Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality by State

This map shows the overall policy tallies (as distinct from sexual orientation or gender identity tallies) for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. A state’s “policy tally” counts the number of laws and policies within the state that help drive equality for LGBTQ people. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Relationship & Parental Recognition, Nondiscrimination, Religious Exemptions, LGBTQ Youth, Health Care, Criminal Justice, and Identity Documents.  

Click on any state to view its detailed policy tally and state profile, or click "Choose an Issue" above to view maps on nearly 40 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. 
United States Map
Washington New York U.S. Virgin Islands Puerto Rico Guam Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands American Samoa New Hampshire Vermont Virginia Pennsylvania New York Maine West Virginia Ohio Kentucky Indiana Michigan Illinois Wisconsin North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Georgia Florida Mississippi Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Iowa Minnesota Oklahoma Kansas Nebraska South Dakota North Dakota Texas 33 Colorado Wyoming Montana Idaho Arizona Utah Nevada Oregon California Hawaii Alaska Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New Jersey Delaware Maryland Washington D.C. New Hampshire Vermont
  • High Overall Policy Tally (11 states, 0 territories + D.C.)
  • Medium Overall Policy Tally (8 states, 1 territory)
  • Fair Overall Policy Tally (5 states, 0 territories)
  • Low Overall Policy Tally (14 states, 4 territories)
  • Negative Overall Policy Tally (12 states, 0 territories)
Note that the tallies look only at existing laws—they do not look at the social climate, nor do they take into account implementation of each state’s laws. The tally also does not reflect the efforts of advocates and/or opportunities for future change. States with low tallies might shift rapidly with an influx of resources, whereas those states with high tallies might continue to expand equality for LGBTQ people in ways that can provide models for other states.

Each of the nearly 40 LGBTQ-related laws and policies that MAP tracks earns a score (positive for protective, or negative for harmful). See a state's profile to see its detailed scores across all these policies. For each state, these individual policy scores are then added up to produce a summary tally score. This table shows how a state's tally score determines its categorization. 

Category
Sexual Orientation Tally
Gender Identity Tally
Total Tally
High
(75-100% of points possible)
14 to 18.5
15 to 20
29 to 38.5
Medium
(50-74.9% OF POINTS POSSIBLE)
9.25 to 13.75
10 to 14.75
19.25 to 28.75
Fair
(25-49.9% of points possible)
4.75 to 9
5 to 9.75
9.75 to 19 
Low
(0-24.9% of points possible)
0 to 4.5
0 to 4.75
0 to 9.5
Negative
(<0 points)
<0
<0
<0
Total points possible
18.5
20
38.5

Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality By State." http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/ (date of access).

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult 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.

32%

32 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states with high overall policy tallies

14%

14 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states with medium overall policy tallies

10%

10 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with fair overall policy tallies

25%

25 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with low overall policy tallies

20%

20 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with negative overall policy tallies

This map shows the sexual orientation policy tallies for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. A state’s “policy tally” counts the number of laws and policies within the state that help drive equality for LGBTQ people. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Relationship & Parental Recognition, Nondiscrimination, Religious Exemptions, LGBTQ Youth, Health Care, Criminal Justice, and Identity Documents.  

Click on any state to view its detailed policy tally and state profile, or click "Choose an Issue" above to view maps on nearly 40 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. 
United States Map
  • High Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (11 states, 0 territories + D.C.)
  • Medium Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (10 states, 1 territory)
  • Fair Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (6 states, 1 territory)
  • Low Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (19 states, 3 territories)
  • Negative Sexual Orientation Policy Tally (4 states, 0 territories)
NOTE: This tally includes laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation. The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction (or lack thereof) to people. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily target, whether for protection or harm, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Transgender people can also be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.


Sexual Orientation Tally
High
(75-100% of points possible)
14 to 18.5
Medium
(50-74.9% of points possible)
9.25 to 13.75
Fair
(25-49.9% of points possible)
4.75 to 9
Low
(0-24.9% of points possible)
0 to 4.5
Negative
(<0 points)
<0
total points possible
18.5
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality By State." http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/ (date of access).

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult 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.

34%

34 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states with high sexual orientation policy tallies

14%

14 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states with medium sexual orientation policy tallies

12%

12 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with fair sexual orientation policy tallies

36%

36 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with low sexual orientation policy tallies

4%

4 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with negative sexual orientation policy tallies

This map shows the gender identity policy tallies for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. A state’s “policy tally” counts the number of laws and policies within the state that help drive equality for LGBTQ people. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Relationship & Parental Recognition, Nondiscrimination, Religious Exemptions, LGBTQ Youth, Health Care, Criminal Justice, and Identity Documents.  

