Housing Nondiscrimination

Housing nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly evicted, denied housing, or refused the ability to rent or buy housing on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This map shows state housing nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Additionally, in states without state-level protections, municipalities may provide local-level nondiscrimination protections. See our maps tracking local-level nondiscrimination ordinances here.

Other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice.

State law explicitly prohibits housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
(22 states + 1 territory + D.C.)
State explicitly interprets existing prohibition on sex discrimination in housing to include sexual orientation and gender identity
(7 states)
State law explicitly prohibits housing discrimination based on sexual orientation only
(2 states)
No explicit protections against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state law
(19 states + 4 territories)
Citations & More Information

*NOTE: In green stripe states, the state’s nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state’s civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state’s existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the “Citations & More Information” button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state.

Individuals who have experienced discrimination should contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice. This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.

Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. 2026. “Equality Maps: Housing Nondiscrimination Laws.” https://mapresearch.org/equality-map/nondiscrimination-laws/#housing. Data as of June 12, 2026.

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

49%
49% of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
13%
13% of LGBTQ population lives in states explicitly interpreting existing prohibition on sex discrimination in housing to include sexual orientation and gender identity
3%
3% of LGBTQ population lives in states prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation only
35%
35% of LGBTQ population lives in states that do not prohibit housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity