Most gay friendly states

Click "Citations" to read more detail about each bill or to access the law's language directly.

There are at least 17 lawsuits challenging different states' bans on best practice medical care for transgender youth.

Overall tally score: 38/44.5

Factors That Make a State LGBTQ+ Friendly

A top-rated LGBTQ-friendly state has a broad implementation of state laws and protections for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

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.

Individually, states are moving at their own pace toward equal rights for everyone. 

For example, Florida has been in the news for a spate of bills that seek to restrict LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for transgender people. In Alabama, legislatures are attempting to prevent schools from teaching about LGBTQ+ identities, which will have long-standing repercussions for everyone.

Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here. Universities are also pushing to better represent the voices of Asian-American individuals, encouraging their representation in public life. The city itself is renowned for having a very multicultural flair; 800 different languages are spoken in the city, more than anywhere else in the world!

The state is also accepting of alternative lifestyles, with equality protections in place. Transgender youth should still be able to access care legally.
-Arkansas: In June 2023, a federal judge blocked the state's 2021 ban, ruling it unconstitutional.

Ogunquit is a popular coastal village with a friendly vibe. Washington received a C safety score and is ranked #30 in the United States.

Washington’s variability in scores is due to some portions of the state offering better LGBTQ equality than others. Go to the transgender healthcare "shield" Equality Map to learn more about these laws.
-Multiple states have "grandfather" clauses, "weaning off" clauses, or limited exceptions for some transgender youth and/or for some types of medication.

This long and proud heritage spans back to even before California became a state and is reflected in its bustling Chinatown. She shared the awards podium with her cisgender competitors under a new rule drafted by state athletics officials days before the event to mollify critics.

Republican-led states have been in the vanguard of anti-trans legislation, causing greater geographic polarization and prompting fears among LGBTQ+ residents, even those who live in liberal cities.

Jordan McGuire, a 27-year-old gay man in North Dakota, said the years he spent living in the Deep South taught him about the repressive discrimination routinely faced by gay and genderqueer people.

Welcoming states and districts that support the LGBTQ+ movement, as well as offering advocacy and opportunity, are important stepping stones.

Pride Lending understands the unique challenges the LGBTQ+ community deals with not only when seeking financing for a new home but also when choosing the right state and city. Meanwhile, Portland offers more nightlife and festival entertainment.

Overall tally score: 40.25/44.5

Maryland

Maryland has several important laws that promote LGBTQ+ equality, including statewide non-discrimination laws and provisions for relationship and parental recognition, which protect family rights for LGBT and transgender people.

Colorado received a B- safety grade, ranking number 19 in the U.S.

Colorado is home to several prominent social LGBTQ+ scenes, with Denver being one of the most inclusive in the state. Connecticut is full of history and entertainment, making it a safe, opportunity-filled place to call home.

As a negative point, data shows that Connecticut, like much of the Atlantic, is predominantly white.