LGBTQ News, 2/23/26

[Angeline Binick]

I.     GLOBAL NEWS

II.    POLICY / LEGISLATION

III.   HEALTH

IV.   RELIGION

V.    DISCRIMINATION

VI.   ARTS & CULTURE

VII.  SPORTS

VIII. COMMENTARY

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL NEWS

 

New era of Dutch politics opens as Jetten is sworn in to lead minority coalition

Dutch King Willem-Alexander swore in a new minority Dutch coalition government Monday led by the Netherlands’ youngest-ever and first openly gay prime minister.

https://apnews.com/article/netherlands-government-jetten-king-politics-897876739f2ce60e41167a1040956353

The US deported a gay asylum-seeker to a third country where homosexuality is illegal

https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-cameroon-morocco-lgbt-interview-1ea278f4c981df798773e26972c5d54f

POLICY / LEGISLATION

 

21 states now limit transgender people’s bathroom use, with criminal penalties in two

https://www.advocate.com/politics/states-with-transgender-bathroom-bans

New law puts Kansas at vanguard of denying trans identities on drivers licenses, birth certificates

https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-drivers-licenses-birth-certificates-bathrooms-3048b856b81d24553efd9da4aaa94bc7

HEALTH

 

Mount Sinai Hospital drops gender-affirming care for trans teens, leaving New York families worried

https://www.advocate.com/health/transgender-health/mount-sinai-transgender-teens

UK clinical trial into puberty blockers on hold after medicines regulator steps in

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/feb/20/uk-clinical-trial-into-puberty-blockers-paused-after-medicines-regulator-raises-concerns

RELIGION

 

Pope Leo XIV dismisses chance of change in Vatican’s LGBTQ+ rights stance
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/23/pope-leo-xiv-dismisses-chance-of-change-in-vaticans-lgbtq-rights-stance/

DISCRIMINATION

 

Australia: Lesbian group takes fight to Federal Court in bid to exclude transgender women from events
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-23/lesbian-group-transgender-exemption-federal-court/106375606

ARTS & CULTURE

 

Mumbai Queer Pride 2026: Marching for equality
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/mumbai/mumbai-queer-pride-2026-sweet-16-still-marching-for-equality/articleshow/128637883.cms

SPORTS

 

More than a dozen LGBTQ athletes medal at Olympics

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2026/02/23/more-than-a-dozen-lgbtq-athletes-medal-at-olympics/

NHL player caught shouting homophobic slur during Olympics match

https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/23/nhl-player-caught-shouting-homophobic-slur-during-olympics-match/

COMMENTARY

 

Domestic violence prevails in the LGBTQ2S+ experience: Why aren’t we talking about it?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/domestic-violence-prevails-in-the-lgbtq2s-experience-why-arent-we-talking-about-it/

California: Queer, trans AAPI joy shone at this year’s Golden Dragon Parade

https://www.losangelesblade.com/2026/02/23/queer-trans-aapi-joy-shone-at-this-years-golden-dragon-parade/