🏳️‍🌈⚕️ A study published on July 6th found that gay and bisexual women were 16% less likely to be screened for breast cancer and 8% less likely to be screened for cervical cancer compared to heterosexual women. Trans people eligible for screening were 76% less likely to be screened for breast cancer and 42% less likely to be screened for cervical cancer compared to cisgender women.

• More information:

  • "LGBTQ People Less Likely To Be Screened For Common Cancers"

    • https://www.healthday.com/health-news/cancer/lgbtq-people-less-likely-to-be-screened-for-some-common-cancers

  • "Sexual orientation and gender identity based disparities in colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening in the United States" 

    • https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.70462

🏳️‍⚧️⚕️🏛️ Earlier last week, it was reported that the Department of Health and Human Services had backed off from finalizing a proposed rule which would have barred hospitals offering gender-affirming care for trans youth from participating in Medicare and Medicaid. However, HHS responded on social media stating that the claims were untrue and that the agency intends to issue a final rule, without specifying a date. 

• More information:

  • "Trump HHS shelves threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care"

    • https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5888586/transgender-gender-affirming-care-medicare-medicaid-hhs

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏛️ On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services officially rescinded a rule that was intended to protect LGBTQ+ children in foster care by requiring that they be placed in supportive environments and requiring child welfare agencies to receive LGBTQ+ competency training. The rule, which was vacated by a 2025 federal court ruling, had never gone into full effect.

• More information:

  • "Trump ends Biden-era rule supporting LGBTQ+ foster kids: 'Puts children at risk… plain & simple'"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/07/ends-biden-era-rule-supporting-lgbtq-foster-kids-puts-children-at-risk-plain-simple/

  • "RFK Jr. rolls back rule protecting LGBTQ+ kids in foster care from hostile parents"

    • https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-lgbtq-foster-youth-rollback

🏳️‍⚧️⚕️⚖️ On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief defending Premera Blue Cross in their appeal to overturn a federal court ruling that found its youth gender-affirming care coverage restrictions to be discriminatory.

• More information:

  • "Trump DOJ backs private insurance company that court found discriminated against trans patients"

    • https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/doj-transgender-premera-lawsuit

  • "Trump admin files brief supporting insurance company who won’t cover trans teens’ care"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/07/admin-files-brief-supporting-insurance-company-who-wont-cover-trans-teens-care/

🏳️‍⚧️⚕️⚖️ On July 2, a federal judge in Texas paused consideration of a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorneys General of four states against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) in order to wait for a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to rule first. On July 10th, the judge in D.C. allowed the lawsuit to proceed.

• More information:

  • "US judge won't block FTC case against transgender health nonprofit"

    • https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judge-wont-block-ftc-case-against-transgender-health-nonprofit-2026-07-10/