OutPerform | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality - Issue #36
This week: farewell to Sondheim, Gay men's academic achievements, Hungary, Russia, Qatari TV's double-down on bigotry, WorldAIDSDay and Omicron, another lawsuit against California AB979, and much more
Welcome to this week's edition of the weekly equality news digest, where I share important news, updates, and commentary about the LGBTQ+ equality movement globally.
Questions, feedback, and comments are always welcome. Would you mind sharing with your networks to continue helping us in moving the LGBTQ+ equality conversation forward?
US News
The show must go on: mourning Stephen Sondheim.
The passing of Stephen Sondheim, the celebrated Broadway songwriter who died on Friday at the age of 91 and whose career spanned decades, was a blow to our community. We mourned it from social media to the streets of midtown (watch this emotional Times Square moment, I'm not crying, you are). It took me years to understand what Broadway (a mystery to many of us foreigners) truly represents for Americans, let alone LGBTQ+ Americans. I concluded that for many, it is a powerful blueprint for their lives and aspirations. I won't link to his obituary but suggest you listen to the Apple playlist.
The "straight white man" strikes back.
Read about these lawsuits against AT&T and Novant Health here. The article reminds us that "the lawful way to implement D&I is through attrition and expansion, not through firing people to fill their positions with more diverse candidates."
Study claims US Gay men have more degrees than straight peers.
Joel Mittleman, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, published a study this week showing that gay men earn diplomas at a higher rate than their straight peers (about 52% vs 36%). One question is whether the need to self-identify created some bias in the study (read here an overview of all the findings). On the other hand, gay men do focus on achievements and credentials to overcome stigma and get glimpses of societal approval (the Velvet Rage, anyone?).
The US has 400K more prisoners than China: why is it an LGBTQ+ issue?
"We are constant targets — especially transgender women and especially Black transgender women. We are targeted before we go into prison, we are targeted inside, and we are targeted once we are out." Read the LGBTQNation interview with Evie Litwok of Witness to Mass Incarceration (disclaimer: I serve on Evie's Board).
Global News
France: la bataille des pronoms.
When the Robert dictionary added "iel" (the French equivalent of gender-neutral they/them) this year, the pushback came from the First Lady, Brigitte Macron, and the Minister of Education (see NYTimes article). For me, the question remains: Are we willing to make small efforts and compromises to accommodate marginalized people? If France is afraid a new pronoun can threaten its culture, then its culture must be weak.
Hungary: the abhorrent referendum.
Democracy cannot be two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Yesterday, Hungary's parliament approved the government's plan to hold a national referendum on LGBTQ+ issues – specifically restricting LGBTQ+ content (read here). The referendum will take place in 2022, also when the next parliamentary elections take place.
Russia is investigating Netflix over LGBTQ+ content.
Netflix would be in breach of the 2013 law that bans disseminating "propaganda on nontraditional sexual relations" among Russians under the age of 18 when broadcasting LGBTQ+-themed series with a 16+ label. While it should be an easy fix for Netflix, it is a baffling move for a country that is highly dependent on Foreign Direct Investment for economic diversification.
Australia: the Religious Discrimination Bill as an antidote to "cancel culture."
Australian conservatives think a new Bill might solve what it perceives as the "cancel culture" attack on religious freedom. On the other hand, Human Rights activists fear it opens the door to harassment of LGBTQ+ individuals. To me, the issue is that the Bill is more motivated by animus than actual discrimination. It is still unclear if the Bill (which you can find here) might come to a vote in the lower house.
Egypt & Qatar: Egyptian professional footballer rants on Qatari Sports network.
LGBTQ+ Egyptians have always been pawns in Sissi's strategy to portray himself as the defender of family and tradition in response to the Brotherhood's success. This week, former Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika went on a homophobic rant on BeIN Sports yet was not fired from the network. It tells you everything you need to know about the upcoming World Cup even though we were told this week that "LGBTQ+ fans are welcome at World Cup" by Nasser Al Khater. Human Rights Watch strongly disagrees.
World AIDS Day (December 1st) and the lessons for the Covid pandemic.
Many blame the emerging COVID-19 variant, Omicron, on a lack of a global strategy to end the pandemic. Well, this year's World AIDS Day theme is End Inequalities. It's been forty years since the New York Times reported the first cases of AIDS, a virus that would kill over 36 million people. Today it continues to affect the most marginalized and the Global South particularly. Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it. Read UNAIDS ED's message. Also, follow the Aids Memorial on Instagram; I find it life-changing.
