This week: Andorra and the 2 princes, EU sues Hungary, Becca Balint for Congress, a health break from hookups, Jojo Siwa, an enchanting garden in the Pines, and a Strange Loop
Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
Welcome to my weekly equality news digest, where I share important (and less important) news, updates, and commentary about the global LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business. I’m on the road this week as I am taking the twins through CT, VT, and MA
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Global News
Australia: players’ stance over a rainbow jersey
SkyNews reports that seven players in Australia's National Rugby League will boycott a key match over a pride jersey that contradicts their religious beliefs. Indeed, I am sure that this is the kind of courageous stance Jesus had in mind. Casey Conway had a good way to look at it: congratulating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and too bad for the players that decided to make it about them.
Hungary: poking the lioness
The EU is suing Hungary over its anti-gay law. On one hand, the Government might be tempted to dial down its antics as Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a large-scale influx of refugees along with trade and energy security disruptions. On the other hand, Fidesz won the April 2022 general election, and Orban, who secured a new four-year term, must feel invincible. We should remember that Orban’s problems with the rule of law go way beyond LGBTQ+ rights. Just for fun and to honor the resistance, read how the American Conservative sees it.
Switzerland: extending equality to survivor’s benefits
Beatriz Hernandez, a New Jersey widow, is fighting Switzerland in a discrimination case under consideration for review by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Despite having recently approved same-sex marriage, Switzerland currently does not recognize the right to surviving spouse Social Security benefits for LGBT+ widows and widowers, while heterosexual widows receive full benefits under the law. You can sign Beatriz’s petition here.
Andorra: in which we learn what a diarchy is
Given Andorra's size, one could argue that the 33rd country to approve same-sex marriage made disproportionately large headlines. It was an opportunity to learn about Andorra’s two "princes”. The tiny European nation, which borders France and Spain (I vaguely remember going there for tax-free cigarettes in my youth), is indeed a diarchy. Oddly, neither of these princes resides in Andorra. By law, they are whoever happens to be the French president and the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Urgell in Catalonia, a region of Spain. One of these princes must approve the legislation. You guessed it, Emmanuel Macron is the surer bet. Read the news here.
Cuba: a referendum on Family Code in September
As a general rule, we do not like referendums on people’s rights. Democracy has to be more than two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Cuba is to hold a referendum on September 25 on whether to adopt a new Family Code, which could pave the way for same-sex marriage. Read about it in the Washington Post.
US News
Respect for Marriage Act: calling the Senators
While the Respect for Marriage Act is far from a panacea and certainly not insurance against what’s coming our way, we should get it passed. Tammy Baldwin has apparently been making the rounds. All of us should call our Senators especially if we live in a state with a GOP Senator. We probably need ten plus GOP Senators so it is not a close call. Most GOP Senators are undeclared but we want to particularly target Sullivan, Blunt, Burr, and Toomey.
Pennsylvania: The Republican Congressman’s Gay Wedding
I am not sure why this made headlines. After voting against the Respect for Marriage Act, Rep. Glenn Thompson got bad press for attending his son’s gay wedding. Sure it is a bit hypocritical, but we still appreciate it: you go, Glen Coco. Read about it in the Advocate.
Vermont: Dinner with Becca Balint
While passing through Middlebury, I had dinner with Becca Balint, the lesbian candidate for Vermont's At-Large Congressional seat, who has received many endorsements including that of Bernie Sanders. Becca is running against well-funded Lt. Gov. Molly Gray in the primary on a platform offering an alternative to the brash politics of Washington. A win would make her the 3rd lesbian in Congress. You will be glad to read that my boys were well-behaved and quietly coloring during dinner. I was struck by what a good listener she is, as well as her principled approach to issues. We spoke about my venture on LGBTQ+ Corporate Board representation and how Land O’Lakes’ Beth Ford has become a true champion for rural communities. You can read more about her politics here.
Mark King and Peter Staley suggest taking a break from hookups
I think it is the fifth consecutive week, we are writing about monkeypox (it even has a cute acronym “Mpx”, so you know it’s here to stay). Apparently, there are 2,891 cases across the country with 247 in Florida.
Last week, we shared a piece suggesting we dial down the political correctness and admit monkeypox is a gay thing right now. This week, Mark S. King on his blog, and Peter Staley authorized us to ask gay men to take a break from hookups without losing this newsletter’s sex positivity badge. Read it here.
Texas: internal migration and restrictive social laws
While many abroad wonder if the US is heading towards a secession, The Dallas News claims students are reconsidering attending universities in Texas because of the legal context. Read about it here.
