News Related to Higher Education and LGBTQIA+ Stakeholders
This is a collection of reports where issues related to sexual orientation and/or identity relative to administration of colleges and universities have made the news. It is important for administrators, faculty, staff, students and other NMU constituents to be aware of what is happening across the postsecondary education landscape so we are prepared to manage changes in social conditions and/or policy.
Highlighted Articles Page
Some news has greater potential implications for NMU students and/or the NMU community. The highlighted stories at this link are included in the comprehensive list, but are pulled out on a page to help folks at NMU find the most important and useful news reports with local implications.
Recent Articles July - December 2025
A comprehensive list:
Baylor Returns Research Grant Related to LGBTQ+ Issues
July 14, 2025
at Inside Higher Ed at www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/07/14/baylor-returns-research-grant-related-lgbtq-issues
The Scientists Who Got Ghosted by the NIH
Under Trump, their grant applications disappeared. What now?
July 8, 2025
at The Chronicle of Higher Education at www.chronicle.com/article/the-scientists-who-got-ghosted-by-the-nih
Will the next Supreme Court term close the transgender athletic debate?
A pair of cases could establish precedent on whether transgender student athletes can compete on teams aligned with their gender identity.
July 9, 2025
at Higher Ed Dive at www.highereddive.com/news/idaho-west-virginia-supreme-court-transgender-athletes-case-bpj/752532/
How Trump Uses the DOJ as Tool of ‘Fear-Mongering’
The Department of Justice has traditionally focused on regulatory compliance in academe, but now it’s weaponizing civil rights law to force ideological alignment, experts say.
July 7, 2025
at Inside Higher Ed at www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/07/07/trump-deploys-justice-dept-ramp-attacks-higher-ed
Supreme Court to Hear Case Involving Trans College Athlete
July 7, 2025
at Inside Higher Ed at www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/07/07/supreme-court-hear-case-involving-trans-college-athlete
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Cases Involving Transgender Athletes
The court announced it would hear challenges to state laws barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports.
July 3, 2025
at The New York Times at www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/us/politics/supreme-court-transgender-athletes.html
Trump Admin. Reportedly Restores Federal Funding to Penn
July 3, 2025
at Inside Higher Ed at www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/07/03/penn-gets-funding-back-after-agreeing-trumps-demands
Punished for Following the Rules
President Trump’s campaign against accommodations for transgender students is targeting colleges that had tried to comply with federal law.
July 2, 2025
at The Chronicle of Higher Education at www.chronicle.com/article/trumps-campaign-against-trans-students-is-punishing-colleges-for-following-the-rules
Penn Agrees to Trump’s Demands, Will Strip Trans Athlete’s Awards and Apologize
The Education Department accused the Ivy League institution of violating Title IX by allowing a trans swimmer to compete on the women’s team.
July 1, 2025
at Inside Higher Ed at www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/07/01/penn-agrees-trumps-demands-will-strip-trans-athletes
Penn revokes Lia Thomas’ records, bans trans athletes under Trump administration deal
July 1, 2025
at The New York Times The Athletic at www.nytimes.com/athletic/6467404/2025/07/01/trump-lia-thomas-transgender-athletes-penn/
Penn Agrees to Limit Participation of Transgender Athletes
In a deal with the Trump administration, the University of Pennsylvania will not allow transgender women to participate in women’s sports.
July 1, 2025
at The New York Times at www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/penn-title-ix-transgender-swimmer-trump.html
UPenn updates swimming records to settle with feds on transgender athletes case
July 2, 2025
at NPR at www.npr.org/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5454369/upenn-swimming-records-feds-transgender-athletes
UPenn to ban trans athletes after probe stemming from swimmer Lia Thomas
July 1, 2025
at BBC at www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4yy4dv2dyo
UPenn reaches agreement with Trump administration on transgender athletes and erases Lia Thomas’ records
July 1, 2025
at CNN at www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/us/upenn-transgender-women-sports-lia-thomas
Penn agrees to deal with Trump admin on trans athletes, removes Lia Thomas records
July 1, 2025
at The Hill at https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5380157-penn-trans-women-sports-upenn-trump-mcmahon-lia-thomas-ncaa-title-ix/
January - June 2025 articles
August - December 2024 articles
January - July 2024 articles
July - December 2023 articles
January - June 2023 articles
August - December 2022 articles
January - July 2022 articles
All news reports are linked with URLs that are functional at the time of posting. Publications reporting on higher education are favored, but other periodicals are included as well. Some may require subscription to access the full text. NMU subscribes to The Chronicle of Education, so on-campus users should be able to open those links. Inside Higher Ed requires logging in after a few articles have been accessed; registration is free. For assistance accessing Chronicle or other articles, please contact Olson Library.
For questions, comments, or suggestions about this resource, contact Dan Cullen.