Botswana: Decriminalizing LGBTQ+ people.
There might be no flight to visit, but Botswana officially decriminalized. Read the ILGA statement.
The Boardroom
Only 73 people have self-identified in the Equilar Board Candidates database.
Equilar, one of the leading registries of board-ready executives, provides the opportunity since the beginning of the year to candidates to inform their sexual orientation or gender identity. So far, only 73 individuals have done so. This serves as your reminder to log in and modify your profile.
Another lawsuit against AB979 in California.
New lawsuits are challenging AB979. This week it came from DC National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank. Interestingly enough, the media seem to side with the plaintiffs (e.g., this headline: the "radical Board of Director rules" or this article which starts with "it should be a surprise to no one"). While I understand resistance to sharing power (I watch Succession, after all), diversity in the Boardroom only happens when the regulator steps in (think Copé Zimmerman). AB979, the NASDAQ listing rule, and the proposed FCA one are lawful, constitutional, and supported by the evidence. We will prevail!
Also, in this piece, experts discuss how to diversify corporate boards of directors, including a study which illustrates the reality of the "old boys' networks," a club that, as a recipient of this newsletter, you are less likely to be a part of than Soho House.
The rise of the DEI Advisory Board.
Before Thanksgiving break, I was in Paris for our annual two-day in-person L'Oréal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Global Advisory Board meeting. The Board also meets virtually twice a year and was created in January 2021 includes academics, activists, and global thinkers. Recently, several other companies have taken similar steps to seek external guidance by setting up such councils, including T-Mobile, GM, Abbott, Elsevier, Prada, the Morgan Stanley Institute, and Delivery Hero (KKR also just created an ESG Council). Barilla has had one for years. By securing external counsel on inclusion issues, companies can innovate, avoid blind spots, and send a clear message to employees, consumers, and investors that they are taking the issue at heart.
The LGBTQ+ calendar
Open Finance and the "Great Resignation" this Thursday.
The 5th Annual OPEN Finance Forum is taking place on Thursday, December 2nd, from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM virtually (register here). The topic is "managing LGBTQ+ talent." The so-called "Great Resignation" affects financial services marginally, while leisure, hospitality, and transportation feel the brunt of it (see Fortune article).
Summit for Democracy Side Event: Advancing Inclusion and Democracy: The Participation of LGBTQI+ Persons.
On Monday, December 6th at 1:00 PM, the US State Department, USAID, Sweden, and Cabo Verde host a Summit for Democracy side event. While I look forward to hearing Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Special Envoy Jessica Stern, the panelists also include delegates from Kenya and Hungary, where anti-LGBQT+ rhetoric has been increasing. You can join the event here.
And off to DC.
I am heading to DC for the Victory Institute's Annual LGBTQ Leaders Conference 2021 and 30th Anniversary Gala – LGBTQ Victory Fund (if I can fit in my tux…)
Human Rights Day is one week away.
An opportunity to remember that LGBTQ+ and business is part of the Human Rights Framework (Read the Standards). Let us know if you need a speaker.
OutSummit 2021.
Outright Action International (on the Board of which I serve) is holding its annual Summit next week.
In Other News
Murray Hill loses everything in home fire.
Beloved New York City comedian entertainer Murray Hill lost everything when a fire destroyed his home last week. In a few days, the fundraiser had accrued $135K of donations showing the solidarity within our community and allies. You can still donate here.
The Coming Out Colton Netflix show finally has a trailer. I guess Netflix believes in redemption.
The Tom Daley Knitwear collection. And lesbian feta, yes, you read it correctly: not Lebanese, lesbian.
Happy birthday to our friend John Tanzella, who heads IGLTA, the global LGBTQ+ tourism organization.
Contribute to the Mixner fellowship.
Ah ah, you thought you were out of the #GivingTuesday woods, didn't you? However, #WednesdayIsTheNewGivingTuesday, please consider donating any amount you can to the David Mixner ICWA fellowship so we reach our $100K goal. Barilla, Terrence Meck/Pallette Foundation, Kristen Anderson, and the Bohnett Foundation have already contributed.
Much love, see you next week. Please feel free to email me with any comments, suggestions, or news items I may have missed. I look forward to hearing from you.