QM Weekly Update for December 22, 2025
🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈⚖️ On Wednesday, a federal appeals court blocked Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy (described by expert sources as a form of torture) for LGBTQ+ minors, saying it violates the First Amendment rights of therapists and counselors.
More information:
“Court blocks Michigan ban on conversion therapy on free speech grounds”
Court blocks Michigan ban on conversion therapy on free speech grounds
A federal appeals court has blocked Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy for minors who are LGBTQ+, declaring it violates the First Amendment rights of therapists and counselors. In a 2-1 opinion, the court said the 2023 law illegally restricts speech that reflects the moral beliefs of therapists. It set aside a lower court’s ruling and granted a preliminary injunction sought by Catholic Charities.
“Conversion Therapy on LGBTQ+ Children as a Form of Torture and the Rights of the Child in the Face of the United States Constitution’s Free Speech and Religious Free Exercise Clauses”
Conversion Therapy on LGBTQ+ Children as a Form of Torture and the Rights of the Child in the Face of the United States Constitution’s Free Speech and Religious Free Exercise Clauses | Journal of Gender, Race & Justice - The University of Iowa
Conversion therapy is an attempt to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of an LGBTQ+ individual to conform to heteronormative, cisgender archetypes using practices such as aversion therapy and talk therapy. It denies the true identity of a person, and to allow its practice on minors
🏳️⚧️⚕️🏛️ On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representative passed a bill that would criminalize gender-affirming care for trans minors nationwide, including up to 10-year prison sentences for health care providers and criminal liability for parents and others. Three Democrats voted for it, but it is not expected to pass in the Senate.
More information:
“Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for minors passes with Democrats’ support”
House passes bill that would make gender-affirming care a crime | Advocate.com
<p>The outgoing Georgia congresswoman was able to successfully make transgender young people a target as one of her last acts in Congress. </p>
“MTG’s Felony National Youth Trans Ban Passes House; 3 Dems Vote For It, 4 GOP Vote Against It”
🏳️⚧️⚕️🏛️ On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed regulations that would cut off Medicaid and Medicare funds from any hospital that provides gender-affirming care to trans minors and ban Medicaid from being used to fund gender-affirming care for trans minors. The proposals still have to go through the rulemaking process and are expected to be challenged in court.
More information:
“Nationwide Trans Youth Care Ban Incoming As Trump Admin Announces ‘Nuclear Option’ Federal Rule”
“RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz announce sweeping measures to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth”
RFK Jr. announces measures to ban gender-affirming care | Advocate.com
<p>The Department of Health and Human Services announced new proposals that would effectively block gender-affirming care for trans youth across the country. </p>
“RFK Jr. announces new rules targeting care for transgender youth”
RFK Jr. announces new rules targeting care for transgender youth - The 19th
If approved, the proposed federal regulations would dramatically impact an already challenging landscape.
“WATCH: Trump administration seeks to cut off access to transgender health care for U.S. children”
WATCH: Trump administration seeks to cut off access to transgender health care for U.S. children | PBS News
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to block access to gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trump administration restrictions targeting transgender Americans.
“Trump Administration Announces New Rules Targeting Care for Transgender Youth”
“Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children”
Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children | AP News
U.S. officials are proposing new restrictions that are designed to block access to gender-affirming care for minors.
🏳️⚧️🏛️ On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that they have started to issue warnings to companies that manufacture or sell chest binders, and threatened to seize products, claiming they’re medical devices being illegally marketed to children.
More information:
“Trump’s FDA sends warning letters to companies selling chest binders”
FDA sends warning letters to companies selling chest binders | Advocate.com
<p>Trump's FDA claims that companies selling chest binders have "misbranded" medical devices. </p>
“RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz announce sweeping measures to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth”
RFK Jr. announces measures to ban gender-affirming care | Advocate.com
<p>The Department of Health and Human Services announced new proposals that would effectively block gender-affirming care for trans youth across the country. </p>
HHS Press Release: “HHS Acts to Bar Hospitals from Performing Sex-Rejecting Procedures on Children”
“WARNING LETTER: TomboyX, PBC”
🏳️⚧️⚕️🏛️ On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representative passed a bill that would block Medicaid from being used for gender-affirming care for trans minors. Four Democrats voted for it, but it is not expected to pass in the Senate.
More information:
“GOP-led House passes bill to block the use of Medicaid funds for transgender care for minors”
GOP-led House passes bill to block the use of Medicaid funds for transgender care for minors | CNN Politics
The GOP-controlled House passed a bill that would block Medicaid funds from being used for gender identity care to minors.
🏳️⚧️🏫 On Tuesday, the superintendent of Monroe Public Schools in Michigan confirmed that the district’s athletic director was placed on paid leave after making empathetic statements towards a Michigan high school athlete rumored to be trans who has faced hostility from media outlets and state politicians.
More information:
“Local athletic director on leave following media appearance where he discussed trans athletes”
