OutPerform | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality - Issue #54
This week: a very British meltdown, Mayor Adams flirts with the LGBTQ+ community, Jenner on Fox News, Queer moments at the Grammys, referendum defeated in Hungary, AB979 repealed in California & more…
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?
US News
Florida: The Lawsuits.
Our next step is to challenge the bills in Court. Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) filed a federal complaint in Florida's Northern District on HB1557 (the "Don't Say Gay Bill"). You can read the complaint here. It perfectly spells out this bill's evil genius:
"By design, HB 1557 constructs a statutory scheme in which any rational person who discusses or acknowledges any aspect of LGBTQ identity must fear running afoul of the law. The effect of HB 1557 is thus to chill the rights of teachers, students, and school officials, who, like any rational person, will avoid the danger zone created by a state-mandated censorship code."
On the other hand, HB7 has not been challenged yet despite directly affecting employers. Our recommendation is to adjust DEI trainings in Florida to comply with the law, which will be effective in July this year. For deeper background analysis on the legal implications of HB7 click here and here.
Mayor Eric Adams urges LGBTQ+ Floridians to move to NYC.
One thing I like about our new Mayor is that he does not lack bravado. Not only are his ads, in partnership with WPP and at no-cost to NYC taxpayers, in Florida brilliant, but they apparently got under the skin of Governor DeSantis. Read about it in the New York Daily News. You can watch his press conference with our dear friend Kevin Jennings of Lambda Legal.It might rekindle his frayed relationship with the LGBTQ+ community. In the meantime, there was a strange arson in a Brooklyn gay bar on Sunday.
Disney (again, *yawn*).
There is some quiet desperation in how conservative outlets have been shaming Disney for standing up (very late) against "Don't Say Gay." It's as if they know that anti-LGBTQ+ antics are becoming a hard sell in corporate America. This great USA Today article with ideas on how to "dewoke" Disney movies (see my review of new Disney movie “Nate” below) points out a recent headline on The Federalist's website, which read: "Disney Executives Admit: Of Course We're Grooming Your Children." And then Marge had to take it one step further, calling Democrats "the party of princess predators from Disney."
Trans athletes' participation in competitive sports.
Freedom for All Americans shared with us that there are 100 anti-LGBTQ bills still alive (you can see the tracker and the map here), while 106 bills have been defeated so far this year. Several States are attempting to prohibit trans participation in Sports, an issue which is best left with Sports Authorities. The Guardian published an opinion column from Kenan Malik this week which read:
"To discriminate against trans people in the workplace, to refuse to serve them in a shop, to object to trans adoptions, to deliberately misgender as a means of humiliating someone – that is bigotry. To argue for sex-based categories in sport – that is not. To deem both "transphobic" is to diminish the meaning of the word."
The Equality Caucus meets with President Biden.
At a time when some of the leading NGOs in the movement grapple with internal issues, the LGBTQ+ Caucus has been expanding and professionalizing filling an important gap inn unifying the LGBTQ+ community. President Biden received its leaders last Friday at the White House. (Read the report in the Washington Blade here).
Global News
Ukraine: Washington Blade interviews Helen Globa.
Globa is the founder of Tergo, a support group for parents and friends of LGBTQ Ukrainians. Helen spoke last week with Michael Lavers about her harrowing escape from her home in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha on March 2 in this interview.
UK: Chronicle of a death foretold.
Leading LGBTQ+ UK non-profits, including Stonewall (see their statement here) and the Kaleidoscope Trust, publicly withdrew their support from the SafetoBeMe2022 Conference yesterday over the conversion therapy ban (or lack thereof). The Conference was eventually canceled later in the day. Kaleidoscope Trust issued a press release indicating that it "stands in solidarity with our trans siblings in the UK and around the world. As such, we are withdrawing our support." Iain Anderson also resigned very publicly as the UK LGBTQ+ business champion. A very British scandal…although the US is invited to keep a low profile on the matter as only 20 states and 100 municipalities have banned the practice of conversion therapy on minors. The discussion on the SOGI listserv on strategy versus principles was heated.
Hungary: Orban re-elected, BUT the anti-LGBTQ+ referendum failed.
On Sunday, European Parliamentarian Gwendoline Delbos-Corfiel, who is also LGBTQ+ Intergroup Member and European rapporteur on the rule of law situation in Hungary, commented on Orban's reelection:
"The voters have voted in favor of yet another Fidesz-led government in a context where corruption is rampant, rule of law and democracy are deteriorating further and attacking human rights became normalized. Yet, the voters have also spoken against this referendum, giving a slight ray of hope. The message for the rest of Europe is clear: the Government's stance on LGBTQ+ rights is the Government's alone, and it draws no support from the population."
Read the full press release here.
As for the NBCNews, its headline read, "Viktor Orbán's win shows there's still hope for Trumpism in Europe." Tout un programme…
Poland: Five years on, the toll on LGBTQ+ employees.
This morning, I hosted a closed roundtable among multinational companies to exchange best practices in addressing LGBTQ+ rights within the workplace in Poland. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is still high, as illustrated by this recent local development. The current situation for LGBTQ+ people has been described as "five years of hate." Lately, international groups in sectors such as banking and consulting have played a more proactive role in creating LGBTQ+-friendly working environments. We discussed what this looks like in practice and how leaders can create space for ERGs to emerge, employees to come out and bridge differences with more conservative employees. We also discuss how the influx of refugees and proximity to the war might give a boost to values such as unity and respecting differences.
A look back at TDoV: hiding trans people won't work.
For Transgender Day of Visibility last week, I highlighted how the common thread of anti-trans legislation seems to be a desire to make trans people disappear. Banning trans people from public spaces will not solve but only worsen our fears. On the other hand, a conversation with trans people is irrevocably enlightening on our duty to share space and the commonality of our human experience. Read it here.
From the Boardroom
California: AB979 ruled unconstitutional.
A decision from a California court ruling AB979 unconstitutional on Friday rocked the Board Diversity world. Yours truly was an expert witness in the case, and my testimony was described as part of the "anecdotal front" by The Honorable Terry Greene. This news was covered in the the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Linkedin News sharing the point of view of LGBTQ+ aspiring Board members. Elite capture and the "old boys club"—the white straight male-only network of social and business connections in the Boardroom – must continue to be challenged despite this setback.
As part of our OutQUORUM initiative, we will continue to encourage companies to disclose diversity metrics. As a side note, Judge Terry Greene was appointed in 1995 by former Governor Pete Wilson (read Wilson's bio here).
CFOs are out of fashion for new Board seats.
The WSJ published an article last week observing that CFOs are in less demand than other profiles at the moment. Companies are increasingly looking to fill their boardrooms with experts in ESG or cybersecurity. This is a positive development as restricting board candidates to CEOs and CFOs has served as a barrier to more diverse candidates.
From the semi-cultural desk
Grammys 2022: The best, worst, and gayest moments.
This year's Grammys was a who's who of LGBTQ+ intelligentsia that peppered the red carpet with appearances from Doja, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Vivian Bond, Alexandre Kacala, Lil Nas X, and Alphonso David.
Bond described Lil Nas X's outfit as "a pearl encrusted ensemble that was gorgeous, if somewhat militaristic." Check it out for yourself. The night's queerest moments are here, and I personally don't know any of the performers listed... but you might!
Watch Nate on Disney Plus.
This one goes out to all the theater kids. Better Nate Than Ever is now streaming on Disney Plus! I watched it with the twins on Sunday, and it's a must-watch. In fact, I will have a pop quiz in next week's newsletter. Although there is something strange to have the best representation of a queer kid on mainstream television released by Disney at the same time as Florida passed a law banning LGBTQ+ content as inappropriate for children. So many contradictions!
A very gay night at 54 Below.
On Monday night, I attended one of Ari Shapiro's three cabaret nights in NYC with a guest star appearance by Alan Cumming. Ari’s solo cabaret show Behind the Mic was alternatively moving, hilarious and tragic as he intertwined songs with war stories from touring the world for NPR. You had to be there but you can still catch Ari and Alan in “Och and Oy” in coming weeks in New Jersey or Connecticut (see more dates/locations here).
Death on the Nile's lesbian plot.
I like to think of myself as a slimmer hairless Hercule Poirot. Anyway, I noted (spoiler alert) a lesbian relationship that Christie's original book does not contain, and I guess it means GLAAD is doing a great job.
Caitlyn Jenner is "a patriot, not a trans activist."
Jenner is now a pundit on Fox News, and she used the platform to tell viewers she is "a patriot, not a trans activist." As my friend, Justin commented, "Let's just say sometimes a movement is better off if somebody is NOT an activist." Alex Jones & Roger Stone implied on April 1 (not even an April Fool's joke) that Kevin McCarthy is in a gay relationship with a man, and they live in DC together (see the segment here). The LGBTQ+ movement quickly issued a press release that read, "NO. HE IS NOT."
Oreo's allyship ad.
Oreo's new Pride campaign backed up with Oreo's $500,000 donation to PFLAG will surely not please Marge. On the other hand, I loved it but did not cry because I had no more tears after watching Nate.
The Gay Agenda
Black Pride will be in person this summer.
The Global Black Pride Event was announced for the end July/beginning of August in Toronto, Canada.
HIV, Drug Use and homelessness in New York.
Yesterday I toured the Housing Works Cylar house on the lower east side with Laurent Claquin, CEO of Kering North America, who will receive a Groundbreaker Award at the upcoming Design On a Dime dinner on April 20, dubbed "New York City's most-anticipated design benefit." I will have the honor to present him with the award, and you can buy tickets here for a night of unbridled shopping and glamour.
A fundraiser for Senator Duckworth.
Besides being Hercule Poirot, I would have loved to be a gossip columnist. I attended a fundraiser for Senator Duckworth this past Friday in a gorgeous private apartment on the UES. There was a lot of talk about Ukraine, and the consensus was that the war will continue into the summer at least. Benson Cohen of Sidley put Rep. Takano in the hotseat over the Government's investments in green energy. Former Kentucky Wildcat Landon Foster was also in attendance with some serious arm candy.
Consultation with IESOGI on right to health.
The UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI) invites you to a public consultation to inform his upcoming report to the 50th session of the Human Rights Council on SOGI and the right to health, including in the context of Sustainable development goals (SDG). The webinar will take place on 14 April 2022, from 10:00 to 12:00 ET / 16:00 to 18:00 CET. Please register via this link: https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MwGn2A3DQaCbyLMnR1hbJA
Coming and Going
The search for Outright’s Executive Director.
I have had the honor to serve on the Board of OutRight Action International for several years and they have just begun their search for a new Executive Director based in New York. Outright has been growing to be one of the top LGBTQ+ organizations globally. Here is a description of the role and I would be glad to convey candidacy to the search firm. Deadline is April 15.
The search for SMYAL’s Executive Director.
SMYAL, which is dedicated to supporting and empowering LGBTQ+ youth in the Washington, DC region is also looking for a new ED. The full executive profile is attached and available at this link.
Reading Notes
Secret City: The hidden history of Gay Washington.
I pre-ordered my copy of James Kirchick's new book. In the dedication, Kirchick thanks "all those who unburdened themselves of their secret, so that I did not have to live with mine." How very relevant to Jenner's comments this week.
And LGBTQ+ romance literature is booming.
That's good news for those here who always felt we have a book in us and should quit our day jobs to devote our time to writing a bestseller. Apparently, nothing is easier to write than a queer romance novel. And the New York Times reported this week that sales of queer romance novels have surged.