Click on any state to view its detailed policy tally and state profile, or click "Choose an Issue" above to view maps on nearly 40 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. 
United States Map
  • High Gender Identity Policy Tally (11 states, 0 territories + D.C.)
  • Medium Gender Identity Policy Tally (7 states, 0 territories)
  • Fair Gender Identity Policy Tally (5 states, 1 territory)
  • Low Gender Identity Policy Tally (8 states, 1 territory)
  • Negative Gender Identity Policy Tally (19 states, 3 territories)
NOTE: This tally includes laws that explicitly mention gender identity and/or expression. “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, all of which can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation. Transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or something else. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily target, whether for protection or harm, transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of self or expression does not adhere to gender stereotypes.



Gender identity Tally
High
(75-100% of points possible)
15 to 20
Medium
(50-74.9% of points possible)
10 to 14.75
Fair
(25-49.9% of points possible)
5 to 9.75
Low
(0-24.9% of points possible)
0 to 4.75
Negative
(<0 points)
<0
total points possible
20
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality By State." http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/ (date of access).

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult 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.

33%

33 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states with high gender identity policy tallies

12%

12 % of the LGBTQ population lives in states with medium gender identity policy tallies

9%

9 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with fair gender identity policy tallies

13%

13 % of LGBTQ population lives in states with low gender identity policy tallies

33%

33 % of LGBTQ 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 1.5/8 0/4.5 -2.5/-1.25 -1/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- -2.00 -4.50 -6.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -2.5/-0.75 -1/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 -1/4
2 Alaska SO 1.5/8 1.25/4.5 0/-1.25 0/3.5 0/2 -0.25/2 -- 2.50 1.25 3.75
GI 0/2 0.75/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 -0.25/2 1.75/4
3 American Samoa SO 1.5/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- 1.50 -1.00 0.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 -1/4
4 Arizona SO 2/8 1.25/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 0/3.5 1/2 1/2 -- 4.75 -1.50 3.25
GI 0/2 0.75/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 0/2 -0.75/4
5 Arkansas SO 2/8 -1/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 1/3.5 0.5/2 -1/2 -- 1.00 -1.50 -0.50
GI 0/2 -1/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 1/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -1/2 0.5/4
6 California SO 5.25/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 4/3.5 2/2 1.75/2 -- 16.50 18.25 34.75
GI 1/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 4/3.5 4/4.5 1.75/2 4/4
7 Colorado SO 3.75/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 1.5/2 0.75/2 -- 14.00 15.00 29.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.75/2 2.75/4
8 Connecticut SO 4/8 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 3.5/3.5 1/2 2/2 -- 14.50 15.25 29.75
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3/4.5 2/2 2.75/4
9 Delaware SO 3/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 2/2 0.5/2 -- 11.50 10.25 21.75
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 5.5/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 2/2 1/2 -- 15.50 17.00 32.50
GI 1/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 4.5/4.5 1/2 3.5/4
11 Florida SO 1.5/8 1.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 1/3.5 1/2 0/2 -- 4.50 2.75 7.25
GI 0/2 1.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0.5/3.5 0/4.5 -1/2 2.25/4
12 Georgia SO 1.5/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.50 -4.00 -1.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -3/4
13 Guam SO 3.25/8 1.5/4.5 0/-1.25 1/3.5 1/2 -0.25/2 -- 6.50 -0.75 5.75
GI 0.5/2 1.5/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.25/2 -3/4
14 Hawaii SO 2/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3/3.5 2/2 2/2 -- 12.50 14.75 27.25
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3/3.5 4.5/4.5 2/2 1.75/4
15 Idaho SO 2.5/8 0.75/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0/2 -0.5/2 -- 2.75 0.00 2.75
GI 0/2 0.75/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0.5/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0.25/4
16 Illinois SO 3/8 4.5/4.5 -1.5/-1.25 4/3.5 2/2 1.5/2 -- 13.50 14.00 27.50
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 4/3.5 3.5/4.5 1.5/2 2/4
17 Indiana SO 3/8 1.25/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 0.5/3.5 1/2 0/2 -- 5.25 1.75 7.00
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0.5/3.5 1/4.5 -1/2 0.5/4
18 Iowa SO 1.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 10.00 5.00 15.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.5/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -2/4
19 Kansas SO 2.5/8 1.25/4.5 -2/-1.25 0/3.5 0/2 1/2 -- 2.75 1.00 3.75
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 0/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 1.25/4
20 Kentucky SO 2.25/8 1.25/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 0/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 4.50 0.25 4.75
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0/3.5 1/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
21 Louisiana SO 1.5/8 0/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 0.5/2 0/2 -- 1.00 -3.50 -2.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 -1/3.5 0/4.5 -1/2 -1/4
22 Maine SO 5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 1.5/2 2/2 -- 16.50 14.00 30.50
