The Human Rights Campaign’s ninth annual “State Equality Index 2022” — the latest, just released last week — is out, and once again all six New England states are among the nation’s highest scorers. This index delivers a comprehensive state-by-state report on laws and policies that affect LGBTQ+ people and their families across the country.
Altogether, 20 US states and DC received the top honor, which HRC calls “Working Toward Innovative Equality.”
What that means? “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,” according to HRC.
Among the findings in the report, one big story is that out of the 315 discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country, only 29 actually passed into law, while 24 pro-LGBTQ+ equality bills were passed into law.
“The 2022 State Equality Index outlines how states across the country fought back against yet another record year of anti-LGBTQ+ legislative attacks,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC’s senior vice president of policy and political affairs. “In the face of these attacks, legislators and advocates fought back, with fewer than 10% of the anti-LGBTQ+ discriminatory bills introduced passing into law.”
“These bills are terrible public policy, and we are also deeply cognizant of how every harmful anti-LGBTQ+ bill that is signed into law has a devastating impact on the lives and well-being of LGBTQ+ people, particularly children,” said Winterhof. “The legislative assault and hateful rhetoric towards our community has also led to more stigma, discrimination, and ultimately, suicide and deadly violence – particularly against the transgender community. As we continue our fight for LGBTQ+ equality, this report underscores that equality is the winning side of this issue.”
HRC Foundation’s full State Equality Index report, including detailed scorecards for every state, and a preview of the 2023 state legislative session is available online at www.hrc.org/sei.
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