QM Weekly Update for Feb 23, 2026
🏳️⚧️⚕️📊 A recent major study found that 26% of trans youth have ever attempted suicide, over 3.5 times the rate of cisgender youth. Trans youth were also disproportionately likely to experience suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-harm, and suicide attempt rates for trans youth were found to be higher in North America than in European and Asian countries.
More information:
“JAMA Investigation: 26% of Trans and Gender Diverse Youth Have Attempted Suicide”
“Suicidality and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
🏳️🌈🪖⚖️ On Wednesday, a federal appeals court overturned a 2024 injunction blocking the Department of Defense’s enlistment ban on HIV-positive recruits. The DOD is now allowed to continue this enlistment ban, but is not allowed to discharge HIV-positive soldiers already serving.
More information:
“Federal Court Says Military Can Once Again Ban People Living with HIV”
Federal Court Allows Trump Admin to Reinstate Military’s Ban on People With HIV | Them
The ruling reversed a 2024 injunction blocking the ban.
Court opinion
https://lambdalegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/wilkins-4th-cir-decision-20260218.pdf
🏳️🌈🏫🏛️ On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced investigations into 3 Michigan public school districts, including Lansing, for including “sexual orientation and gender ideology” content in classes without allowing parents to opt-out, and for allowing trans children to use bathrooms that match their gender.
More information:
“DOJ investigating 3 Michigan districts for ‘sexual orientation and gender ideology’ content”
“Michigan schools chief backs 3 districts targeted in federal LGBTQ+ content probe”
“DOJ investigates whether schools taught about LGBTQ+ people without letting parents opt out”
DOJ investigates whether schools taught about LGBTQ+ people without letting parents opt-out - LGBTQ Nation
The DOJ says its now illegal for schools to acknowledge the existence of queer people unless religious parents can keep their kids from hearing about it.
“State: DOJ look at school LGBTQ curriculum based on false information”
State: DOJ look at school LGBTQ curriculum based on false information
Despite a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into sex education opt-out policies, local schools have local control, state superintendent says.
“DOJ Investigating 3 Michigan Districts for ‘Sexual Orientation and Gender Ideology’ Content”
DOJ Investigating 3 Michigan Districts for ‘Sexual Orientation and Gender Ideology’ Content
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into three Michigan public school districts — Detroit Public Schools, Lansing Public
“Justice Department Opens Investigations into Three Michigan School Districts for Required Instruction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Ideology in Pre-K-12 Schools”
Office of Public Affairs | Justice Department Opens Investigations into Three Michigan School Districts for Required Instruction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Ideology in Pre-K-12 Schools | United States Department of Justice
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched investigations into three Michigan public school districts: the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and the Lansing School District (the Michigan School Districts), to determine whether they have included sexual orientation and gender ideology (SOGI) content in any class for grades
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️📊 On Monday, a major survey found that the percentage of U.S. adults who self-identify as LGBTQ+ has remained unchanged since last year, at 9%. In 2025, 5.3% of adults identified as bi, 1.6% as gay, 1.4% as lesbian, and 1.1% as trans.
More information:
“2025 U.S. LGBTQ+ adult population matches 2024’s record; bi identity still most common: Gallup”
9% of U.S. adults are LBGTQ; bi identity most common: Gallup | Advocate.com
The pollster expects the LGBTQ+ percentage to rise in the coming years as more members of Generation Z become adults.
“With Bisexuals Leading the Charge, U.S. LGBTQ+ Population Has Doubled Since 2012”
With Bisexuals Leading the Charge, U.S. LGBTQ+ Population Has Doubled Since 2012 | Them
The report concludes the LGBTQ+ population will continue to grow as more of Gen Z reaches adulthood.
“LGBTQ+ Identification Holds at 9% in U.S.”
