This week: the EuroPride debacle, ERC in Buenos Aires, Equality PAC in Palm Springs, the US theocracy, Diligent Summit, party at JP Morgan, super-gay Emmys, the scandalous monkeypox Czar, and more…
Fabrice Houdart | A weekly newsletter on LGBTQ+ Equality
Welcome to our weekly equality news digest, where I share important (and much less important) news, updates, and commentary about the global LGBTQ+ equality movement at the intersection with business. Kindly share it with your network.
This week: the EuroPride debacle, Equality PAC in Palm Springs, ERC in Buenos Aires, the US theocracy, Diligent Summit, party at JP Morgan, super-gay Emmys, the scandalous monkeypox Czar, and more…
Global News
Serbia: all eyes on EuroPride this weekend
It is unclear what will happen in Belgrade this Saturday. The Serbian police handed over an official notice to Belgrade Pride. The organizers said they would “use all available legal means to overturn this decision” – a hint they might not march after all. The interior ministry referred to potential “senseless conflicts on the streets of Belgrade” showing complete ignorance about what Pride stands for. Read the EU statement here.
Argentina: Equal Rights Coalition Conference
After the UK #SafeToBeMe Conference was cancelled under pressure from activists, the ERC finally met in Buenos Aires last week (Thursday 8 September) to discuss joint action on urgent issues that LGBT people face globally. Germany and Mexico took up their roles as new ERC co-chairs (after UK and Argentina) during the closing ceremony of the conference last Friday. You can read more about it here.
France: no end for Cayeux’ calvaire
Cayeux, who is Macron’s Minister responsible for “territorial cohesion” is better on the territory side of things than on cohesion. After having denounced the “counter natural” behavior of homosexuals during the debate on same-sex marriage years ago, she is now under fire for self-congratulating about having“a lot of friends among these people [ces gens-là a.k.a the homosexuals]”. She almost survived her bigotry until four LGBTQ+ organizations decided to file a lawsuit against her this week. Read about it here.
Sri-Lanka: inching its way to decriminalization
The Sri Lankan President on Sunday said, in the presence of a USAID representative, that his government will not oppose a Bill presented to Parliament to decriminalize homosexuality. In neighboring India, a landmark judgment by the highest court overturned 377 in 2018. Read about it in the Washington Blade.
US News
Texas: freedom of religion vs. PreP
A week ago, a federal judge in Texas decided that the government cannot require a Christian-owned company to cover PreP. This decision is obviously extremely problematic. The Hobby Lobby decision (named after a US arts-and-crafts chain whose devout Christian owners won a landmark Supreme Court ruling on religious freedom) adopted an “ungenerous” approach to the question of whether a law burdens an employer’s religious belief.
What if I believe that NYC speed limits and traffic cameras burden my motorcycle religious beliefs? Can Houdart Consulting reject my citations? Or that God gives people diabetes as a test of faith? Can my business refuse insurance coverage for insulin? How about cancer treatments? Where does the insanity end?
New York: Yeshiva University can discriminate for now
Well, it certainly does not end with religious groups having a right to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Welcome to the 2022 US theocracy. A decision late on Friday said that Yeshiva University, a private Orthodox Jewish research university with four campuses in NYC, does not have to recognize an LGBTQ+ student club pending a decision by the Supreme Court to take up the case.
“If Yeshiva can’t even make religious decisions on its own campus, then no religious group is safe from government control.”
Miami-Dade: schoolboard votes against LGBTQ+ history month
Along the same lines, the Miami-Dade School Board on Wednesday evening voted overwhelmingly against a provision on LGBTQ+ history, with a debate referring a LOT to what God really wants. You can watch the debate (H11 at the bottom of the screen shows when this is debated) if you are bored here. Bottom line: LGBTQ+ people must start running for local offices everywhere in the US.
