What the hospital did: Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego announced last month that it would be closing its Center for Gender-Affirming Care and would no longer provide gender-affirming care to people under the age of 19. This came after the presidential administration pledged to end grants and cut Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements to hospitals that provide trans health care.
Why it matters: Hospitals have been facing legal pressure (mostly from opponents of trans health care). This is one of the first times that a hospital has been sued for issuing a blanket ban on such care. If the legal strategy works, it could provide a model for fighting similar bans nationwide.
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What the case was about: A woman who got a mastectomy as a teen – recommended by her psychiatrist after she discussed feelings of gender dysphoria with him around her breasts – later regretted it and detransitioned. She sued and even got help from the WPATH – a medical organization devoted to trans health care – claiming that her doctors did not adequately inform her of the risks of the surgery.
Why it matters: While the ruling was narrow, it has already led to two medical associations pulling back some support for gender-affirming care. Meanwhile, conservative media have been reporting the case as a “landmark” in their battle to ban all forms of gender-affirming health care.
Which groups: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) both said that they no longer recommend gender-affirming surgery for trans youth under the age of 19. (Such procedures are already pretty rare). This follows a detransitioner winning a $2 million judgment against doctors whom they accused of not following the standard of care when getting their consent to perform a mastectomy. These two medical groups’ statements are policy recommendations, though, not guidance. They are not based on new science — and both organizations stressed that they oppose legal restrictions on gender-affirming care.
Why it matters: Medical organizations have been one of the few institutions to stand up against the current moral panic against gender-affirming care. While these statements are from just two organizations — and apply to only a vanishingly small number of cases — they appear to show these organizations’ willingness to change their recommendations in response to current events, not science.
What the teacher claimed: She said that her Christian values prevent her from addressing trans students by their correct names and pronouns. She said being required to do so also violated her free speech rights. A federal appeals court ruled that, as an employee of the school, this teacher can be told how to address students.
Why it matters: Another federal appeals court on the other side of the country ruled in favor of several teachers who made a similar argument. The Supreme Court may soon take up the case, but for now, trans students have won an important victory that applies to Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Why said what: Billie Eilish said, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and, “f**k ICE.” Bad Bunny said, “ICE out,” and, “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.” Kehlani said, “I hope that everybody is inspired to join together as a community of artists, and speak out against what’s going on,” and “F**k ICE!”
Why it matters: It’s hard to get people to pay attention to human rights abuses, and celebrities using a platform like the Grammys can help…. which is probably why Republicans have been denouncing these musicians all week.
This week’s pictures
With the Winter Olympic Games starting this week in Northern Italy, here are some of the out LGBTQ+ people representing the U.S.
Hockey player Hilary Knight
Feb 5, 2026; Milan, Italy; Hilary Knight (21) of Team United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Team Czechia | James Lang-Imagn Images
Figure skater Amber Glenn
Feb 6, 2026; Milan, Italy; United States figure skater Amber Glenn watches women’s singles short program | James Lang-Imagn Images
Alpine skier Breezy Johnson
Feb 6, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITALY; Breezy Johnson of the United States in women’s downhill training | Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Speed skater Brittany Bowe
Brittany Bowe competes in the women’s 1,000 meters during the U.S. Olympic long track speed skating Olympic team trials | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Speed skater Conor McDermott-Mostowy
Nov 21, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CANADA; Conor McDermott-Mostowy of USA competes in the men’s 1000m | Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Some great queer and trans reads
Deputy Editor Molly Sprayregen reported on a college professor who teaches students how to update Wikipedia articles with high-quality information on LGBTQ+ history.
Contributor Greg Owens talked to Ellie Krug, a trans radio host in Minnesota, who described what it’s like living through the federal government’s assault on her state.
Joshua Mackey shared 10 great movies to watch to understand what it’s like to be Black and living with HIV as part of the start of LGBTQ Nation’s February edition.
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