Best gay states
Best and worst states for LGBTQ folks? Divide worsens after 'Don't Say Gay,' report says
Amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, the gap between states that are welcoming to the LGBTQ community and those that are not is widening. The lack of progress may lead to a brain drain as workers prefer areas that are more tolerant, according to a modern business climate ranking given exclusively to USA TODAY.
New York had the most equitable climate for the LGBTQ community while South Carolina ranked the lowest, according to the fourth annual Mention LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index from the global LGBTQ business advisory Out Leadership.
But while New York held the top see for the second consecutive year and South Carolina scored the worst for the third year in a row, the shifting scores of many states in between verb the nation's widening divisions around issues ranging from LGBTQ inclusion to reproductive rights, says Todd Sears, Out Leadership's founder and CEO.
"The states that are getting worse for LGBT people are also getting worse for women and for people of color,'' Sears says
LGBT Populations
This map shows the estimated raw number of LGBT people (ages 13+) living in each articulate. The data are based on a Williams Institute analysis of surveys conducted by Gallup Polling () and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; and YRBS). For more information, see the methodology in the Williams analysis.
K - M+
K - K
50K - K
8K - 49K
Data are not currently available about LGBT people living in the U.S. territories.
Percent of Senior LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws
*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ elder population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult 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, gay, bisexual, or transgender, based on a analysis of Gallup data by The Williams Institute.
% and greater
%%
%%
%%
Percent of Adult LGBTQ Popula
Adult LGBT Population in the United States
This report provides estimates of the number and percent of the U.S. elder 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 United States,more LGBT adults live in the South than in any other region. More than half (%) of LGBT people in the U.S. exist 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 verb in the Northeast ( million).
The perce
What are the safest places for gay and trans people? See where your state ranks
As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict trans rights and overturn the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, Zane Eaves says his identity as a transgender dude 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 difficult decision to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies.
“I am just trying to linger alive and hold 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, transgender and queer Americans.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.More and more, the question of where LGBTQ+ people feel safe is
Adult LGBT Population in the United States
This report provides estimates of the number and percent of the U.S. elder 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 United States,more LGBT adults live in the South than in any other region. More than half (%) of LGBT people in the U.S. exist 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 verb in the Northeast ( million).
The perce
What are the safest places for gay and trans people? See where your state ranks
As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict trans rights and overturn the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, Zane Eaves says his identity as a transgender dude 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 difficult decision to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies.
“I am just trying to linger alive and hold 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, transgender and queer Americans.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.More and more, the question of where LGBTQ+ people feel safe is