You are here:

Understanding Issues Facing LGBT People in the U.S.

Authors

Movement Advancement Project
Center for American Progress
GLAAD
Human Rights Campaign

Report Resources

Understanding Issues Facing LGBT People in the U.S.
Download

Recommended Citation

Movement Advancement Project, Center for American Progress, GLAAD, and Human Rights Campaign. June 2019. Understanding Issues Facing LGBT People in the U.S. https://mapresearch.org/report/understanding-issues-facing-lgbt-people-in-the-u-s/.

The Bottom Line

Understanding Issues Facing LGBT People in the U.S. is a short primer that summarizes the major areas in which unfair laws and stigma create extra burdens for LGBT people across the country. The guide also includes policy recommendations to address these harmful disparities and to improve the lives of LGBT Americans.

Related resources

Nondiscrimination Laws
Non-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and other discrimination.
Safe School Laws
This map shows state school nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected characteristics, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing prohibitions against sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Anti-bullying
This map shows state anti-bullying laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected characteristics, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing prohibitions against sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Family Leave Laws
State family leave laws covering same-sex couples govern whether an LGBT person can take leave from work to care for their same-sex spouse or partner.
LGBTQ Curricular Laws
This map summarizes whether states have an LGBTQ-inclusive curricular standards law or any of the following LGBTQ-specific school censorship laws: “Don’t Say LGBTQ” laws, older laws censoring discussions of homosexuality, and parental opt-out/opt-in laws.
LGBTQ-Inclusive Curricular Standards
LGBTQ People
LGBTQ people in the United States have families, work hard to earn a living, pay taxes, and serve their communities and their country. MAP offers a collection of resources addressing the many aspects of LGBTQ people’s lives.
LGBTQ Families
LGBTQ families are part of the fabric of neighborhoods and communities across the United States. An estimated two million children are being raised by LGBTQ parents. Decades of research shows that children with LGBTQ parents grow up as happy, healthy and well-adjusted as their peers.
Education
Every student, from kindergarten to college and beyond, deserves a fair chance to succeed in school and prepare for their future—including students who are LGBTQ. Given the importance of access to education for long-term economic security, the experiences of LGBTQ youth in schools is especially troubling.

Join our community

Get research updates, stories, and ways to support.