QM Weekly Update for Jan 26, 2026
🏳️⚧️🏛️ On Tuesday, anti-trans provisions were removed from bills in Congress to fund the Departments of Education, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services.
More information:
“Democrats Successfully Strip All Anti-Trans Riders From Final Appropriations Bills”
“Anti-trans provisions stripped from House and Senate funding bills”
Anti-trans provisions stripped from government funding bills | Advocate.com
The bills are still subject to a final vote, but trans Americans can be relieved for now.
“Democrats celebrate as anti-trans provisions are removed from Health & Human Services funding bill”
Democrats celebrate as anti-trans provisions are removed from Health & Human Services funding bill - LGBTQ Nation
The bill is "strikingly clean."
🏳️🌈🏛️�� On Tuesday, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rescinded 2024 guidance on workplace harassment that included a section on gender identity and sexual orientation.
More information:
“EEOC rescinds LGBTQ-inclusive guidance on workplace harassment”
EEOC rescinds LGBTQ-inclusive harassment guidance | Advocate.com
Activists and Democratic politicians are outraged by changes made by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“Trump’s EEOC strikes harassment guidance amid debate over transgender protections”
Trump’s EEOC rescinds harassment guidance covering everyone : NPR
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted 2-1 to roll back the agency's 2024 harassment guidance in its entirety. The document gave employers information on what makes up unlawful harassment.
🏳️⚧️🏛️�� Today, the U.S. State Department released the draft of a new proposed rule that would halt foreign assistance from going to groups that advocate ‘gender ideology’ or DEI.
More information:
“Trump Pressures International Orgs To Disavow Trans Care, Social Transition Globally “At Any Age” With Funding Ban”
“Trump administration to block foreign aid from those promoting abortion, DEI and gender identity”
Trump's foreign aid ban will target abortion, DEI and gender identity | AP News
The Trump administration is expanding its ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups supporting abortion services to include assistance going to international and domestic organizations and agencies that promote gender identity as well as diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
🏳️⚧️⚕️⚖️ On Wednesday, a federal judge blocked a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice attempting to get private information about minors who received gender-affirming care from a hospital in Washington, D.C.
More information:
“Federal judge slams DOJ’s attempt to “intimidate & harass” trans patients & hospitals”
Federal judge slams DOJ's attempt to "intimidate & harass" trans patients & hospitals - LGBTQ Nation
The DOJ's subpoena seeking sensitive patient information has "no legitimate governmental purpose," the judge wrote.
🏳️⚧️⚖️ On September 17th, a federal judge upheld a drag ban in Texas, comparing drag to blackface in his ruling.
More information:
“Federal judge upholds drag ban claiming drag is the same as “blackface””
Federal judge upholds drag ban claiming drag is the same as "blackface" - LGBTQ Nation
The judge complained that "cultural elites" like drag but hate blackface, which he claimed are morally equivalent practices.
“Trump-appointed Texas federal judge rules that drag is like blackface”
Federal judge compares drag to blackface in Texas ruling | Advocate.com
"Claims comparing it to dehumanizing performances designed to uphold racial supremacy are as inaccurate as they are offensive," a GLAAD spokesperson told The Advocate.
“Judge Kacsmaryk Compares Drag To Blackface, Allows College Campus Drag Ban In Texas”