OUT Leadership just released its 2025 LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, and Massachusetts scored number one in the country. Also in the top five were Connecticut and Vermont at numbers three and five, respectively. Maine placed at number 6, Rhode Island at 13, and New Hampshire number 20.
The seventh annual State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index shows which US states are safe and which are unwelcoming for millions of LGBTQ+ Americans. It also shows a country growing more polarized on LGBTQ+ rights— a divide that is influencing where people choose to live, work and do business, as Out Leadership further details in its 2025 report.
The Climate Index measures and ranks all 50 US states across 5 key categories:
- Legal and Nondiscrimination Protections
- Youth and Family Support
- Political and Religious Attitudes
- Health Access and Safety
- Work Environment and Employment
The Index is powered with data from Out Leadership’s partners the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) which tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies, and the Williams Institute. We’re also deeply grateful to Ropes & Gray, our global pro bono legal partner, FCB which contributed original market research, and America Competes which helped develop the scoring for our risk assessments.
Says Out Leadership, “The message is clear: there are real consequences to both inclusion and exclusion. Companies operating in low-ranking states are losing talent and facing consumer pushback. Meanwhile, inclusive states are seeing their economies thrive, becoming magnets for innovation and top talent.
“That’s why this Index matters. Whether you’re a CEO, policymaker, or investor, now is the time to speak up, realign your strategy and ensure your business stands on the right side of history.”
Find the complete report here.
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