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Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

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Equality Maps

United States Map
Vermont New Hampshire Washington D.C. Maryland Delaware New Jersey Connecticut Rhode Island Massachusetts Alaska Hawaii California Oregon Washington Nevada Utah Arizona Idaho Montana Wyoming Colorado 33 Texas North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Minnesota Iowa Louisiana Arkansas Missouri Mississippi Florida Georgia Tennessee South Carolina North Carolina Wisconsin Illinois Michigan Indiana Kentucky Ohio West Virginia Maine New York Pennsylvania Virginia Vermont New Hampshire American Samoa Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Guam Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
  • High Overall Policy Tally (18 states, 1 territory + D.C.)
  • Medium Overall Policy Tally (6 states, 0 territories)
  • Low Overall Policy Tally (22 states, 4 territories)
  • Negative Overall Policy Tally (4 states, 0 territories)

Percent of Adult LGBT Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBT adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBT adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

46%

46 % of the LGBT population lives in states with high overall policy tallies

10%

10 % of LGBT population lives in states with medium overall policy tallies

38%

38 % of LGBT population lives in states with low overall policy tallies

6%

6 % of LGBT population lives in states with negative overall policy tallies

United States Map
Vermont New Hampshire Washington D.C. Maryland Delaware New Jersey Connecticut Rhode Island Massachusetts Alaska Hawaii California Oregon Washington Nevada Utah Arizona Idaho Montana Wyoming Colorado 33 Texas North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Minnesota Iowa Louisiana Arkansas Missouri Mississippi Florida Georgia Tennessee South Carolina North Carolina Wisconsin Illinois Michigan Indiana Kentucky Ohio West Virginia Maine New York Pennsylvania Virginia Vermont New Hampshire American Samoa Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Guam Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
  • High Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (19 states, 1 territory + D.C.)
  • Medium Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (9 states, 1 territory)
  • Low Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (22 states, 3 territories)
  • Negative Sexual Orientation Policy Tally ( states,  territories)

Percent of Adult LGBT Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBT adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBT adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

47%

47 % of the LGBT population lives in states with high sexual orientation policy tallies

21%

21 % of LGBT population lives in states with medium sexual orientation policy tallies

32%

32 % of LGBT population lives in states with low sexual orientation policy tallies

0%

0 % of LGBT population lives in states with negative sexual orientation policy tallies

United States Map
Vermont New Hampshire Washington D.C. Maryland Delaware New Jersey Connecticut Rhode Island Massachusetts Alaska Hawaii California Oregon Washington Nevada Utah Arizona Idaho Montana Wyoming Colorado 33 Texas North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Minnesota Iowa Louisiana Arkansas Missouri Mississippi Florida Georgia Tennessee South Carolina North Carolina Wisconsin Illinois Michigan Indiana Kentucky Ohio West Virginia Maine New York Pennsylvania Virginia Vermont New Hampshire American Samoa Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Guam Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
  • High Gender Identity Policy Tally (18 states, 1 territory + D.C.)
  • Medium Gender Identity Policy Tally (6 states, 0 territories)
  • Low Gender Identity Policy Tally (10 states, 2 territories)
  • Negative Gender Identity Policy Tally (16 states, 2 territories)

Percent of Adult LGBT Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBT adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBT adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

45%

45 % of the LGBT population lives in states with high gender identity policy tallies

9%

9 % of LGBT population lives in states with medium gender identity policy tallies

19%

19 % of LGBT population lives in states with low gender identity policy tallies

27%

27 % of LGBT population lives in states with negative gender identity policy tallies

