A new report from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has ranked states based on their commitment to LGBTQ+ equality, revealing stark differences across the United States.
The State Equality Index, released on 28 January, categorises states into four groups, from the most inclusive to the least. While 21 states and Washington DC were recognised for advancing LGBTQ+ rights, nearly half of all states (24 in total) were rated as having discriminatory legislation.
With 489 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced last year—46 of which were signed into law—the report highlights growing concerns for LGBTQ+ communities. HRC found that 71.5 per cent of LGBTQ+ adults reported negative mental health effects due to these laws, while 41.1 per cent of trans and gender-expansive adults said they or someone close to them had lost access to gender-affirming care.
The Best US States for LGBTQ+ Equality
HRC ranked the following 21 states and Washington DC in the highest category, “working toward innovative equality”:
📌 California
📌 Colorado
📌 Connecticut
📌 Delaware
📌 District of Columbia (Washington DC)
📌 Hawaii
📌 Illinois
📌 Maine
📌 Maryland
📌 Massachusetts
📌 Michigan
📌 Minnesota
📌 Nevada
📌 New Hampshire
📌 New Jersey
📌 New Mexico
📌 New York
📌 Oregon
📌 Rhode Island
📌 Vermont
📌 Virginia
📌 Washington
These states have introduced and maintained laws that protect LGBTQ+ rights, including measures supporting gender-affirming care, non-discrimination protections, and equality in workplaces and schools.
The Worst US States for LGBTQ+ Equality
Meanwhile, 24 states were placed in the lowest category, “high priority to achieve basic equality,” due to their discriminatory laws, many of which target trans individuals.
🚨 Alabama
🚨 Arizona
🚨 Arkansas
🚨 Florida
🚨 Georgia
🚨 Idaho
🚨 Indiana
🚨 Kansas
🚨 Kentucky
🚨 Louisiana
🚨 Mississippi
🚨 Missouri
🚨 Montana
🚨 Nebraska
🚨 North Carolina
🚨 North Dakota
🚨 Ohio
🚨 Oklahoma
🚨 South Carolina
🚨 South Dakota
🚨 Tennessee
🚨 Texas
🚨 West Virginia
🚨 Wyoming
These states have introduced or passed restrictive laws, including bans on gender-affirming healthcare, limits on LGBTQ+ discussions in schools, and restrictions on trans rights.
Five additional states were placed in the middle categories:
✅ Alaska, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Pennsylvania were ranked as “solidifying equality.”
✅ Utah was classified as “building equality.”
HRC President Kelley Robinson stated that the findings come at a critical time in US history, emphasising that states prioritising LGBTQ+ rights benefit both socially and economically.
“The roadmap is clear, and the results speak for themselves: when states protect every resident’s dignity and potential, everyone thrives,” Robinson said.
The report follows a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ policies under the Trump administration, including executive orders limiting gender-affirming care, restricting trans military service, and removing “X” gender markers from government IDs.
With state-level policies diverging sharply, LGBTQ+ equality remains a key issue in the ongoing fight for civil rights in the US.