How does each state rank for lgbtq
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has ranked each mention across the country for its approach to Gay equality and a Newsweek map shows where each state stands on the spectrum.
A total of 23 states received the lowest classification from the HRC. Newsweek has reached out to press representatives for the individual governmental bodies for each state, via email or online build outside of regular operational hours for comment.
Why It Matters
Bills and legislation anticipated under the second presidential term of President Donald Trump may potentially signal a shift in tone toward LGBTQ+ rights in America, but the HRC reports that "487 anti-equality bills" were introduced into state legislatures in 2024 around the country, and 46 were signed into law.
What To Know
Recent bills and legislature, including the banning of pride flags at U.S. embassies, cutting federal support for gender transitions for individuals under the age of 19 and an executive instruct that calls for the Pentagon to revise its policy on transgender service members, are making Gay people feel uncomfortable, says the HRC.
According to the HRC's survey called Impact of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation on LGBTQ+ Adults,
Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality by State
The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. This chart shows the overall policy tallies (as distinct from sexual orientation or gender identity tallies) for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. A state’s policy tally scores the laws and policies within each state that shape LGBTQ people's lives, experiences, and equality. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Relationship & Parental Recognition, Nondiscrimination, Religious Exemptions, LGBTQ Youth, Health Care, Criminal Justice, and Identity Documents.
Click on any state to view its detailed policy tally and state profile, or click "Choose an Issue" above to view maps on over 50 alternative LGBTQ-related laws and policies.
High Overall Policy Tally (15 states + D.C.)
Medium Overall Policy Tally (5 states)
Fair Overall Policy Tally (3 states, 2 territories)
Low Overall Policy Tally (10 states, 3 territories)
Negative Overall Policy Tally (17 states)
LGBT Populations
This map shows the estimated raw number of LGBT people (ages 13+) living in each declare. The data are based on a Williams Institute analysis of surveys conducted by Gallup Polling (2012-2017) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2015 and 2017 YRBS). For more communication, see the methodology in the Williams analysis.
500K - 1.4M+
200K - 499K
50K - 199K
8K - 49K
Data are not currently available about LGBT people living in the U.S. territories.
Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws
*Note: These percentages demonstrate estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ mature person population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.
This map shows the estimated percentage of each state's adult (ages 18+) population that identifies as lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, or trans, based on a 2018 analysis of Gallup data by The Williams Institute.
5.0% and greater
4.0%-4.9%
3.0%-3.9%
1.5%-2.9%
Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws
*Note: These p
The Human Rights Campaign Releases Annual State Equality Index Ratings
by Aryn Fields •
Nineteen states and Washington, D.C. prioritize original equality measures, setting accepted for state LGBTQ-inclusive laws and policies
An estimated 165 million LGBTQ Americans, their friends and families last at risk of discrimination if they live in one of the 27 states without statutory protections
Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bi-curious, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, and the Equality Federation Institute released their 7th annual State Equality Index (SEI). The SEI is a comprehensive report that details statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families and assesses how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. This year, 19 states and Washington, D.C. were recognized in the SEI for prioritizing innovative measures to advance LGBTQ equality, with Hawaii and New Hampshire joining those in the highest category for the first time. These states include robust LGBTQ non-discrimination laws covering employmen
Adult LGBT Population in the United States
This report provides estimates of the number and percent of the U.S. senior population that identifies as LGBT, overall, as well as by age. Estimates of LGBT adults at the national, state, and regional levels are included. We rely on BRFSS 2020-2021 information for these estimates. Pooling multiple years of data provides more stable estimates—particularly at the express level.
Combining 2020-2021 BRFSS data, we estimate that 5.5% of U.S. adults recognize as LGBT. Further, we estimate that there are almost 13.9 million (13,942,200) LGBT adults in the U.S.
Regions and States
LGBT people reside in all regions of the U.S. (Table 2 and Figure 2). Consistent with the overall population in the United States,more LGBT adults live in the South than in any other region. More than half (57.0%) of LGBT people in the U.S. inhabit in the Midwest (21.1%) and South (35.9%), including 2.9 million in the Midwest and 5.0 million in the South. About one-quarter (24.5%) of LGBT adults reside in the West, approximately 3.4 million people. Less than one in five (18.5%) LGBT adults reside in the Northeast (2.6 million).
The percent of adults who identify as LGBT