QM Weekly Update for March 23, 2026
🏳️⚧️⚕️⚠️ Researchers at Northwestern University are advertising on social media sites to recruit trans youth for a new study called AYAGDOS. The project is facing backlash from trans community leaders who warn against participation due to the researchers’ history of promoting the widely discredited “rapid onset gender dysphoria” hypothesis commonly used to claim being trans is not real, as well as past allegations of research misconduct with human subjects.
More information:
“Scientists Behind the ‘Social Contagion’ Myth Are Recruiting Trans Young People For Study, Community Leaders Warn”
🏳️⚧️🛂 On March 11th, the Trump administration finalized a new rule regarding the Diversity Immigrant Visa program (also known as the “green card lottery”), requiring applicants to list their “biological sex at birth,” even if it differs from their passport or birth certificate. Trans applicants for the green card lottery risk facing increased scrutiny as a result of the rule.
More information:
“Sorting Through the Facts and Panic Around the State Department’s Latest Immigrant Visa Policy Update”
Sorting Through the Facts and Panic Around the State Department’s Latest Immigrant Visa Policy Update | Them
Speculation has spread online that the changes would lead to increased harassment of trans people regardless of immigration status.
🏳️⚧️🏛️ On Tuesday, the U.S. House committee advanced a bill known as “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act” which would prohibit all schools receiving federal funding for programming or materials containing topics such as “gender dysphoria and transgenderism.” The bill now heads to the full House, where it is expected to pass.
More information:
“Congressional Republicans advance federal ‘don’t say trans’ school bill”
GOP bill defines transgender identity as ‘sexual’ in schools | Advocate.com
The proposed law categorizes any discussion of transgender identity as "sexual" and therefore forbidden for kids to learn about in class.
🏳️⚧️🚴♀️ On Tuesday, 90 human rights and sports groups released a joint statement warning the International Olympic Committee about the harm that will be done to all women if they bring back chromosomal and hormone testing to Olympic competition.
More information:
“90 Human Rights and Sports Groups Call for Olympics to Drop “Sex Testing” Plans”
90 Human Rights and Sports Groups Call for Olympics to Drop “Sex Testing” Plans | Them
As recently as November, IOC president Kirsty Coventry signaled they would bring the practice back.
🏳️⚧️⚕️⚖️ On Thursday, a federal judge announced that he would vacate the anti-trans declaration issued in December by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which has been used to pressure hospitals around the country to stop providing gender-affirming care to trans minors by threatening that providers of this care would be "deemed not to meet professionally recognized standards of health care."
More information:
“Federal Judge Rules RFK Jr. Acted Beyond Legal Authority on Trans Youth Care”
Federal Judge Rules RFK Jr. Acted Beyond Legal Authority on Trans Youth Care | Them
A coalition of 21 states challenged Kennedy's 12-page declaration on gender-affirming care.
“Judge blocks RFK Jr.’s move to restrict federal funding for minors’ gender-affirming care”