LGBTQ+ Protections
by State
19 of 50 states have strong LGBTQ+ protections in state law, 9 have moderate protections, 4 have weak protections, and 18 have enacted hostile legislation, based on enacted law as of 2026. This page rates each state on a four-tier scale rather than a numeric score; the top tier is strong and the bottom tier is hostile.
19
States with strong protections
9
States with moderate protections
4
States with weak protections
18
States with hostile legislation
Strong Protections
19 states
Comprehensive anti-discrimination laws covering employment, housing, and public accommodations. Marriage equality reinforced by state law.
Moderate Protections
9 states
Some anti-discrimination protections but gaps remain. Generally safe, with some legislative friction.
Weak Protections
4 states
Limited or no state-level anti-discrimination laws. Relying primarily on federal protections.
Hostile Legislation
18 states
Active legislation targeting LGBTQ+ residents. Don't Ask Don't Tell policies, gender-affirming care bans, or bathroom bills enacted.
Top and bottom states
The top tier, strong protections, holds 19 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
The bottom tier, hostile legislation, holds 18 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.
How we rank
There is no numeric score on this page. Each state is placed in one of four tiers based on enacted state law. Strong means comprehensive anti-discrimination law covering employment, housing and public accommodations, with marriage equality reinforced in state law. Moderate means some anti-discrimination protections with gaps remaining. Weak means limited or no state-level protections, so residents rely mainly on federal law. Hostile means the state has enacted legislation targeting LGBTQ+ residents, such as gender-affirming care bans or bathroom bills. Within a tier, states are listed alphabetically, not ranked against each other.
Sources: Movement Advancement Project (MAP), ACLU State Legislative Tracker, Human Rights Campaign State Equality Index, NCSL. Ratings reflect enacted law as of May 2026 — legislative status changes frequently. Click any state for full details.