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3.5/4.5 2/2 0.5/4
23 Maryland SO 3.5/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 1/2 0.5/2 -- 11.00 12.00 23.00
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.5/2 2.5/4
24 Massachusetts SO 5.25/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 1/2 0.75/2 -- 15.00 14.75 29.75
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3.5/4.5 0.75/2 2.5/4
25 Michigan SO 2.5/8 2.75/4.5 -1/-1.25 1.25/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 5.50 6.00 11.50
GI 1/2 2.75/4.5 -1/-0.75 1.25/3.5 2.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0/4
26 Minnesota SO 2.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3/3.5 1.5/2 1/2 -- 12.50 15.50 28.00
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 2.5/3.5 4/4.5 1/2 3.5/4
27 Mississippi SO 2/8 0/4.5 -3.5/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- -1.50 -2.00 -3.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -2.5/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 1.5/4
28 Missouri SO 1.5/8 1/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 2.50 -2.25 0.25
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 -1/3.5 -0.5/4.5 0.5/2 -1.25/4
29 Montana SO 3/8 0.5/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 4.00 4.00 8.00
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 3/4.5 -0.5/2 1/4
30 Nebraska SO 2/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 3.00 -3.50 -0.50
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 3/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3/3.5 2/2 1.5/2 -- 14.00 16.50 30.50
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3/3.5 4/4.5 1.5/2 3.5/4
32 New Hampshire SO 2/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 0.5/2 1/2 -- 10.50 8.25 18.75
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3/3.5 1.5/4.5 0/2 0.25/4
33 New Jersey SO 5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 0.5/2 0.5/2 -- 14.00 13.75 27.75
GI 1/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3/4.5 0.5/2 1.25/4
34 New Mexico SO 3/8 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 3.5/3.5 0.5/2 1/2 -- 12.00 11.75 23.75
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 2.5/3.5 2/4.5 1/2 2.25/4
35 New York SO 4.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 4/3.5 2/2 2/2 -- 17.00 15.75 32.75
GI 1/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 3.5/4.5 2/2 1.25/4
36 North Carolina SO 2/8 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 1.5/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 3.00 -0.75 2.25
GI 0/2 -0.5/4.5 0/-0.75 1.5/3.5 0/4.5 -0.5/2 -1.25/4
37 North Dakota SO 2/8 0/4.5 -1/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 1.50 -3.00 -1.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -1/-0.75 0/3.5 -0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
38 Northern Mariana Islands SO 1.5/8 0.5/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0.5/2 0/2 -- 3.00 -2.50 0.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0.5/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 -3/4
39 Ohio SO 2/8 1.25/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0.5/2 -1/2 -- 3.25 -1.25 2.00
GI 0/2 1.25/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 -1/2 -0.5/4
40 Oklahoma SO 3.5/8 0/4.5 -1.5/-1.25 -1/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 1.50 -3.50 -2.00
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 -1/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 -1/4
41 Oregon SO 4.25/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 1.5/2 1/2 -- 13.75 15.50 29.25
GI 0/2 3.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3/3.5 4/4.5 1/2 4/4
42 Pennsylvania SO 3/8 2.75/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 1.75/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 7.50 7.25 14.75
GI 0/2 2.75/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 0.75/3.5 3/4.5 -0.5/2 1.75/4
43 Puerto Rico SO 3/8 1.5/4.5 0/-1.25 2.5/3.5 1.5/2 1/2 -- 9.50 9.75 19.25
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 3.75/8 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-1.25 3/3.5 2/2 2/2 -- 14.75 16.00 30.75
GI 1/2 4.5/4.5 -0.5/-0.75 2.5/3.5 4.5/4.5 2/2 2/4
45 South Carolina SO 2/8 0/4.5 -1.5/-1.25 -1/3.5 1/2 -0.5/2 -- 0.00 -2.50 -2.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 -1/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0/4
46 South Dakota SO 1.5/8 0/4.5 -1/-1.25 -0.5/3.5 0/2 -1/2 -- -1.00 -3.50 -4.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -1/-0.75 -0.5/3.5 0/4.5 -1/2 -1/4
47 Tennessee SO 1.75/8 -1/4.5 -1.5/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- -0.25 -4.75 -5.00
GI 0/2 -1/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 0.5/3.5 -1.5/4.5 -0.25/2 -1/4
48 Texas SO 2/8 0/4.5 -1.5/-1.25 -1/3.5 1/2 1/2 -- 1.50 -3.00 -1.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 -1/3.5 -0.5/4.5 0/2 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 1.5/8 2.5/4.5 0/-1.25 1.5/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- 5.50 5.25 10.75
GI 0/2 2.5/4.5 0/-0.75 1/3.5 0/4.5 0/2 1.75/4
51 Vermont SO 4.5/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 2/2 1/2 -- 15.50 16.00 31.50
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 4/4.5 1/2 3/4
52 Virginia SO 1.5/8 0.5/4.5 -1.5/-1.25 0/3.5 0.5/2 -0.5/2 -- 0.50 -0.25 0.25
GI 0/2 0.5/4.5 -1.5/-0.75 0/3.5 0.5/4.5 -0.5/2 0.75/4
53 Washington SO 3.25/8 4.5/4.5 0/-1.25 3.5/3.5 1.5/2 0/2 -- 12.75 15.75 28.50
GI 0/2 4.5/4.5 0/-0.75 3.5/3.5 4/4.5 0/2 3.75/4
54 West Virginia SO 2/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 1.5/3.5 0.5/2 0/2 -- 4.00 -1.50 2.50
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1.5/4.5 0/2 0/4
55 Wisconsin SO 3/8 3.5/4.5 0/-1.25 1.5/3.5 1/2 0.75/2 -- 9.75 2.50 12.25
GI 0/2 1/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 2.5/4.5 -0.25/2 -0.75/4
56 Wyoming SO 2/8 0/4.5 0/-1.25 0.5/3.5 0/2 0/2 -- 2.50 -0.75 1.75
GI 0/2 0/4.5 0/-0.75 0/3.5 -1/4.5 0/2 0.25/4

