Safest us state for lgbtq
State Equality Index 2024
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The Human Rights Campaign Articulate Equality Index (SEI) is a comprehensive state-by-state inform that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that affect Diverse 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 472472 from your mobile phone. (msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to quit, HELP for info.)
State Categories
In these states, advocates focus on raising support for basic LGBTQ+ equality, such as non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and public accommodations. These states are most likely to have religious refusal or other anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Advocates often further LGBTQ equality by focusing on municipal protections for LGBTQ+ people or rival negative legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community.
States in this category include:
Ala
As Pride Month begins, a new report highlights widening disparities in how Homosexual Americans experience safety and equality across the territory. From access to health care and legal protections to the tone arrange by state leadership, conditions vary drastically.
Out Leadership's 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, now in its seventh year, ranks all 50 states on how welcoming they are to LGBTQ+ residents. The findings come at a occasion of mounting legislative pressure, with hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in statehouses nationwide and public debates over flag bans and trans rights intensifying.
The annual index, compiled with input from the Williams Institute and the Movement Advancement Project, serves as a reference for corporate leaders and policymakers.
The Context
Pride 2025 arrives amid a heightened political and legislative backlash against LGBTQ+ rights. Utah became the first declare to explicitly ban Queer flags from government buildings and schools, Idaho and Montana following suit with restrictions.
The flag bans are part of a wider trend—at least 31 flag-related bills have been introduced across 17 states, many of which explicitly or implicitly proh
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 queer and transgender people mention by state, mapping out where they can exist 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 gender diverse 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 foremost of the Out Direction index in 2024 while Arkansas received the lowest score since the index began.
Need a break? Act 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
Our 7th annual Mention LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index shows which U.S. States are safe and which are unwelcoming for millions of Diverse Americans. It also shows a region growing more polarized on LGBTQ+ rights–and this divide is influencing where people choose to exist, work, and perform business.
For the third year in a row, the national average score declined, driven by the introduction of more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills and a wave of newly-elected conservative officials pushing restrictive agendas.
States enjoy Ohio, Florida, and Utah saw steep drops in the rankings due to laws that victim LGBTQ+ youth, censor school discussions, and open the door to legalized discrimination.
Still, there are luminous spots worth celebrating! Massachusetts and Fresh York continue to lead with the highest scores and strongest protections in place. States enjoy Kentucky and Michigan also made meaningful progress this year.
The message is clear: there are concrete consequences to both inclusion and exclusion. Companies operating in low-ranking states are losing talent and facing consumer pushback. Meanwhile, inclusive states are seeing their economies thrive, becoming magnets for innovation
What are the safest places for same-sex attracted and trans people? See where your state ranks
As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict trans rights and overturn the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex attracted marriage, Zane Eaves says his individuality as a gender nonconforming man has position a target on his back in his home state.
One of 18,900 transgender 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 express line three times in his being, but in recent weeks, he made the difficult judgment to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies.
“I am just trying to stay 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, male lover, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.More and more, the doubt of where Diverse people feel protected is one of blue vs. red, according to activism group Out Leadership.
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