FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A recent study by move.org sought to identify the most and least LGBTQ-friendly states for families in the U.S.
According to the report, Arkansas ranked at the very bottom with an overall score of 6.7 on a 1-100 rating scale. The District of Columbia, Massachusetts and California claimed the three top spots in the rankings.
According to move.org, states were scored using a points system based on “the legal protections they afford LGBTQ+ citizens and how many LGBTQ+ people reside in them.” The points went from 1 (the worst possible score) to 100 (the best possible score). Other quality of life elements like affordability, climate, or culture were not a factor in the rankings.
The laws and factors examined in each state were:
- Nondiscrimination laws: States with laws that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity scored higher than states without such laws.
- Adoption and second/step parent laws: States with laws that prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination by adoption agencies scored higher than states without such laws.
- Conversion therapy laws: States where mental health professionals are prohibited from subjecting LGBTQ+ minors to “conversion therapy” scored higher than states that permit these practices.
- Hate crime laws: States where criminals can face additional or enhanced penalties for committing crimes that target people because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity scored higher than states without such laws.
- Transgender health care: States that ban insurance exclusions for transgender health care scored higher than states that don’t.
- LGBTQ+ population density: States with larger LGBTQ+ populations scored higher than states where fewer LGBTQ+ live or feel comfortable coming out.
These were some of the key findings in the report:
- Arkansas, Wyoming and South Carolina are the three worst states to raise an LGBTQ+ family. None of these states have laws or policies protecting LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Washington DC was included in the rankings since it doesn’t belong to any single state. And, because of the district’s comprehensive laws and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, it ranked as the best place in the country for LGBTQ+ families. Its LGBTQ+ population comprises almost 10% of its total population, making DC more LGBTQ-dense than any state.
- All of the top 10 best states for raising an LGBTQ+ family are blue states.
- Nevada landed position #14 on our list, meaning it scored higher than any other swing state.
- At position 22, Utah scored higher for LGBTQ-inclusive laws than any other red state.
- 20 states have passed conversion therapy bans in the last 5 years. 22 states still have no laws or policies banning conversion therapy.
The complete results of the report are available here.