Special Mid-Term elections
All eyes on Will Rollins in Palm Springs, California
The New York Times had a great piece last week titled “In the California Desert, L.G.B.T.Q. Voters Could Sway a Key House Race” on the choice between stale and historically homophobe representative Ken Calvert (“GOP congressman with anti-LGBTQ past tries to win over gay Palm Springs voters” in the LA Times) and the inspiring and openly gay Will Rollins. Calvert’s redrawn district now includes Palm Springs, the gayest city in America giving us a chance to gain his seat but also punish his duplicity. What will make a difference in this race is the turnout so if you have friends in CA-41, ring them up…
When (not if…when) they make it to DC, Rollins and his husband, Paolo will be strong competition for the Buttigiegs. Pete and Chasten might have to up their game if they want to get to the White House first.
Targeting the Gayest Congress in History that we know of…
I was with Rollins and other Equality PAC candidates (including Vermont’s Becca Balint, meteorologist Eric Sorensen for Illinois’ 17th, the charming Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, and the inspiring Jamie McLeod-Skinner, Oregon) in Palm Springs for the Equality PAC’s Annual retreat. Nancy Pelosi regaled the audience with stories about her interaction with Singaporean authorities on criminalization. Sean Patrick Maloney expressed optimism about the falling oil prices, a surge in Women’s voting registration numbers and the health of his marriage.
Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services came to show support to LGBTQ+ candidates and reminisce about her time in Congress with Barney Frank. She and I spoke about the objectives of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors and how her Committee could support them. Read about the Palm Springs’ events here.
David Mixner interviews Democrat strategist Bob Shrum
Mixner invited Bob Shrum, who was for three decades the most prominent Democratic political consultant, to his podcast to do some crystal-ball gazing ahead of the upcoming elections. Listen here. Fun fact: I attended Shrum’s retirement party at Ted Kennedy’s house in DC some twenty years ago where some witty person asked me if I knew Senator Barbara Mikulski from the Lollipop Guild. Mixner also interviewed former Senator Claire McCaskil later in the week.
“Our democracy is hanging by a thread […] everybody needs to find five people to register”.
In the Boardroom
Official launch of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors
On Monday night, we officially launched the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors in NYC. Please read my speech here.
The event was hosted by Brad Baumoel at JPMorgan Chase & Co. with sixty prominent corporate leaders, elected officials, activists, and governance stakeholders. Among the many distinguished attendees: Amit Paley (Trevor Project, de-facto the US leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization), Laurent Claquin (Kering), Lanaya Irvin (Coqual), Betsy Bernard (Zimmer Biomet), Nancy Mahon (Estee Lauder), Anne Clare Wolffe (Independence Point Advisors), Bill Kapfer (JP Morgan), Richard Socarides (GLG), Congressman Takano (Co-Chair Equality PAC), Congressman David Cicilline (Co-Chair Equality PAC), Dannetta Bland (Accenture), Allyn Shaw (Wells Fargo) and State Senator Hoylman. Read more about it here and here.
Resharing the review shared on LinkedIn by our friend Bill Kapfer, Global Head of Supplier Diversity, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
There are many reasons boards should cultivate a broad spectrum of demographic attributes and characteristics among their members. Beyond fairness and corporate social responsibility, heterogeneity in terms of director sexual orientation and gender identity will allow boards to better connect with employees, consumers, and shareholders.
Companies and organizations that have diverse Boards perform better and LGBTQ+ people contribute to that successful paradigm. Whether in the hiring of the executive, the determination of strategy, the allocation of resources, or the goal of serving the community with authenticity, the board’s leadership on diversity, inclusion, and equity matters. As stewards of the public good, all social sector organizations, regardless of mission, are called on to embrace and celebrate our common humanity, and the inherent worth of all people. I’d argue that it’s time to go beyond fishing from the same pond for board members, and rather start looking at the broader, diverse ocean in which we all swim. 🏊🏼
Diligent’s inaugural Board Diversity Report
After the event, I flew to the Diligent Modern Governance Summit in Austin representing the newly launched Association in a session on diversity. Perfect timing as Diligent shared this week its inaugural report on Board diversity reiterating the diversity opportunity and the abysmal LGBTQ+ representation on Boards. You can read the report here and see pictures of my visit.
