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Pride Month 2025: Under Trump 2.0, least safe US states for LGBTQ+ people revealed. Check details

Pride Month 2025: Under Trump 2.0, least safe US states for LGBTQ+ people revealed. Check details

Time of India4 days ago

As Pride Month kicks off, a new report reveals deepening disparities in safety, rights, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ Americans depending on where they live. From health care access and legal protections to the tone set by state leadership, conditions for LGBTQ+ individuals vary dramatically across the United States.
Out Leadership's 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, now in its seventh year, evaluates all 50 states on how welcoming they are to LGBTQ+ residents. This year's findings come amid intensifying legislative pressure, with hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country and heated debates over flag bans and transgender rights dominating public discourse.
Compiled with input from the Williams Institute and the Movement Advancement Project, the annual index is a resource for corporate leaders and policymakers. It comes at a time when Pride events face a rising tide of political opposition. In 2025, Utah became the first state to explicitly ban LGBTQ+ flags on government property, with Idaho and Montana following with similar restrictions. In total, at least 31 flag-related bills have been introduced in 17 states, targeting LGBTQ+ symbols in public spaces.
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According to the Movement Advancement Project, over 700 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed so far this year. Organizers report that this legislative onslaught—paired with federal rollbacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under the Trump administration—has prompted major corporations like Mastercard, PepsiCo, and Nissan to scale back or withdraw support from major Pride events, reports NewsWeek.
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Despite financial strain and heightened security risks, Pride organizers across political divides are pressing forward. They emphasize the enduring importance of Pride as a space for visibility, identity, and solidarity. The report also cautions business leaders about the potential reputational and operational risks of operating in states where LGBTQ+ people face legal and social hostility.
Top-Ranked States for LGBTQ+ Safety in 2025
The 2025 Index reveals a clear geographic pattern: states in the Northeast and on the West Coast lead in LGBTQ+ inclusivity and safety.
Top 10 States:
Massachusetts – 93.67
New York – 93.67
Connecticut – 92.27
New Jersey – 90.00
Vermont – 89.50
Rhode Island – 89.43
California – 88.57
Washington – 86.53
Maryland – 84.83
Oregon – 83.97
Massachusetts and New York tied for the top spot, each scoring 93.67 out of 100. These states, along with others in the top ten, have adopted robust nondiscrimination laws, bans on conversion therapy, inclusive health care policies, and benefit from strong pro-LGBTQ+ leadership. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey—the first openly lesbian governor in the U.S.—has prioritized equality across her administration.
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Lowest-Ranked States for LGBTQ+ Safety in 2025
At the other end of the spectrum, states in the South and Plains regions continue to score lowest on the index.
Bottom 10 States:
Arkansas – 29.50
South Carolina – 32.15
Louisiana – 33.00
South Dakota – 34.80
Mississippi – 36.60
West Virginia – 37.43
Oklahoma – 37.62
Montana – 38.10
Missouri – 39.03
Alabama – 39.40
Arkansas remains the lowest-ranked state for the third year in a row. Many of the lowest-ranking states have expanded religious exemptions and enacted restrictions on updating gender markers on legal documents. Oklahoma, for example, has seen an uptick in LGBTQ+ residents seeking to move elsewhere due to safety concerns, with organizations like Rainbow Railroad and TRACTION reporting increased calls for help.
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Out Leadership underscores that state leadership plays a critical role in shaping outcomes. States with inclusive policies often have proactive, supportive governance. Michigan, for example, rose in the rankings after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation expanding hate crime protections.
As Pride 2025 unfolds, the index serves as both a reflection of current conditions and a call to action—for businesses, leaders, and citizens alike—to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals can live openly and safely, no matter where they reside.
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The authors of the index highlight a growing divide between states with high and low rankings, leading to increasing geographic polarization that affects not only legislation but also the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ individuals.
'Top-ranked states for LGBTQ+ equality continue to perform well, but the scores of the lowest-ranked states have dropped sharply,' said Brian Sims, Managing Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Out Leadership. 'This trend reflects a deepening polarization in both political and cultural attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community across the country.'

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