s take on it)
In the Boardroom
SEC and revising the definition of “diversity”.
This afternoon I will give introductory remarks on the role of the regulator to the NACD Center for Inclusive Governance Advisory Council. After the OutQuorum summit last week, we must reiterate to Chairman Gensler the importance to revise the federal definition of diversity for SEC-regulated companies. The SEC’s rulemaking agenda includes a proposal to require disclosures on corporate board diversity.
Not forgetting diversity on non-profit boards.
Activist Urvashi Vaid once noted to me that non-profit boards are often a tool to perpetuate straight white privilege (look at pictures of the Moma Board, University of Notre Dame Board or the Winchester Hospital). This Austin article suggests that "Mainstream nonprofit boards … are probably the ones with the worst problems with representation on their boards".
The Gay Agenda.
ILGA World Conference, 2 to 6 May in LA long beach.
If the AB979 trial still takes place as scheduled (May 2nd), I will join the ILGA festivities. The gathering of activists from around the world previously took place in Wellington (2019) · Bangkok (2016) · Mexico City (2014) · Stockholm (2012) · Sao Paulo (2010) · Vienna (2008) · Geneva (2006). Read about its history here. Register here
Williams Institute’s webinar on LGBTQ+ refugees: April 4th.
On April 4 (3:15pm EDT), the institute will host a virtual discussion on LGBTIQ+ Refugees at the Intersection of SOGI and Race. Register here.
Transgender Day of Visibility is tomorrow, March 31st
And it is important to mark it big, particularly in the current context. If you are looking for a last-minute speaker, TransNewYork has a speaker bureau. Reach out to: gherley@transnewyork.org
From the semi-cultural desk.
Machines have less problems.
“Machines have less problems. I’d rather be a machine, wouldn’t you?”. Ryan Murphy did a good job in highlighting the casual cruelty of the 70s against gay people (including the author of the "preppy handbook" who says - not very sorry - "well it was a product of its time"), the glamorization of self-destruction and the sad reality that no amount of fame, success and distraction can make up for loneliness. (see Time’s review here)
The Oscars beyond “La Gifle”.
Wanda Sykes told us upfront it would be a gay Oscars show (a jab to DeSantis). She did not mention we would also get toxic masculinity for the same price. Anyway... Ariana DeBose won the best supporting actress award for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" – becoming the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an acting Oscar. Kristen Stewart and Elliott Page's appearances were highlights for LGBTQ+ people everywhere. Multiple actors also addressed Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill (read about the queerest moments here).
French gay writer Édouard Louis in Brooklyn.
Édouard Louis, deemed “the vanguard of France's new generation of political writers” will be in NYC in two months. I bought tickets to Who Killed My Father on Thursday June 2nd at 7:30 PM in St. Ann's Warehouse, join me.
Are men with older brothers more likely to be gay?
The belief that someone with older male siblings (that’s my case) is more likely to be gay or bisexual was recently bolstered by fresh data. See the article in the advocate.
The opposition: what is a woman?
Not sure it deserves to be noted but Chris Walsh has been sending out a teaser this week for his anti-trans documentary “What is a woman?”
And finally, the best for last.
Rep. Cawthorn claims people in DC have invited him to orgy, done cocaine in front of him. My first reaction was to think that summarizes perfectly my 15 years living there. And my second one was that I am pretty sure I can guess which politicians made the invitation.
In the movement
Haas Fund declares the fight for LGBTQ+ rights over.
Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, a leading supporter of state-based LGBT equality work, announced rather abruptly that it shut down its LGBTQ+ Equality program. The community is not having it. Read the response here.
David Mixner launches his subscription video blog.
Subscribe to David Mixner’s video blog so his important voice can still be heard. Sign up here.
Other Queer Legend Cleve Jones embattled by his Castro landlord.
Being a leader in one’s community rarely pays off and legendary queer activist Cleve Jones is reportedly being evicted from his Castro home after his 30-year-old landlord doubled his rent. The community has been rallying. (Read the story here).
I know this newsletter can be a bit heavy at times – blame toxic masculinity (Putin, DeSantis, Chapek, Zemmour, Orban, Cawthorn, Smith… so many problematic men this week) not the messenger - so leaving you on a positive note with this rendition of the Bob Iger/Bob Chapek feud.
See you next week (btw I am seeing Daniel Craig in MacBeth tonight so not all is lost).