A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights

Title: A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights
Abstract:

This brief report, prepared jointly by MAP and the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr., Fund, tracks 36 indicators of legal and social progress since the year 2000. The metrics are organized in eight topical areas affecting the lives of LGBT people:

The report concisely shows how the past 10 years have been a period of dramatic gains in equality for LGBT people in America. Two-thirds of the 36 benchmarks show significant advances, including sharp increases in the number of LGBT Americans protected by nondiscrimination and family recognition legislation at the state level. Less than one quarter of the indicators are negative, and four metrics show little change (either positive or negative).

  • Protection from discrimination
  • Recognition of LGBT families
  • Protection from hate violence
  • Safe and accepting school climate
  • Relief from HIV and AIDS
  • Service to country – military
  • Service to country – public office
  • Societal acceptance of LGBT people
Bottom line: Remarkable achievements toward LGBT equality tend to be obscured by day-to-day struggles, and overall progress often goes unnoticed nationally. By looking broadly at the last decade, this report gives a much fuller perspective on where we are today – and how far we have come in just ten years.
Pages: Two pages, including a table of 36 indicators and accompanying sources and notes
Date: December 2009
  View A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights
View a more in-depth and longer term analysis: The Momentum Report (October 2009)