LGBTQ+ Weekly News Update

Week of March 8-14

This week of LGBTQ+ news sees more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation proposed and passed throughout the United States. It’s not just in the US, though; Ghana has reintroduced a dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ bill, and Senegal’s parliament approved a new extreme anti-LGBTQ law. In the midst of overwhelming legislation, there is hope, like in Pennsylvania, where they are advancing employment protections for LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive workers. 

The Stories: 

Monday, March 9 - “When critics claim LGBTQ+ troops weaken the military, Femminella hears something closer to a misunderstanding. ‘We’re going to work in the same uniform as you,” he said. “With the same American flag patch on as you.’”

Monday, March 9 - “Parents and grandparents of trans youth, plus their therapists and medical providers, are fed up after years of health care bans and hostile rhetoric. Those feelings are driving them to do things they’ve never done before — like plan to get arrested at a protest.”

Tuesday, March 10 - “Lawmakers in Ghana have reintroduced a draconian bill that jeopardizes the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. On February 17, the Ghanaian parliament formally received the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-LGBT bill, marking the latest chapter in a prolonged legal and legislative process that started in 2021.”

Tuesday, March 10 - “A report by the Pew Research Center found that Americans are far more likely than people in other Western countries to say that being gay is morally unacceptable.”

Tuesday, March 10 - “Conservative nonprofits added pressure to the federal investigation into the Shawnee Mission school district [Kansas] that began last year by sending a supplemental complaint outlining the “emotional distress” cisgender students face around transgender students and district policies.”

Tuesday, March 10 - “Iowa Senate Republicans passed a bill blocking local governments from enacting protections against gender identity-based discrimination, sending their expansion of a landmark 2025 law to Gov. Kim Reynolds.”

Tuesday, March 10 - “The Trump administration has ordered federal prisons to begin tapering hormone therapy for incarcerated transgender people. Physicians say that it could inflict immediate psychological distress and long-term medical harm on a vulnerable population.”

Wednesday, March 11 - “A Kansas judge has declined a request for a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of a recently enacted law that resulted in trans people across the state being ordered to surrender their driver’s licenses.” 

Wednesday, March 11 - “Lawmakers in Pennsylvania advanced employment protections for LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive workers. Those were among eight bills that cleared the House Judiciary Committee that were supported by equality advocates.” 

Wednesday, March 11 - “The Florida House of Representatives on March 10 voted 77-37 to approve an “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” bill that opponents have called an extreme and sweeping measure that, among other things, could overturn local LGBTQ rights protections.”

Wednesday, March 11 - “The Idaho House of Representatives passed a measure this week asking the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the U.S. But the legislation lost three Republican votes compared to a similar measure that passed in the state House last year.”

Wednesday, March 11 - “The sentencing of two people who attacked and robbed two gay men in Kenya has been hailed by LGBTQ+ rights advocates as a breakthrough and a sign of hope for the country’s queer community. “Abel Meli & Another” were sentenced to 15 years in prison for robbery with violence on 3 March at Milimani law courts in Nairobi.” 

Thursday, March 12 - “Senegal's parliament has approved a new law doubling to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples and criminalising the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality.”

Friday, March 13 - “Just a few days out from the closing ceremony of the 2026 games, Team USA cross-country skier Jake Adicoff has become the first out gay man to win an individual Winter Paralympics gold medal.”

Friday, March 13 - “Nearly four in ten Americans view homosexuality as “morally unacceptable,” according to a survey released last week by the Pew Research Center.”

Friday, March 13 - “Mayor Zohran Mamdani is establishing the first Mayor’s Office for LGBTQIA+ affairs and appointing the first out trans person to lead a New York City office as director.”

Friday, March 13 - “The U.S. Department of Education says Colorado's second largest school district is violating Title IX by allowing transgender students access to sports teams, bathrooms and overnight accommodations that match their gender identity.”

Saturday, March 14 - “ Over half a century ago, 3,000 people marched to the state Capitol demanding better treatment for LGBTQ+ people. On March 14, 1971, a “vocal crowd of gay liberationists” marched from the University at Albany to the Capitol, according to coverage from the Times Union at the time. Activists sought an end to the state’s anti-sodomy law — later struck down by an appellate court in 1980 — as well as protections against employment and housing discrimination.

Final Thoughts: 

This week, two stories especially stood out to me. One is about the gay Army paratrooper. So often the Trump administration tries to paint LGBTQ+ servicemembers as incompetent, and this piece goes directly against that. I especially appreciated this paragraph, “Femminella’s experience does not resemble the caricature sometimes invoked in political debates about diversity in the military. He nearly maxed the Army’s physical fitness test, missing a perfect score by just 20 points, he said. He attended the University of Southern California and later pursued graduate studies at the London School of Economics. He commanded soldiers early in his career and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his work.” 

The other story that stood out to me was about families of transgender children fighting back against the increasing anti-trans legislation. Often missing in the ‘transgender debate’ are the voices of those most affected. Instead, politicians with no medical experience are making assumptions (and worse). This article is incredibly necessary to showcase what families are going through and what they are being pushed to do to fight for their children.