Best state for gay rights
For gay and gender nonconforming people, these are the most (and least) welcoming states
Each year for the last six, queer advocacy group Out Leadership has produced an index gauging the business climate for gay and transgender people mention by state, mapping out where they can live and work with the least discrimination and hardship.
Last year as anti-LGBTQ+ bills swarmed statehouses across the country, the average score for all 50 states dropped for the first time.
Todd Sears, Out Leadership’s founder and CEO, says he was not surprised when the average score fell again in as Republicans sharpened attacks on gay and gender nonconforming rights heading into the presidential election.
“It was just proof of what we have already seen unfortunately,” Sears told USA TODAY.
New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts remained at the top of the Out Leadership index in while Arkansas received the lowest score since the index began.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.The average score across all 50 states was out of , compared to in and in
State business rankings slip becau State Equality Index
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The Human Rights Campaign State Equality Index (SEI) is a comprehensive state-by-state report that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that change LGBTQ+ people and their families.
The SEI rates all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. in six areas of law and assigns the states to one of four distinct categories.
Check your state's scorecard by texting SEI to from your mobile smartphone. (msg & data rates may apply. Text Terminate to quit, HELP for info.)
State Categories
In these states, advocates center on raising support for basic LGBTQ+ equality, such as non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and general accommodations. These states are most likely to contain religious refusal or other anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Advocates often further LGBTQ equality by focusing on municipal protections for LGBTQ+ people or opposing negative legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community.
States in this category include:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
What are the safest places for gay and trans people? Observe where your state ranks
As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict transsexual rights and overturn the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, Zane Eaves says his persona as a transgender man has put a target on his back in his home state.
One of 18, trans adults in Oklahoma, Eaves has received death threats, as has his wife of 10 years and their two children.
“All the hatred and political stuff going on” are driving this Oklahoma lifer from the place he was born and raised, Eaves, 35, said. He has only crossed the state line three times in his life, but in recent weeks, he made the tough decision to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies.
“I am just trying to reside alive and keep my marriage,” Eaves said.
Oklahoma ranks 44th in the nation on a list released on June 2 of the most and least welcoming states for lesbian, gay, bisexual person, transgender and queer Americans.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.More and more, the question of where Queer people feel safe is
Adult LGBT Population in the United States
This report provides estimates of the number and percent of the U.S. adult 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 data for these estimates. Pooling multiple years of data provides more stable estimates—particularly at the state level.
Combining BRFSS data, we estimate that % of U.S. adults identify as LGBT. Further, we estimate that there are almost million (13,,) 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 Together States,more LGBT adults survive in the South than in any other region. More than half (%) of LGBT people in the U.S. live in the Midwest (%) and South (%), including million in the Midwest and million in the South. About one-quarter (%) of LGBT adults reside in the West, approximately million people. Less than one in five (%) LGBT adults live in the Northeast ( million).
The perce
State Equality Index
To learn more, please read our Privacy Policy.
The Human Rights Campaign State Equality Index (SEI) is a comprehensive state-by-state report that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that change LGBTQ+ people and their families.
The SEI rates all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. in six areas of law and assigns the states to one of four distinct categories.
Check your state's scorecard by texting SEI to from your mobile smartphone. (msg & data rates may apply. Text Terminate to quit, HELP for info.)
State Categories
In these states, advocates center on raising support for basic LGBTQ+ equality, such as non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and general accommodations. These states are most likely to contain religious refusal or other anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Advocates often further LGBTQ equality by focusing on municipal protections for LGBTQ+ people or opposing negative legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community.
States in this category include:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
What are the safest places for gay and trans people? Observe where your state ranks
As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict transsexual rights and overturn the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, Zane Eaves says his persona as a transgender man has put a target on his back in his home state.
One of 18, trans adults in Oklahoma, Eaves has received death threats, as has his wife of 10 years and their two children.
“All the hatred and political stuff going on” are driving this Oklahoma lifer from the place he was born and raised, Eaves, 35, said. He has only crossed the state line three times in his life, but in recent weeks, he made the tough decision to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies.
“I am just trying to reside alive and keep my marriage,” Eaves said.
Oklahoma ranks 44th in the nation on a list released on June 2 of the most and least welcoming states for lesbian, gay, bisexual person, transgender and queer Americans.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.More and more, the question of where Queer people feel safe is
Adult LGBT Population in the United States
This report provides estimates of the number and percent of the U.S. adult 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 data for these estimates. Pooling multiple years of data provides more stable estimates—particularly at the state level.
Combining BRFSS data, we estimate that % of U.S. adults identify as LGBT. Further, we estimate that there are almost million (13,,) 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 Together States,more LGBT adults survive in the South than in any other region. More than half (%) of LGBT people in the U.S. live in the Midwest (%) and South (%), including million in the Midwest and million in the South. About one-quarter (%) of LGBT adults reside in the West, approximately million people. Less than one in five (%) LGBT adults live in the Northeast ( million).
The perce