In observance of Pride month and the US Supreme Court’s June 15 major civil rights decision to protect US workers from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, USA Today published an article ranking all 50 states in order of least to most welcoming for LGBTQ people.
No surprise New England’s all came in close to the top. Number one turns out to be Nevada, and to find out why check out the USA Today story, where you can see all the results.
We take these rankings with the proverbial grain of salt since some results are skewed a bit by factors like the Bay State’s relatively high number of reported hate crimes, including those concerning sexual orientation and gender ID—however, Bay State police are required to record and report this info, which just doesn’t happen in many other states, thus making Massachusetts’s results in this respect lower than other states’ where such crimes go unreported. Things like that.
That duly noted, here’s how, and how come, New England faired:
#2. Vermont
• LGBTQ population: 5.2% – 5th highest (total LGBTQ people: 26,000)
• CenterLink pride centers: 12 per 100,000 LGBTQ people – the highest (total: 3)
Vermont ranks as one of the best states for LGBTQ people. It provides better access to CenterLink pride centers than any other state. Vermont has an estimated 26,000 LGBTQ people and three pride centers.
The state also has some of the most comprehensive health and safety laws for LGBTQ residents among all states. It ensures that transgender people cannot be excluded from health care. Vermont also collects data on the health and well being of LGBTQ youth and adults. It also has extensive nondiscrimination laws.
#8. Maine
• LGBTQ population: 4.9% – 8th highest (total LGBTQ people: 53,000)
• CenterLink pride centers: 2 per 100,000 LGBTQ people – 22nd lowest (total: 1)
Maine made great strides in 2019, passing five bills protecting the health and rights of its LGBTQ residents. It has among the strongest laws against hate crimes, which include eliminating “panic” defenses, making it mandatory to report such incidents, and prohibiting profiling by law enforcement.
Maine also has no laws on the books considered “bad” by the HRC, including religious and moral exemptions to anti-discrimination laws.
#10. Rhode Island
• LGBTQ population: 4.5% – 12th highest (total LGBTQ people: 38,000)
• CenterLink pride centers: 3 per 100,000 LGBTQ people – 16th highest (total: 1)
Rhode Island ranks as one of the 10 best states for LGBTQ people largely because of the health and safety laws protecting the community. It has laws providing protections for health care through the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that transgender people cannot be excluded from health care. The state also collects data on the health and well being of LGBTQ youth and adults.
Rhode Island has improved protections for LGBTQ people substantially in recent years. Over the past decade, it has passed 17 such bills. No bills that sought to restrict freedom or protections for LGBTQ people have even been introduced since 2015, according to HRC.
#13. Massachusetts
• LGBTQ population: 5.4% – 3rd highest (total LGBTQ people: 296,000)
• CenterLink pride centers: 1 per 100,000 LGBTQ people – 6th lowest (total: 3)
Massachusetts is one of just a handful of states in which more than 5% of state residents identify as LGBTQ. The state has numerous laws and protections for members of the community. It also has no laws on the books considered “bad” by the HRC – laws that could restrict the freedoms or protections of LGBTQ people.
Massachusetts has a very high rate of hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation – the second highest rate overall. This is likely due in large part to state laws requiring police departments to report hate crime statistics, as well as laws that enumerate crimes motivated by both sexual orientation and gender identity.
14. New Hampshire
• LGBTQ population: 4.7% – 9th highest (total LGBTQ people: 51,000)
• CenterLink pride centers: 2 per 100,000 LGBTQ people – 25th lowest (total: 1)
New Hampshire has some of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ people relative to the total total population as well as some of the lowest rates of reported hate crimes against the LGBTQ community. The state was regarded as a friendlier state to LGBTQ people compared to most other states by a recent PRRI poll, which showed high support for sex-marriage and LGBTQ rights in general.
Though the state does not have a law that addresses discrimination against students based on sexual orientation and gender identity, New Hampshire also does not have a ban on insurance exclusions for transgender health care.
16. Connecticut
• LGBTQ population: 3.9% – 22nd lowest (total LGBTQ people: 111,000)
• CenterLink pride centers: 3 per 100,000 LGBTQ people – 15th highest (total: 3)
Connecticut ranks among the better states for LGBTQ people in large part because of its wide-ranging legal protections. The state has multiple laws protecting LGBTQ youth and adults from discrimination, as well as their abilities to adopt. It also has strong hate crime laws and thorough health and safety laws.
However, Connecticut does allow for religious exemptions from nondiscrimination laws based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. It also has a higher share of LGBTQ-related hate crimes per 100,000 people than most other states.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
