It's Pride Month. Is Ohio a safe state for gay and transgender people? What new research says
Pride Month, celebrated annually in June, honors the culture and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans across the nation through parades, educational events, and more.
A new ranking recently released by global LGBTQ+ business platform Out Leadership reveals the most and least welcoming states for members of the LGBT community. In addition to a national overall decline, the researchers say that Ohio saw steep drops in the rankings because of laws targeting LGBTQ+ youth.
Here's how Ohio ranks among LGBT-friendly states.
State rankings show Ohio landing at No. 39 out of the 50 states, barely escaping the bottom 10 in the 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index from Out Leadership.
Ohio scored 42.35 out of a possible 100 points.
Florida came in at No. 40 with a 42.20 score. Indiana was No. 38 overall (42.67), and Kentucky scored 43.25 points to rank No. 37.
The Buckeye State experienced the steepest decline out of all its neighboring Midwestern states, coming in second-last when ranked by region.
The analysis also pointed to increased polarization surrounding gay and trans rights as well as a surge in bills that challenge LGBT rights like the 'Don't Say Gay' laws expanded in states like Florida, Ohio, and Texas.
This is the second year that Ohio was considered one of the most unsafe states to live in as an LGBTQ+ American.
The Out Leadership study scored states in five categories. Each category was worth up to 20 points toward the final score for each state.
Here's how Ohio scored:
Legal and nondiscrimination protection (13.75)
Youth and family support (7.4)
Political and religious attitudes (9.2)
Health access and safety (6.0)
Work environment and employment (6.0)
Over the years, Ohio legislators have introduced a wave of bills surrounding the LGBT community.
Ohio lawmakers have legislated several state-level bills around LGBTQ issues.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed a transgender bathroom ban into law in November 2024.
Similarly, DeWine signed House Bill 8, known as the "Parents' Bill of Rights," which would require teachers to notify parents about health and gender identity. The proposed House Bill 190 would require parental permission for name and pronoun changes for students.
Senate Bill 132 and House Bill 61, the "Save Women's Sports Act" that pushed to ban transgender girls from playing on female sports teams in Ohio, advanced to the DeWine's desk. So did Senate Bill 50, which would ban conversion therapy for minors.
In April 2025, the Ohio Supreme Court reinstated a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors under House Bill 68. "We look forward to showing once again that the Legislature acted properly in enacting this constitutional law, which protects our children from irreversible medical decisions," Attorney General Dave Yost spokesperson Bethany McCorkle said.
Challenging the bill, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Harper Seldin stated, "The state's ban is discriminatory, baseless and a danger to the well-being of the same Ohio youth lawmakers claim to want to protect. It's also part of a sweeping effort to drive trans people out of public life altogether by controlling our health care, our families and our lives," the Dispatch reported.
Ohio is one of 32 states with unenforceable same-sex marriage bans in laws or constitutions, despite growing support among the public.
Certain bills have been introduced that support LGBT rights, such as the Ohio Fairness Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. However, these bills have not been signed into law since being introduced years ago.
These 10 states scored the worst in the Out Leadership rankings.
Arkansas (29.50)
South Carolina (32.15)
Louisiana (33.00)
South Dakota (34.80)
Tennessee (35.00)
Mississippi (37.27)
Oklahoma (37.62)
Alabama (39.40)
Montana (40.62)
Idaho (42.07)
Massachusetts (93.67)
New York (93.67)
Connecticut (92.27)
New Jersey (90.00)
Vermont (89.50)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is Ohio safe for gay and transgender people? What new study says
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