 State     
Relationship and
Parental Recognition
Non–Discrimination
Religious Exemption Laws
LGBT Youth
Healthcare
Criminal
Justice
Identity
Documents
1 Alabama SO 2/8 0/4.5 -0.75/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 0/2 -0.5/2 -- 0.25 -2.75 -2.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.75/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
2 Alaska SO 2/8 1.25/4.5 0/-1.25 0/3.5 0/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.75 1.00 3.75
GI 0/2 0.75/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 -0.5/2 1.75/4
3 American Samoa SO 2/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- 2.00 0.00 2.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 0/4
4 Arizona SO 2.5/8 1.25/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 0/3.5 1/2 0.75/2 -- 5.25 -0.50 4.75
GI 0/2 0.75/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0/3.5 0/4.5 -0.25/2 -0.75/4
5 Arkansas SO 2.5/8 -0.5/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 1/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.75 -0.75 2.00
GI 0/2 -0.5/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 1/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0/4
6 California SO 7/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 2/2 1.5/2 -- 17.50 18.50 36.00
GI 2/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 4/4.5 1.5/2 4/4
7 Colorado SO 4/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 1.5/2 0.75/2 -- 14.00 14.75 28.75
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.75/2 2.75/4
8 Connecticut SO 5/8 4.5/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 3.25/3.5 1/2 1.75/2 -- 15.25 15.00 30.25
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 3.25/3.5 3/4.5 1.75/2 2.75/4
9 Delaware SO 3.5/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.25/3.5 2/2 0.5/2 -- 11.75 10.25 22.00
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.5/2 0.75/4
10 District of Columbia SO 7.5/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 2/2 1/2 -- 17.25 18.25 35.50
GI 2/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 4.5/4.5 1/2 4/4
11 Florida SO 2/8 1.5/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 0.5/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 5.25 3.25 8.50
GI 0/2 1.5/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0.25/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 2.25/4
12 Georgia SO 2/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 3.00 -4.00 -1.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -3/4
13 Guam SO 5/8 1.5/4.5 0/-1.25 1/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 8.00 -0.50 7.50
GI 1/2 1.5/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -3/4
14 Hawaii SO 3/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.75/3.5 2/2 2/2 -- 13.25 15.50 28.75
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.75/3.5 4.5/4.5 2/2 2.75/4
15 Idaho SO 2.5/8 0.75/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 0.25/3.5 0/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.75 0.00 2.75
GI 0/2 0.75/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0.25/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0.25/4
16 Illinois SO 3/8 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 3.5/3.5 2/2 1.5/2 -- 14.00 13.75 27.75
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3.5/4.5 1.5/2 1.25/4
17 Indiana SO 3/8 1.25/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 0.25/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 5.75 2.75 8.50
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0.25/3.5 1/4.5 -0.5/2 1/4
18 Iowa SO 2/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.25/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 10.25 4.75 15.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.25/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -2/4
19 Kansas SO 3/8 0.5/4.5 -0.75/-1.25 0/3.5 0/2 0.5/2 -- 3.25 0.75 4.00
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 1.25/4
20 Kentucky SO 3/8 1.25/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 0/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 5.50 0.50 6.00
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0/3.5 1/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
21 Louisiana SO 2/8 0/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 -0.25/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 2.50 -2.25 0.25
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
22 Maine SO 5.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 0.5/2 2/2 -- 15.75 10.00 25.75
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 0.5/4.5 1/2 0.75/4
23 Maryland SO 5.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.25/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 13.75 13.50 27.25
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.5/2 3/4
24 Massachusetts SO 7.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 1/2 0.75/2 -- 17.00 14.00 31.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.75/2 2/4
25 Michigan SO 4/8 2.75/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 1/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 7.50 6.75 14.25
GI 2/2 2.75/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 1/3.5 2.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -0.75/4
26 Minnesota SO 3/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 1.5/2 0.5/2 -- 12.00 14.25 26.25
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.25/3.5 4/4.5 0.5/2 3/4
27 Mississippi SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 -1.25/-1.25 -0.25/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 1.50 0.00 1.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.75/-0.75 -0.25/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 1.5/4
