The Best States for LGBTQ+ Families aren’t What You’d Expect

The US has come a long way in the last ten years when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation and rights. But in that time, famously queer-friendly metro areas like New York City and San Francisco have become astronomically expensive for the average American family to settle down in.

When it comes to laying down roots, LGBTQ+ families may be more concerned with risks around hate crimes and restrictive state legislation than traditional households.

We joined with Move.org and crunched the numbers around average prices for renting and purchasing a home, the cost of living index, current and advancing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the queer and general populations in all 50 states.

And we were just as surprised as you are with the states that topped the list. Here’s a look at what we found.

Bills and policies aimed at the queer community were at the center of Move.org’s Safety Score. Laws that make states less inclusive to all citizens are sure to impact the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals—especially those looking to start a family.

• 509 bills have been active in state legislatures so far in 2024, with 81 new bills introduced—South Carolina (25) and Minnesota (10) brought the most new bills aimed at LGBTQ+ populations, which on average, make up less than 5% of any state’s population.
• 32 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have passed in state legislatures so far this year, and 272 have been defeated. Oklahoma had the most defeated bills (45) but also had the most active bills of any state (54).
• 3 of the states that landed in the top safe states for the queer community have bills currently advancing: Alaska (5), Hawaii (4), and New Mexico (1).
• In the top states, 25 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced, 0 passed (so far) and 5 have been blocked from becoming law. Many of these laws include measures harmful to trans adults and children.
• 124 anti-LGBTQ bills are currently advancing in state legislatures across the country. To find out what's going on in your state, learn more.

Although general crime rates and trends weren’t a factor in Move.org’s ranking, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community were considered. Keep in mind that these are only reported incidents, so the numbers are likely to be much higher. We also took at look at how the top states fared in our State of Safety survey, where we ask residents in every state how safe they feel and how much they worry about crime and safety.

• Hate crimes were reported in all 50 states in 2022, with the most in California (459) and the least in North Dakota (1) and Alaska (1).
• Traditionally queer-friendly states like California (#16), New York (#19) score significantly higher on the cost of living index, moving them lower on Move.org’s overall ranking. So while those states’ legislators may be more accepting, many queer families may be priced out of these areas.
• California led the nation in reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people, with 459 reported in 2022.
• New Mexico, our second-friendliest state, came in with the third-lowest confidence in the overall safety of the state—with just 1 in 4 respondents to our State of Safety survey saying they feel safe in the Land of Enchantment. It’s nice to see New Mexico win one.
• Vermont residents won’t be surprised to see their state make the list. The Green Mountain State had more than 6 in 10 respondents (65%) to our State of Safety survey say they feel safe in the state.

Learn more about the most (and least) friendly states for LGBTQ+ families in Move.org’s full report.

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