As a side note, Diligent named the Association’s Advisory Board member, Ozzie Gromada-Mesa and myself, among their Modern Governance 100 this week. Read about it here. Also included in the list is our friend Michael Krawitz, the openly gay Corporate Secretary of Conduent.
Openly LGBTQ+ Cathy Halligan joins another Board
The Association congratulates Cathy Halligan for joining the JELD-WEN, Inc.'s Board. Cathy is part of a very exclusive group of LGBTQ+ people in the Fortune 1000 Boardroom. She also serves as an Independent Board Director for Ulta Beauty and several other companies.
From the semi-cultural desk
The NBA disappoints
I don’t really watch games (although I did go to the US Open last Wednesday but only for the photo-op with President Dwight McBride, Boc McCormick and Prof. Chris Cunningham. We were seated courtside next to Bradley Beal – completely oblivious – still - as to who he is) but I know most people do. So it infuriates me when NBA players such as Anthony Edwards use their platform to spread homophobic language. Even more infuriating, his team issued a substance-less statement. Read about it on ESPN.
"Peppa Pig" goes all lesbian on us
The UK children's show introduced its first same-sex couple in an episode titled “Families” that aired Tuesday last week on Channel 5 in Britain. Conservatives in Italy and the US are not happy about it, completely overlooking that children of that age never remember anything they watch or eat. Read about Brothers of Italy’s ultimatum to Rai here.
Biden's Monkeypox Czar riles up conservatives
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis is sexy, and often shirtless apparently, which is a source of moral outrage in America (not unlike in the amazing movie Elvis). Accusations range from him owning a harness to suspicions of satanism. Daskalis denies the latter but how can one really be sure? I am certain some satanists do not own up to their beliefs. I read once that you can get rid of vampires by decapitating them and stuffing the severed head's mouth with garlic which is neither here nor there. Read about it in The Advocate.
The gay Emmys fashion
On Monday you either were at the Emmys or with the Association at JP Morgans. I obviously was at 383 Madison so you can read about the Emmys, the TV gays, and their outfits on Autostraddle. As a side note, “White Lotus” was my favorite show this year (I am now very much into “Industry”) and I can’t wait for Season 2 this October which will showcase awful wealthy American tourists in Italy. Read about it here.
Coming and Going
Shake-up at Grindr
George Arison, former CEO and founder of Shyft, who had already been named on the Board of Grindr, is replacing Jeff Bonforte at its helm. The company, with the gayest Board in history, that we know of, was exceptionally well represented at our launch Monday night by Board member extraordinaire Nathan Richardson, General Counsel Bill Shafton, and Head of Regulatory Affairs Kelly Miranda. Read more here and here.
Muneer Panjwani leaves Trevor
Muneer, who can be credited for part of the tremendous organization’s development, announced he was leaving The Trevor Project this week. After a hiatus, he plans on focusing on applying his entrepreneurship skills. I have much respect for the man who once in an interview asked a prospective employer if he was “a purpose-driven leader”, and when faced with a negative reaction, walked out. In the meantime Trevor is recruiting a new VP of Institutional Partnerships and a Director of Corporate Partnerships
The Gay Agenda
Thursday: join me at the Victory Fund
I will return from Austin in time for the LGBTQ Victory Fund’s Victory reception in New York. If you find my conversation (mostly stories about my vacations with the twins) boring, you will get to schmooze with Erik Bottcher, Ashton Giese or the legendary David Mixner. The event is taking place from 5-7pm at the Ascent Lounge (Columbus Circle). The list of hosts is also impressive. You can still get tickets here.
Friday: East Meets West livestream from Serbia
Show support to EMW as they broadcast from embattled Serbia this Friday. The objective is to bring to Belgrade (and to the region) inspiration to move forward with LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. You can register here.
UN Week: leave town while you can
Real New Yorkers know to avoid the General Assembly period and not to host a black-tie ball in the middle of it. Rumor has it that Allyn Shaw might be invited to speak at the UN.
October 12-15, lesbians who Tech
Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Pride Summit is in-person in San Francisco in mid-October, you can register here.