28 Missouri SO 2/8 1/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 -0.25/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 3.50 -0.50 3.00
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 -0.5/4.5 0.5/2 -0.25/4
29 Montana SO 3/8 0.5/4.5 0/-1.25 0.25/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 3.75 4.00 7.75
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 3/4.5 -0.5/2 1/4
30 Nebraska SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 3.50 -3.50 0.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -1.5/4
31 Nevada SO 4/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 2/2 1.5/2 -- 14.50 15.50 30.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.5/3.5 4/4.5 1.5/2 3/4
32 New Hampshire SO 2.5/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 0.5/2 0.75/2 -- 10.50 8.50 19.00
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3/3.5 1.5/4.5 -0.25/2 0.75/4
33 New Jersey SO 7/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 15.75 14.00 29.75
GI 2/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 3/4.5 0.5/2 0.75/4
34 New Mexico SO 3.5/8 4.5/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 2.5/3.5 0.5/2 1/2 -- 11.75 11.25 23.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 2.25/3.5 2/4.5 1/2 1.75/4
35 New York SO 6.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 2/2 1.5/2 -- 18.00 16.00 34.00
GI 2/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 3.5/4.5 1.5/2 1.25/4
36 North Carolina SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 1.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 4.25 0.75 5.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 1.5/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 -0.25/4
37 North Dakota SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 0.25/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.50 -2.25 0.25
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
38 Northern Mariana Islands SO 2/8 0.5/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0.5/2 0/2 -- 3.50 -2.50 1.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0.5/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 -3/4
39 Ohio SO 2.5/8 1.25/4.5 0/-1.25 0.25/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 4.00 -0.75 3.25
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 -0.5/2 -0.5/4
40 Oklahoma SO 3.5/8 0/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 3.00 -2.00 1.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
41 Oregon SO 6/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 1.5/2 0.75/2 -- 15.00 15.25 30.25
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3/3.5 4/4.5 0.75/2 4/4
42 Pennsylvania SO 3/8 2.75/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 1.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 7.50 8.50 16.00
GI 0/2 2.75/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 0.75/3.5 3/4.5 -0.5/2 2.75/4
43 Puerto Rico SO 5/8 1.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 1.5/2 1/2 -- 11.50 9.75 21.25
GI 0/2 1.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.5/3.5 2/4.5 1/2 2.75/4
44 Rhode Island SO 6/8 4.5/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 2.5/3.5 2/2 2/2 -- 16.75 15.75 32.50
GI 2/2 4.5/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 2.25/3.5 4.5/4.5 2/2 0.75/4
45 South Carolina SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.00 -1.00 1.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0/4
46 South Dakota SO 2/8 0/4.5 -0.25/-1.25 -0.25/3.5 0/2 -0.5/2 -- 1.00 -2.00 -1.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.25/-0.75 -0.25/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
47 Tennessee SO 2.5/8 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 0.25/3.5 0/2 0.5/2 -- 2.25 -3.00 -0.75
GI 0/2 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0.25/3.5 -1.5/4.5 0.25/2 -1/4
48 Texas SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 1/2 0.75/2 -- 3.25 -0.75 2.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.25/2 0/4
49 U.S. Virgin Islands SO 2.5/8 0.5/4.5 0/-1.25 1/3.5 0/2 0.5/2 -- 4.50 0.00 4.50
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 0/4.5 0.5/2 -1/4
50 Utah SO 2/8 2.5/4.5 0/-1.25 0.75/3.5 0/2 0.5/2 -- 5.75 5.00 10.75
GI 0/2 2.5/4.5 0/-0.75 0.25/3.5 0/4.5 0.5/2 1.75/4
51 Vermont SO 5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 2/2 1/2 -- 15.75 16.25 32.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 4/4.5 1/2 3.5/4
52 Virginia SO 2/8 0.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 0/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.00 0.75 2.75
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0.75/4
53 Washington SO 4.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.25/3.5 1.5/2 0.5/2 -- 14.25 16.00 30.25
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.25/3.5 4/4.5 0.5/2 3.75/4
54 West Virginia SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 1/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 3.50 -1.00 2.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0/4
55 Wisconsin SO 5/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 1.25/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 11.25 1.25 12.50
GI 0/2 1/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 1.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -0.75/4
56 Wyoming SO 2.5/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0.25/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- 2.75 -0.75 2.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 0/2 0.25/4

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Data current as of 08/20/2019
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