According to the Movement Advancement Project LGBTQ breakdown by states.

States with the highest lgbtq were District of Columbia (14.1%), Vermont (9.8%), Oregon (9.6%), Nevada (9.5%) and California (9.3%).

The states with the lowest percentage were North Dakota (4.1%), Mississippi (4.4%), Idaho (4.5%), Montana (4.6%) and Alabama (4.7%).. However, in terms of absolute numbers, California and Texas were the states with the largest number of LGBTQ+ adult residents, with an estimated 2.6 million and 1.7 million respectively.

There are many possible factors that influence the laws and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights in different regions of the United States, such as historical, cultural, religious, political, economic and demographic aspects. It is not easy to generalize or simplify such a complex and nuanced topic, but some possible explanations are:

• The South has a strong religious tradition, especially among evangelical Christians, who tend to have more conservative views on social issues such as same-sex marriage, transgender rights and abortion.

• The South also has a history of racial segregation and discrimination, which may have influenced its resistance to civil rights movements and social change.

• The South tends to have lower levels of education, income and urbanization than other regions, which may correlate with lower levels of tolerance and acceptance of diversity.

• The South may have a higher proportion of LGBTQ+ people who are closeted or unidentified, due to fear of stigma, violence or rejection from their families and communities. This may reduce their visibility and political representation.

These are some possible factors, but they are not definitive or exhaustive. There may be other factors that are more relevant or specific to each state or community. There may also be exceptions or variations within the South, as well as similarities or differences with other regions. Ultimately, the laws and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights are influenced by a multitude of factors that interact in dynamic and unpredictable ways.

Tik4tat & Tik4CHAT Research Team