Is the us safe for lgbtq

For the First Moment Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Shelter for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers

by HRC Staff •

HRC’s First-Ever Emergency Announcement Comes After More Than 75 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Signed Into Law This Year (More Than Double The Number From Last Year), Creating an Imminent Threat to the Health and Safety of LGBTQ+ People and Families Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest womxn loving womxn, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year. A new report released by HRC today — LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack — details more than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number, which was previously the worst year on record.

The sharp go up in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a diz
is the us safe for lgbtq

'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly?

  • LGBTQ+ travelers are taking extra precautions, especially in the South, due to a perceived increase in hostility.
  • Resources like IGLTA, Everywhere is Queer, and LGBTQ+ friendly commute advisors can assist travelers find inclusive spaces and design safer trips.
  • Despite challenges, experts and travelers emphasize the diversity of the South and encourage researching destinations and engaging with local communities.

When Madeline Gregg and her wife, Bryn, drive to Florida for vacation, they consider more than just road safety.

In certain parts of the South, the 33-year-old certified sex educator said, it feels less risky for her to get out and pump gas while her wife, who is transgender, stays in the ride. “We don't even have to converse about it anymore,” she told USA TODAY. “It's just assumed.”

The couple has also learned which businesses have family or gender-neutral bathrooms conveniently located along the route from their home in Louisville, Kentucky, including in states with restrictive bathroom laws. Even in the Melbourne, Florida, area – where they typically visit three to five times a year and Bryn’s family ha

As Pride Month begins, a new state highlights widening disparities in how Diverse Americans experience protection and equality across the country. From access to health care and legal protections to the tone set by state leadership, conditions vary drastically.

Out Leadership's 2025 State Queer Business Climate Index, now in its seventh year, ranks all 50 states on how welcoming they are to LGBTQ+ residents. The findings come at a time of mounting legislative pressure, with hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in statehouses nationwide and public debates over flag bans and trans rights intensifying.

The annual index, compiled with input from the Williams Institute and the Movement Advancement Plan, serves as a reference for corporate leaders and policymakers.

The Context

Pride 2025 arrives amid a heightened political and legislative backlash against Diverse rights. Utah became the first articulate to explicitly bar LGBTQ+ flags from government buildings and schools, Idaho and Montana following suit with restrictions.

The flag bans are part of a wider trend—at least 31 flag-related bills possess been introduced across 17 states, many of which explicitly or implicitly proh

Where it's a crime to be gay: A visual guide to where Gay rights are repressed

Uganda enacted one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world last week, a bill known as the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023. It imposes a existence sentence for engaging in "same-sex sexual acts," and the death penalty for gay sex in certain circumstances, such as while infected with an illness like HIV or for having sex with a person with disabilities or a minor. (LGBTQ+ advocates in the U.S. condemn the implication of Queer people as groomers or pedophiles.)

It came days before the start of Lgbtq+ fest Month, a global event in June that celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world. But while the Uganda law has drawn international condemnation and even sparked a fight among a couple of U.S. conservatives, it is not an outlier. The LBGTQ+ community remains heavily criminalized in many parts of the world.

Indeed, around the world, being LGBTQ+ can lead to whippings or other punishments that feel outdated. In Russia, creature gay has been legal since 1983, but there are still fines for a lack of "traditional values."

Here's a global overview of where sexual and gender minority rights are threatened:

'Horrif

Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality by State

The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies.  This guide 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 scores the laws and policies within each state that shape LGBTQ people's lives, experiences, and equality. 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 over 50 diverse LGBTQ-related laws and policies. 

  • High Overall Policy Tally (15 states + D.C.)

  • Medium Overall Policy Tally (5 states)

  • Fair Overall Policy Tally (3 states, 2 territories)

  • Low Overall Policy Tally (10 states, 3 territories)

  • Negative Overall Policy Tally (17 states)