As Queer Kentuckians, staying informed about LGBTQ+ news worldwide is essential. Changes in policy, activism, and culture in other regions can impact our community and efforts locally. Our weekly global news roundup keeps you updated on important LGBTQ+ developments, ensuring we remain informed and connected.

• New Powerful HIV Drug Approved by FDA: Yeztugo, generically known as Lenacapavir, is a newly approved injection that only needs to be administered twice per year. It has been proven to be significantly more effective than existing oral HIV preventatives. However, it is costly, and with the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation impacting insurance coverage for queer folks’ needs and HIV research, experts are concerned about its accessibility. 

• Federal Judge Blocks Limits on Passport Sex Markers: After months of fear due to passport restrictions and changes, a federal judge has ruled that any transgender or nonbinary people with a need to apply for a passport or make changes to a current one can now request male, female, or an X identification marker. Previously, this ruling only applied to six individuals involved in an ACLU lawsuit against the previous executive orders, but now applies to anyone in need of a passport. 

• 2025 UN Trans Advocacy Week:  The UN’s trans advocacy week is an annual event, which started in 2017, that takes place to amplify trans voices worldwide by allowing transgender people to speak directly to global leaders. This week the event is taking place in Geneva, and topics that will be covered include the impacts of foreign aid cuts, anti-trans legislation and its impact, and the renewal of the UN mandate of the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. 

• Budapest Pride toTake Place in Defiance of Attempted Government Ban: Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, attempted to ban the pride festival this year. Around 70 Members of the European Parliament have pledged to be at the pride festival next week in solidarity.The city’s mayor also said the event was to go ahead, and ignore the attempted ban from the Prime Minister. 

• US Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Ban on Transgender Youth Healthcare: Many state governments are passing anti-trans legislation at an alarming rate this year. This week, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that bans transgender youth from accessing HRT and other gender-affirming care in the state.