🏳️‍⚧️🗳️ This week in the midterm elections, there were several historical firsts for LGBTQ+ candidates in Michigan. State Senator Jeremy Moss won in the 11th Congressional district, and will be the first openly gay member of Congress from Michigan. Joanna Whaley won in Michigan's 2nd House district, and will be Michigan's first openly transgender legislator. Jason Hoskins won in Michigan's 7th Senate district, and will be Michigan's first openly gay Black state senator. Michigan now has 9 openly LGBTQ+ state legislators.

• More information:

  • "Queer Michigan history was made in the midterms this year"

    • https://michiganadvance.com/2026/11/05/queer-michigan-history-was-made-in-the-midterms-this-year/

  • "Michigan Election Results: Democrats Win Trifecta, LGBTQ+ Incumbents Sweep"

    • https://pridesource.com/article/election-2026-results-michigan-lgbtq

  • "Meet the Trans Lawmakers Who Made History This Week, Starting With Michigan’s Joanna Whaley"

    • https://pridesource.com/article/joanna-whaley-win

  • "Minnesota reelects Leigh Finke, the trans lawmaker who helped protect gender-affirming care"

    • https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/leigh-finke-midterm-elections

  • "Jeremy Moss makes history as first out gay man to represent Michigan in US House"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/jeremy-moss-makes-history-as-first-out-gay-man-to-represent-michigan-in-us-house/

  • "Michigan election firsts: Muslim, LGBTQ, Democratic socialist wins"

    • https://bridgemi.com/michigan-politics/michigan-election-firsts-muslim-lgbtq-democratic-socialist-wins/

🏳️‍🌈🗳️ As a result of Tuesday's elections, 17 out LGBTQ+ people will be serving in the U.S. Senate and House in the upcoming term, including 5 newly elected U.S. House members.

• More information:

  • "2027 will have the most out LGBTQ+ Congress ever with at least 16 out lawmakers"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/2027-will-have-the-most-out-lgbtq-congress-ever-with-at-least-16-out-lawmakers/

🏳️‍⚧️🗳️ Nine states elected out trans or nonbinary candidates to serve in their state legislatures on Tuesday, including six who will be the first trans or nonbinary member in their legislative body.

• More information:

  • "These trans or nonbinary candidates just made history"

    • https://19thnews.org/2026/11/these-trans-and-nonbinary-candidates-just-made-history/

  • "Trans candidates were elected across the country as part of blue wave"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/trans-candidates-were-elected-across-the-country-as-part-of-blue-wave/

🏳️‍⚧️🗳️ This week, despite the "blue wave" in the midterms, anti-trans ballot initiatives were passed in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, and Washington. All four states have instituted an anti-trans sports ban, primarily focusing on trans girls in K-12 sports, although in Colorado the amendment focuses on all transgender students. In Arizona, trans athletes are also banned from restrooms, and that law, broadly applied, could apply to more trans bathroom bans in public life.

• More information:

  • "The blue wave delivered mixed results for anti-trans ballot initiatives"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/the-blue-wave-delivered-mixed-results-for-anti-trans-ballot-initiatives/

  • "Ballot measures banning trans student-athletes pass in Nebraska and Arizona"

    • https://19thnews.org/2026/11/election-results-sports-trans-athletes/

  • "LGBTQ+ groups 'heartbroken' by passage of anti-trans measures amid blue wave"

    • https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/midterm-election-2026-transgender-measures

  • "Arizona passes anti-trans sports ban that could ban trans adults from public restrooms"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/arizona-passes-anti-trans-sports-ban-that-could-ban-trans-adults-from-public-restrooms/

  • "Nebraska passes anti-trans sports ban misleadingly called “Fairness for Girls initiative”"

    • https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/nebraska-passes-anti-trans-sports-ban-misleadingly-called-fairness-for-girls-initiative/

  • "Deep-blue Washington State passes ballot initiative banning trans girls from sports"

    • https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/washington-trans

  • "Colorado votes to restrict sports participation for transgender students"

    • https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/colorado-trans-sports-2026-election

🏳️‍🌈👥 A survey released on Thursday found that LGBTQ U.S. adults are more likely to be part of online communities, to report feeling more accepted there, and to say that they bring value to their lives compared to non-LGBTQ adults, but are also more likely to say that they have left an online community due to harassment.

• More information:

  • "Almost Half of LGBTQ+ Americans Have an Online Community, Study Finds"

    • https://www.them.us/news/lgbtq-people-more-online-internet

  • "LGBTQ Americans Stand Out for Being Part of Online Communities, Finding Value in Them"

    • https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/11/05/lgbtq-americans-stand-out-for-being-part-of-online-communities-finding-value-in-them/

  • "What kinds of online communities do LGBTQ adults stand out for being part of?"

    • https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/what-kinds-of-online-communities-do-lgbtq-adults-stand-out-for-being-part-of/

  • "Why do LGBTQ Americans leave online communities?"

    • https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/why-do-lgbtq-americans-leave-online-communities/

🏳️‍⚧️⚕️🏛️ On October 30, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a rule stating that gender dysphoria is not a disability under Section 504 unless it results from a "physical impairment," effectively stripping away federal protections from most trans people. Without Section 504 disability protections, trans people could be refused medical care and access to other services.

• More information:

  • "DREDF Condemns HHS Rule Stripping Section 504 Protections from People with Gender Dysphoria"

    • https://dredf.org/dredf-statement-hhs-504-october-2026/

  • "HHS Final Rule Amends Section 504 Regulations to Codify Statutory Exclusions from the Definition of Disability"

    • https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-finalizes-section-504-rule-gender-dysphoria-disability.html

🏳️‍🌈💉 The Salus Center is hosting a vaccine clinic on Monday, November 16th, 4-8pm. Get vaccinated against: COVID-19, Flu, Hep A, Heb B, HPV, MMR, Pneumonia, Shingles, and Tdap, plus HIV and STI testing! Vaccines are provided at no cost to you. Bring your insurance card if you have it. Walk-ins welcome, or sign up for an appointment at tinyurl.com/SalusVaccine26

• More information:

  • https://tinyurl.com/SalusVaccine26

🏳️‍🌈⚕️ The Queering Medicine Provider Directory is a community resource that helps LGBTQ+ individuals in the Greater Lansing Area connect with affirming healthcare providers and services by maintaining an up-to-date, reliable, community-informed directory. Know an affirming provider around Lansing? Please share the provider submission form with them so they can apply to be included in our directory!

• More information:

  • "Queering Medicine Provider Directory"

    • https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Mw3ekLyS6UMDPVNSI-bNsSYwJ6z1qB9mzPc1Vv_SXJ8/

  • "Queering Medicine Provider Directory Submission Form"

    • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1alQRVQP0rK6QRgcxKQ-OiJS-x6nt0o4NRdyX_soPeFo/