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Best states for lgbtq families

Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality by State

The Movement Advancement Undertaking (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies.  This map shows the overall policy tallies (as separate from sexual orientation or gender individuality 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 Culture 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 unlike 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 t

    For gay and transgender people, these are the most (and least) welcoming states

    Each year for the last six, gay advocacy team Out Leadership has produced an index gauging the business climate for gay and transgender people state 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 2024 as Republicans sharpened attacks on gay and trans person rights heading into the presidential election. 

    “It was just confirmation 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 2024 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 62.77 out of 100, compared to 63.48 in 2023 and 64.61 in 2022. 

    State business rankings slip because of 'Don't Say Gay' and other bills

    The largest decrease

    The Human Rights Campaign Releases Annual State Equality Index Ratings

    by Aryn Fields •

    Nineteen states and Washington, D.C. prioritize innovative equality measures, setting common for state LGBTQ-inclusive laws and policies

    An estimated 165 million LGBTQ Americans, their friends and families remain at uncertainty 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, queer, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, and the Equality Federation Institute released their 7th annual Mention Equality Index (SEI). The SEI is a comprehensive state 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 established in the SEI for prioritizing creative measures to advance LGBTQ equality, with Hawaii and Brand-new Hampshire joining those in the highest category for the first time. These states have robust

    LGBTQ Parenting in the US

    Family Formation and Stressors

    • Overall, 47% of partnered LGBTQ parents are in a same-gender or transgender-inclusive partnership; however, the majority of cisgender lesbian/gay parents are vs. 10% of cisgender bisexual/queer parents.
    • 78% of LGBTQ parents became parents through current or previous sexual relationships, 20% through stepparenthood, and 6% through adoption.
    • Among parenting households, same-sex couples adopt (21%), foster (4%), and have stepchildren (17%) at significantly higher rates than different-sex couples (3%, 0.4%, 6%).
      • Notably among parents, 24% of married gay couples have adopted a child versus 3% of married different-sex couples.
    • Approximately 35,000 same-sex couple parents own adopted children, and 6,000 are fostering children. The majority of these couples are married.
    • Among all LGBTQ parents, approximately 57,000 are fostering children (1.4%). Less than half of these parents are married.
    • Approximately 30% of LGBQ parents are not legally recognized or are unsure about their legal status as the parent/guardian of at least one child.
    • 23% of LGBQ adults said it was very important to them to have children in the fu