Broad “RFRAs”
Broad state religious exemption laws, sometimes called “Religious Freedom Restoration Acts” or RFRAs, permit people, churches, non-profit organizations, and sometimes corporations to seek exemptions from state laws that they say burden their religious beliefs. The individual person or organization must seek out an exemption, such as through court proceedings.
State has constitutional religious exemption law
(1 state)
State has broad "RFRA" religious exemption law through legislation/statute
(28 states)
State has no broad religious exemption law
(21 states + 5 territories + D.C.)
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. 2026. “Equality Maps: Religious Exemption Laws.” www.mapresearch.org/equality-map/religious-exemptions/#broad. Data as of June 12, 2026.
Movement Advancement Project. 2026. “Equality Maps: Religious Exemption Laws.” www.mapresearch.org/equality-map/religious-exemptions/#broad. Data as of June 12, 2026.
Percent of LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws
*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ population (ages 13+) living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here. Population data are from UCLA’s The Williams Institute.
1%
1% of LGBTQ people (ages 13+) live in states with constitutional religious exemption laws
50%
50% of LGBTQ people (ages 13+) live in states with statutory religious exemption laws
49%
49% of LGBTQ people (ages 13+) live in states that have no broad religious exemption law
