The State Equality Index (SEI) is a comprehensive state-by-state report that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ+ people and their families.
The SEI rates all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. in six areas of law and assigns the states to one of four distinct categories.
Check your state's scorecard by texting SEI to 472472 from your mobile phone. (msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to quit, HELP for info.)
State Equality Index 2021
In these states, advocates focus on raising support for basic LGBTQ+ equality, such as non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and public accommodations. These states are most likely to have religious refusal or other anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Advocates often further LGBTQ equality by focusing on municipal protections for LGBTQ+ people or opposing negative legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community.
States in this category include:
Alabama |
Arizona |
Arkansas |
Georgia |
Idaho |
Indiana |
Kentucky |
Louisiana |
Michigan |
Mississippi |
Missouri |
Montana |
Nebraska |
North Carolina |
Ohio |
Oklahoma |
South Carolina |
South Dakota |
Tennessee |
Texas |
West Virginia |
Wyoming |
In these states, advocates focus on raising support for basic LGBTQ+ equality, such as non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and public accommodations. These states are most likely to have religious refusal or other anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Advocates often further LGBTQ+ equality by focusing on municipal protections for LGBTQ+ people or opposing negative legislation that targets the LGBTQ+ community.
States in this category include:
Florida
Kansas
North Dakota
Wisconsin
These states have several basic measures of equality, including non-discrimination protections or anti-bullying laws. Advocates work to ensure the broad implementation of these laws while advancing laws concerning parenting, youth, health and criminal justice to achieve full equality for the LGBTQ+ community.
States in this category include:
Alaska |
Pennsylvania |
Utah |
These states have a broad range of protections to ensure equality for LGBTQ+ people, including comprehensive non-discrimination laws, safer school policies, and healthcare access for transgender people. Advocates focus on the implementation of laws and advance innovative legislation that addresses the needs of vulnerable populations.
States in this category include:
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Map Key
Prohibit discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation only
Prohibit discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity
6 States
Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation only
1 State
Enforcement authorities are accepting complaints on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity because the state has adopted the Bostock rationale into state law*
9 States
Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
22 States & DC
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<iframe src="https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-maps/employment?embed=1" width="760" height="700" frameBorder="0" seamless="seamless" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is currently accepting complaints of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment based on Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination.
*North Carolina's executive order enumerates sexual orientation and gender identity. However, this order has a bathroom carve out for transgender employees making the executive order not fully inclusive.
*On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under federal sex-based employment protections.
For more information on the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in the Bostock vs. Clayton County case, see What the Supreme Court Ruling in Bostock Means For State Legislative Efforts.
Updated January 19, 2022, 2021
Map Key
Bans insurance exclusions for transgender healthcare only
3 States
Bans insurance exclusions for transgender healthcare and also has protections for transgender healthcare in state Medicaid
21 States & DC
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<iframe src="https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-maps/transgender-healthcare?embed=1" width="760" height="700" frameBorder="0" seamless="seamless" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
Updated January 19, 2022
Map Key
State Protects Youth From So-Called "Conversion Therapy"
21 States & DC
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<iframe src="https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-maps/anti-conversion-therapy?embed=1" width="760" height="700" frameBorder="0" seamless="seamless" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
This map indicates states that protect LGBTQ+ youth from conversion therapy through licensing restrictions that prevent licensed mental health service professionals from conducting conversion therapy on youth under age 18.
*New York also protects youth from conversion therapy by the following regulatory action implemented on February 6, 2016:
NY State Department of Financial Services - regulations prohibiting insurance providers from covering conversion therapy on patients under the age of 18;
NY State Office of Mental Health - regulations prohibiting mental health providers licensed by this department from using conversion therapy on youth under the age of 18; and
NY State Department of Health - regulations declaring that conversion therapy is not covered by the New York State Medicaid plan since it is never medically necessary care.
Updated January 22, 2022
Map Key
Allows agencies to discriminate against potential parents
5 States
Allows agencies to refuse to work with potential parents and children
2 States
Allows agencies to refuse to work with potential parents and children and allows agencies to deny children services to which the agency objects
Allows sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination that includes allowing agencies to refuse to work with potential parents and children and agencies can deny children services to which the agency objects, including refusing to allow transgender people access
3 States
Discrimination is allowed by private agencies which do not receive taxpayer funds
1 State
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<iframe src="https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-maps/discrimination-in-child-welfare-services?embed=1" width="760" height="700" frameBorder="0" seamless="seamless" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
*Michigan was subject to a lawsuit that settled the law, and Michigan is no longer able to enforce these restrictions.
Updated January 19, 2021
Map Key
Address discrimination against students based on sexual orientation only
2 States
Address discrimination against students based on sexual orientation and gender identity
1 State
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<iframe src="https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-maps/education?embed=1" width="760" height="700" frameBorder="0" seamless="seamless" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
Increasingly, states are explicitly addressing discrimination against LGBTQ+ elementary and high school students. This map indicates state laws that prohibit discrimination against students in public education on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The states that explicitly address discrimination against LGBTQ+ students are shown.
*On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under federal sex-based employment protections.
For more information on the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in the Bostock vs. Clayton County case, see What the Supreme Court Ruling in Bostock Means For State Legislative Efforts.
Updated January 19, 2022
Map Key
Facilitate gender marker update on driver's licenses only
13 States
Facilitate gender marker update on both birth certificates and driver's licenses
23 States & DC
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<iframe src="https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-maps/gender-marker-updates-on-identification-documents?embed=1" width="760" height="700" frameBorder="0" seamless="seamless" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
Updated January 19, 2022
Map Key
Address hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation only
10 States
Address hate or bias crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity
23 States & DC