Federal judge blocks RFK’s attempt to ban trans health care access to minors

Why the judge blocked it: The judge’s decision cited the Administrative Procedure Act when ruling against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy’s rules that would have blocked all Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP funding to hospitals if they provided any gender-affirming care to trans minors. The judge ruled that Kennedy effectively decided what the standard of care was for trans youth, something that is not within his powers to do.

Why it matters: Access to health care for trans youth remains safe in states that haven’t banned it, at least for now.

RFK tried to ban trans care for minors. A federal judge just stopped him.

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Colorado will have 2 anti-trans measures on its 2026 midterms ballot

What the measures would do: Initiative 109 will ban trans kids from participating in school sports, even at the college level. Initiative 110 bans gender-affirming surgery for trans youth, even though it’s almost never performed on minors.

Why it matters: Colorado is the fourth state to put an anti-trans measure on its ballot for this November, something that’ll be new for this election. There may be a coordinated national strategy to use these issues to drive conservatives to the polls in November.

2 right-wing groups score anti-trans ballot measures to “stop the transgender plague”

Mehmet Oz tried to pressure medical organizations to withdraw their statements supporting gender-affirming care for trans youth

What he did: The TV personality and current director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services tried to pressure groups like the American Medical Association to withdraw support of gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Why it matters: The administration is hostile to the form of health care, while science has shown that it is safe and effective for treating gender dysphoria. As such, this administration is leading the attempt to politicize the science and has been willing to use the levers of power to pressure people into hiding the truth.

Dr. Oz pressured medical orgs to abandon support for youth gender-affirming care

Senate Republicans introduce amendments to SAVE Act to make it anti-trans

What the changes do: The SAVE Act is a voter ID bill that Congress is currently considering. The president has been promoting the bill as a way to stop trans people from having equal rights. While the bill could disenfranchise trans voters and other groups, until this week the bill didn’t contain any explicitly anti-trans provisions. Now, a GOP senator has introduced an amendment to make the president’s statements true by adding sections to the Senate version of the bill that would ban trans kids from participating in school sports and from getting gender-affirming care.

Why it matters: It’s unclear whether the SAVE Act has any chance of passing the Senate at all, since it will need some Democratic votes to overcome the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold. While adding anti-trans measures to an appropriations bill (which can’t be filibustered) can help them pass, it’s unclear whether the measures will actually tank the SAVE Act.

Senate GOP bends to pressure from Trump & announces anti-trans riders to SAVE America Act

Poland recognizes a same-sex marriage for the first time in a historic court victory

What the ruling says: A gay couple that married in Germany sued to get their marriage recognized in their home country of Poland — and they won. The nation won’t start granting same-sex couples marriage licenses, but they can cross the border and get one that will be recognized at home.

Why it matters: A European Union court ruled last year that all member states have to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other member states, and this is evidence of Poland implementing that ruling. It will just create more momentum for LGBTQ+ rights in parts of Europe that are less tolerant of queer relationships.

Polish gay couple wins right to have their marriage recognized in historic victory

Some more great queer and trans reads

Contributor Greg Owen talked to former conversion therapy supporter Warren Throckmorton about what made him come around and back LGBTQ+ youth in the current Supreme Court case on conversion therapy.

This psychologist was a key supporter of conversion therapy in the 90s. He changed his mind.

Writer Kelley Nele explores how the ravages of colonialism in South Africa may explain why conversion therapy is still legal there.

South Africa was on the cutting edge of LGBTQ+ equality. Why hasn’t it banned conversion therapy?

Writer Chaaz Quigley told the story of Black lesbian poet Pat Parker for Women’s History Month.

The Black lesbian poet & activist who preached intersectionality before the word even existed

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