Related Resources


Report

Mapping Transgender Equality in the United States

To help make sense of the current policy landscape in the states, this report looks at legal equality for transgender people across the country. The gender identity tally is comprised of 25 state laws and policies in five key categories: Non-Discrimination, LGBT Youth, Health and Safety, Ability to Correct the Name and Gender Marker on Identity Documents, and Adoption and Parenting.

View the Report
Report

Mapping LGBT Equality in America

Mapping LGBT Equality in America sets out to identify and explain the key gaps in legal equality for LGBT Americans by introducing the major state and local laws and policies that protect or harm LGBT people, providing a breakdown of those laws and policies by state, and showing how protections for LGBT Americans vary based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

View the Report
Charts

State Policy Tallies

Policy Tallies provide an overview of laws and polices that exist in each state. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Marriage and Relationship Recognition, Adoption and Parenting, Non-Discrimination, Safe Schools, Health and Safety, and the Ability for Transgender People to Correct the Gender Marker on Identity Documents.

View the Tallies
FAQ

Policy Tallies: Frequently Asked Questions

For information on our methodology and rationale behind the creation of the Policy Tallies, click here to see our Frequently Asked Questions.

View the FAQ
Infographics

Policy Tallies: Infographics

From the pages of Mapping LGBT Equality in America is a set of shareable infographics, including: ‘Equality Wheel: LGBT Policy Tallies by State,’ ‘Percent of Population Covered,’ ‘State Tallies if the Supreme Court Grants Nationwide Marriage for Same-Sex Couples,’ and more.

View the Graphics
Data current as of 01/15/2020
This map is powered by

Login

Forgot your password?

Become a Member

MAP membership and certain MAP materials are restricted to the staff and board members of LGBTQ movement organizations and/or major funders of the movement for LGBTQ equality. Click below to become a member of MAP.

Join MAP

View our privacy policy.

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.

Choose a State or Territory

States

Territories

Choose an Issue

Sort by Category Sort Alphabetically