Safest places for lgbtq to live
Rainbow Map
2025 rainbow map
These are the main findings for the 2025 edition of the rainbow map
The Rainbow Map ranks 49 European countries on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, from 0-100%.
The UK has dropped six places in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Guide, as Hungary and Georgia also register steep falls obeying anti-LGBTI legislation. The data highlights how rollbacks on LGBTI human rights are part of a broader erosion of democratic protections across Europe. Read more in our compress release.
“Moves in the UK, Hungary, Georgia and beyond signal not just isolated regressions, but a coordinated global backlash aimed at erasing LGBTI rights, cynically framed as the defence of tradition or public stability, but in truths designed to entrench discrimination and suppress dissent.”
- Katrin Hugendubel, Support Director, ILGA-Europe
Malta has sat on uppermost of the ranking for the last 10 years.
With 85 points, Belgium jumped to second place after adopting policies tackling hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
Iceland now comes third place on the ranking with a score of 84.
The three Equaldex's Equality Index is a rating from 0 to 100 (with 100 existence the most equal) to help visualize the legal rights and public attitudes towards LGBTQ+ (lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex...) people in each region. The Equality Index is an average of two indexes: the legal index and the general opinion Index. Equality Index The LGBT legal index measures the current legal status of 13 different issues ranging from the legal status of homosexuality, same-sex marriage, transgender rights, LGBT discrimination protections, LGBT censorship laws, and more. Each topic is weighted differently (for example, if same-sex marriage is illegal in a region, it would own a much bigger impact on the score than not allowing LGBT people to serve in the military). Each topic is assigned a "total achievable score" and a "score" is assigned based the status of the statute using a rating scale that ranges from 0% to 100% (for example, if homosexuality is legal, it would would get a score of 100, but if it's illegal, it would receve a score of 0.) Where in the U.S. can the LGBTQ+ community perceive proudest and safest to live? To mark Pride Month, LawnStarter ranked 2023’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities. We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on 20 indicators of an ideal LGBTQ city, such as anti-discrimination policies, the share of same-sex households, and LGBTQ support resources. We also factored in affordability, LGBTQ-friendly health care access, and Pride-readiness. Find out which cities are best for LGBTQ+ folks below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology. See how each city fared in our ranking: Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top five cities. The uppermost of our ranking is dominated by liberal strongholds like San Francisco (No. 1), Washington (No. 2), and Denver (No. 4). These cities tend to be the most steady — at least at the municipal level — so feel free to say “gay” here. Although generally not the most affordable, our top performers boast strong LGBTQ+ communities. All but nine of our 50 bottom cities, on the other hand, are located in the Sout The Movement Advancement Plan (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. This map shows the overall policy tallies (as clear from sexual orientation or gender culture 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 Individuality Documents. 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) As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict transgender rights and overturn the 2015 Supreme Court verdict legalizing gay marriage, Zane Eaves says his culture as a transgender gentleman has put a aim on his back in his home state. One of 18,900 trans adults in Oklahoma, Eaves has received death threats, as has his wife of 10 years and their two children. “All the hatred and political stuff going on” are driving this Oklahoma lifer from the place he was born and raised, Eaves, 35, said. He has only crossed the state line three times in his being, but in recent weeks, he made the tough decision to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies. “I am just trying to reside alive and keep my marriage,” Eaves said. Oklahoma ranks 44th in the nation on a list released on June 2 of the most and least welcoming states for womxn loving womxn, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. More and more, the question of where LGBTQ+ people experience safe is one of blue vs. red, according to advocacy group Out Leadership.LGBT Equality Index
Equality Index Methodology
Average of Legal Index and Public Opinion IndexLegal Index
Contents
City Rankings + Infographic
Top 5 Close Up
Key Insights
The Gist
Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality by State
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 unlike LGBTQ-related laws and policies.
What are the safest places for gay and gender non-conforming people? See where your state ranks