QM Weekly Update for April 20, 2026
🏳️⚧️⚕️ A study published in March found that the implementation of a DoxyPEP intervention in Seattle was associated with a county-wide reduction in syphilis cases by 53% among cisgender men, 47% among cisgender women, and 33% among trans and nonbinary people.
More information:
“Former Biden HHS leaders hail syphilis breakthrough as Trump dismantles the system behind it”
Former Biden HHS team hails doxyPEP syphilis success | Advocate.com
“This is an example of successful public health,” Dr. Jonathan Mermin, who led the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, told The Advocate.
“Big decline in syphilis seen after introduction of doxyPEP”
Big decline in syphilis seen after introduction of doxyPEP | CIDRAP
Syphilis cases in the Seattle area fell by 52% overall after the intervention was implemented, but no effect was seen on congenital syphilis.
“The population-level impact of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis on syphilis in King County, WA: an interrupted time series analysis”
🏳️⚧️🏀⚖️ On Wednesday, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s refusal to issue a preliminary block against a trans-inclusive sports policy in Minnesota that allows trans girls to continue to compete in high school girls’ sports.
More information:
“Federal appeals court says Trump orders aren’t law, rejects trans athlete ban in Minnesota”
Federal appeals court backs trans athletes in Minnesota | Advocate.com
The judges said that Trump’s executive orders aren’t law, and trans athletes stay in the game.
🏳️🌈⚖️ On April 10th, the U.S. government agreed in a court settlement to allow the Pride flag to fly permanently at the Stonewall National Monument after it had previously been taken down, agreeing that the flag qualifies as a historical exemption from the National Park Service’s recent policy of only allowing U.S. agency flags to fly at national parks.
More information:
“U.S. Allows Pride Flag to Remain st Stonewall Monument”
U.S. Allows Pride Flag to Remain at Stonewall Monument - Metro Weekly
Trump administration settles lawsuit, agreeing the Pride flag qualifies for a "historical" exemption from NPS bans on "non-agency" flags.
“Trump administration agrees to return rainbow Pride flag to New York’s Stonewall monument”
Trump administration agrees Pride flag can fly at Stonewall | AP News
The Trump administration has agreed to keep flying a rainbow Pride flag on a federal flagpole at the Stonewall National Monument, reversing course after removing the banner in February.
“Trump Says the Pride Flag Will Stay at Stonewall After All”
Trump Says the Pride Flag Will Stay at Stonewall After All | Them
The federal government reversed its decision to take the LGBTQ+ Pride flag down from historic monument.
🏳️⚧️🪖 On Thursday, the Department of Defense revealed in a court filing that they have begun involuntary removal processes against trans people in the military.
More information:
“Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon has started kicking trans troops out of the military, DOJ says”
Pentagon begins forced removals of transgender troops | Advocate.com
After telling federal appeals judges no involuntary separations had happened, the Trump administration now says they’ve begun
🏳️🌈⚖️ On Thursday, a man was sentenced to seven years in prison for plotting to commit hate-motivated violent acts against two locations in the city of Owosso, northeast of Lansing, based on perceived ties to the LGBTQ+ community.
More information:
“Owosso man sentenced to 7 years for plotting hate crimes against LGBTQ+ community”
Owosso man sentenced to 7 years for plotting hate crimes against LGBTQ+ community
An Owosso man was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to a federal hate crime tied to a foiled mass killing plot.
🏳️⚧️⚖️In March, a trans woman employee at an Ann Arbor homeless shelter filed a civil rights lawsuit against the shelter foundation, alleging that management downplayed repeated harassment by coworkers based on her gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as a threatening email that circulated among staff.
More information:
“Trans woman sues homeless shelter over alleged ‘threatening’ harassment that made her ill”
Trans woman sues homeless shelter over alleged "threatening" harassment that made her ill - LGBTQ Nation
One threatening email had her “hiding in my car, afraid of an attack.”
“Ann Arbor shelter worker sues over transgender discrimination, safety claims”