QM Weekly Update for June 29, 2025
⚕️🎓🏛️ On Monday, the University of Michigan health system confirmed that they are being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for firing a physician assistant who requested religious exemptions from providing gender-affirming care to trans patients.
More information
“Trump admin investigating U of M Health system over transgender care case”
Trump admin investigating U of M Health system over transgender care case
Valerie Kloosterman says she was fired as a physician assistant, after requesting a religious exemption from providing certain types of care to transgender patients.
“HHS Investigates a Major Health System in Michigan to Safeguard Health Care Workers’ Conscience Rights”
🏳️🌈💒⚖️ According to a study released on Tuesday, there are approximately 823,000 married same-sex couples in the U.S. and 591,000 same-sex couples have gotten married since the Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal throughout the country, which had its 10 anniversary on Thursday.
More information:
"600,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot since Obergefell ruling made marriage equality legal"
600,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot since Obergefell | Advocate.com
<p>Some 823,000 married queer couples live in the U.S. today, double the number from before the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land.</p>
"Married Same-Sex Couples in the United States on the 10th Anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges"
"Nearly 600,000 same-sex couples have married since Obergefell v. Hodges"
🏳️🌈🗳️ On Tuesday, a report was released showing that the number of out LGBTQ+ elected representatives in the U.S. has increased by 2.4% in the past year, and has nearly tripled since 2017.
More information:
"The number of out LGBTQ+ elected officials has tripled since 2017"
"Out for America 2025"
🏳️⚧️⚕️ On Thursday, the Senate parliamentarian declared the provision in the current budget bill banning Medicaid and CHIP coverage of gender-affirming care to be not sufficiently budget-related, meaning that this provision must either be removed or the bill will not qualify for reconciliation, a process which would bypass the filibuster. If the provision remains in the bill, it will need 60 votes rather than 50 to pass, and at least 7 Democratic Senators would have to cross over.
More information:
"The Senate parliamentarian may have just stopped anti-trans measures from passing"
"BREAKING: U.S. Senate parliamentarian blocks GOP’s plan to ban gender-affirming care under Medicaid"
🏳️⚧️⚕️⚖️ On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that insurance companies must continue to cover PrEP and other health services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, due to the Affordable Care Act’s mandate.
More information:
"BREAKING: Supreme Court rules to save free access to PrEP and other preventive care"
🏳️🌈🏫⚖️ On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Mahmoud v. Taylor, ruled that parents can opt their children out of school lessons involving LGBTQ+-themed books due to religious objections.
More information:
"Supreme Court says Maryland parents can pull their kids from public school lessons using LGBTQ books"
Supreme Court says Maryland parents can pull kids from LGBTQ book lessons | AP News
A lawyer says the Supreme Court's ruling that Maryland parents who have religious objections can pull their children from public school lessons using LGBTQ storybooks is a historic victory for parental rights.
"What to know about the US Supreme Court’s ruling on public school lessons using LGBTQ books"
What to know about the US Supreme Court's ruling on public school lessons using LGBTQ books | AP News
The Supreme Court has sided with religious parents who want to pull their children out of the classroom when a public school lesson uses LGBTQ storybooks.
"BREAKING: Supreme Court allows Maryland parents to opt their kids out of LGBTQ+ lessons in schools"
SCOTUS lets parents opt their kids out of LGBTQ+ lessons | Advocate.com
<p>Parents in <em>Mahmoud v. Taylor </em>won the right<em> </em>to opt-out of classes where LGBTQ-themed books were taught.</p>
🏳️🌈📚 On June 19th, members of the Cromaine District Library in Hartland, Michigan, backed off on adopting a policy that would sequester challenged books (many of which were due to LGBTQ+ themes and characters) to a special section, or out of view entirely.
More information:
“Local Michigan library board backs away from policy to sequester LGBTQ+ themed books”