Florida families and advocacy groups file lawsuit over 'Don't Say Gay' law
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Orlando, seeks to block the school boards in Orange, Indian River, Duval, and Palm Beach counties from implementing the law (HB 1557), which passed during a rather surrealistic debate led by the owner of Hiers-Baxley Funeral Service. Read about it here.
The Boardroom
Announcing the Advisory Board for the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors
In a LinkedIn post this week, I announced the Association’s prestigious inaugural Advisory Board. The 9 members are Betsy Bernard, Elizabeth Mora, Michael C. Camuñez, Richard Socarides, Imara Jones, Heather Hiles, Chiqui Cartagena, Ozzie Meza and Gerry Rodriguez. They are experts in governance, prominent LGBTQ+ Board members, and leaders in our community. Read about them here.
If you are a board-ready Senior LGBTQ+ candidate or if you know one, please use this link to upload your profile.
Partnership with the BoardList for LGBTQ+ Visibility
The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors also partnered with Boardlist, the leading talent platform for connecting underrepresented individuals with global board and executive opportunities. More than 2000 companies have used the platform to search for candidates, and Boardlist has seen a 4x increase in search volume over the last year. You can create your profile here.
At odds with US practice, EU prepares blanket gender quota
Because good intentions alone never lead to diverse boards, the EU, whose member countries already have gender quotas in place, is considering a 40% women representation quota for all member countries. Freshfields reports on where the EU directive stands. On the other hand, there is very little talk about LGBTQ+ Board representation in the region.
From the semi-cultural desk
The Q under fire before I even knew it existed
I haven’t been to a gay bar in years but drug use, racism, and public sex were kind of the norm when I frequented Le Depot in the 2000s. Not to make light of the current allegations against the Q, as echoed by NPR, which are indeed not a good rap for the club and its owners. If the allegations prove to be true, they are another example of the hard work ahead for us to stamp out the mistreatment of minorities within our community.
Billy Porter’s anything possible is out
Billy Porter directed a film and it is on Prime. My friend Nic Cory was also a director of the movie described as:
“a modern coming-of-age story that follows Kelsa, a confident high school girl who is trans, as she navigates through senior year”.
A Strange Loop: striking and flawed
I saw “A Strange Loop” last Wednesday. Powerful and at times flawed. Not sure you are allowed to say that about a “Pulitzer Prize” and New York Times-acclaimed winning Obra Maestra but you get my point. A comprehensive and vivid window into what it is like to be a fat queer black man in NYC and the journey to self-acceptance, which is universal to queer people, the show was at times disconcerting. I have no issue being uncomfortable – after all, this is what 2022 Broadway is about - but felt the scene in which Usher engages in sex with an older white man superfluous. Usher’s self-hatred is brilliantly portrayed with no need for a shock scene which makes the musical inaccessible for some. Even though, as Usher highlights when asked if he saw “Hamilton”, Broadway is unaffordable. I have to confess that some language and cultural references, such as the many nods to Tyler Perry, went above my head as an ESL immigrant so now I am googling them. Overall I highly recommend it as, like Jackson, I wish I had interrupted my own strange loop earlier in life.
An enchanting Garden in the Pines
Sumner & Roy’s Fire Island Garden was featured in New York Magazine this week. I toured it last year and it was lovely. I also got devoured by mosquitoes. A 40 years long labor of love. Flowers do bloom in the strangest of places…
Jojo Siwa’s comments come back to her like a boomerang
I can never get enough of this video. Jojo prefers to be called “gay” than a “lesbian”. I am fine with that but apparently, this is a controversial statement. In OK magazine to which I don’t subscribe yet.
The Gay Agenda
July 27-31: Global Black Pride in Toronto
Global Black Pride is taking place in Toronto starting tomorrow. You can read more about the events here. I could just cross lake Champlain.
July 27-28: RISE 2022 - India’s LGBT+ Workplace Inclusion Conference
The 4th edition of India’s RISE Conference starts tomorrow. I will speak on "Global Perspective - LGBT+ in 2022", exploring the Changing World Order and what it means to be LGBT+ these days with Shanghai Pride’s Charlene Liu and Ymania Brown. More about RISE here.
Coming and Going
The Victory Fund focuses on Black candidates
The Victory Fund launched the Black Leaders Caucus this year to build community and lift up voices for their Black LGBTQ-endorsed candidates. See Victory's network of leaders dedicated to electing more Black LGBTQ leaders here.
Jeff Marootian nominated Assistant Secretary in Dept of Energy
President Biden announced this week he intends to nominate Jeff Marootian for Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. Read about here.