Did you know California has the biggest LGBTQ+ population of any state in the U.S? Recent statistics estimate that around 5.3% of the state’s entire population, or 1,859,000 people, identify as LGBTQ+. This means that California is home to about 12% of the country’s entire LGBTQ+ population!
It would follow that a state whose LGBTQ+ population is over twice the size of the entire population of Wyoming would also have the most progressive policies when it comes to queer issues. But how does California really add up?
To find out, we looked into the Movement Advancement Project (MAP). MAP was founded in 2006 in Boulder, CO, with the goal to concentrate research and resources regarding several key issues for the LGBTQ+ population.
The result is a comparison of each state in the country based on their “Equality Profiles”, and a breakdown of where each state falls in line based on laws regarding LGBTQ+ youth, relationship and parental recognition, health care, nondiscrimination, criminal justice, religious exemptions, and identity documents.
It’s no surprise that California turns out high marks in these areas. According to MAP, California scores almost perfectly in their two overarching groups: Sexual Orientation Policy and Gender Identity Policy. This leads to an overall score of 34.75/38.5. Not bad.
CA only has one “negative” law under MAP’s guidelines— though it has no HIV criminalization law, it does have “HIV-specific sentencing enhancements for sex-related convictions”.
Let’s compare this to the rest of the country. MAP reports that, unfortunately, twenty-one states have laws that explicitly can be used to criminalize people who are HIV+. Many of these 21 states also score in the low to negative range on the equality map. Furthermore, twenty-three states’ total score is in the negative range alone when it comes to transgender & gender-identity equality issues. 35% of the U.S. LGBTQ+ population lives in any of these 23 states.
On the other hand, 14 states (along with CA) score in the highest range (from 29-38.5 total points) possible for equality. MAP estimates that up to 43% of the overall LGBTQ+ population in the U.S. lives in one of the 15 states that score high overall.
MAP’s scoring demonstrates what we know to be true— that California remains a leader in LGBTQ+ equality in the U.S. New policies, like these passed in 2020, show that California continues to be progressive, rather than passive, in its stance favoring equality.
Together with our state legislators and supporters, we at Project MORE strive to continue this work to create a more equal, affirming, and equitable society. Positive change can and will continue to be made with help from all of us! Find out more about Project MORE’s contributions here.