States with the fewest same-sex households
Today marks the first day of , a month in which LGBT+ communities around the world honor its history and celebrates its people. Pride also seeks to bring further recognition to the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other individuals from the vast spectrum sexual and gender identities have had on their societies. The holiday began as a day of remembrance for the , but has since expanded into a full month of events including memorials, parades, parties, and concerts. But as LGBT+ people throughout America celebrate the gains that have been made, many still face discrimination from neighbors and legislation alike, particularly as they take steps towards starting families.
While some parts of the U.S. have enacted broadly inclusive policies and protections against discrimination, others leave their LGBT+ community members to fend for themselves. In order to paint a full picture of challenges faced by LGBT+ families, 麻豆原创 has examined the states with the lowest percentages of same-sex households, representing both couples 鈥&苍产蝉辫;married and unmarried, and families with children. Census data from the was used to rank the top 25 states, and this information was supplemented with a report from the on demographics of LGBT+ households in each state.
Read on to find out how each state's LGBT+ community ranks, as well as information on legislation and other recent events that may make it a less-desirable location for same-sex couples to raise their families.
To find out which states have the most same-sex households, click here.
#26. Minnesota
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.67% (14,436 out of 2,148,725)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 57.7%
Gender breakdown: 43% male, 57% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.5%
While much of Minnesota is rural, . It was only the third city in the country to prohibit housing or employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and hosts many LGBT+ centric organizations, as well as art and music events.
#25. Oklahoma
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.67% (9,839 out of 1,469,342)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 51.7%
Gender breakdown: 41% male, 59% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 20.9%
At 20.9%, Oklahoma has one of the highest percentages of same-sex couples raising children of any state. Contrary to this clear desire to enjoy family life, the state鈥檚 governor recently signed into a law a measure that would on religious grounds when placing children.鈥
#24. New Jersey
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.66% (21,172 out of 3,194,519)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 65.1%
Gender breakdown: 46% male, 54% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 19.7%
New Jersey was with a court decision in 2006. The LGBT+ community has since that decision, but is still small in numbers compared to New York City, just across the river.
#23. Kentucky
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.66% (11,342 out of 1,717,706)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 43.7%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.5%
At the end of May, the valedictorian of a Catholic school in Crestview Hills, Ky. 鈥&苍产蝉辫;18-year-old Christian Bales, who identifies as gay and non-gender-conforming 鈥&苍产蝉辫;was because the Catholic diocese disagreed with its content, which focused on activism. He delivered his speech anyway, using a megaphone.
#22. Pennsylvania
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.66% (32,451 out of 4,937,771)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 53.7%
Gender breakdown: 44% male, 56% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 15.9%
, an extremely conservative legislator selected as the chairman of Pennsylvania's State Government Committee, oversaw bills that sought to diminish LGBT+ rights in a state that already had few protections for them in place. He still serves in that position, despite multiple petitions calling for him to step aside after he made inappropriate comments to another legislator last winter.
#21. Utah
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.63% (5,979 out of 943,147)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 57.4%
Gender breakdown: 45% male, 55% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 20.1%
A recent Utah Department of Health study showed that the state鈥檚 LGBT+ citizens than those who are heterosexual. These results echo .
#20. Wisconsin
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.62% (14,317 out of 2,326,998)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 51.4%
Gender breakdown: 40% male, 60% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 16.4%
Last March, Brad and Nick Schlaikowski, a gay couple in Milwaukee, . 鈥淲e have 500 kids on the street in Milwaukee, 40% identify as LGBT,鈥 Brad Schlaikowski told NBC News.
#19. Missouri
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.61% (14,514 out of 2,372,190)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 52.8%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17.3%
A Missouri legislator recently sought to outlaw same-sex marriage in the state with a proposal that would It is virtually impossible that the resolution will become law, but citizens are still concerned that it was even proposed.
#18. North Carolina
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.61% (23,624 out of 3,882,423)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 52.6%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.5%
Apple is currently considering the development of a new corporate hub near Raleigh, N.C. This would be a paradoxical move, as Apple has been a famous supporter of LGBT+ causes. North Carolina in general has stood against inclusivity through legislation such as an that prevents LGBTQ people from being protected across the state.鈥
#17. Tennessee
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.61% (15,472 out of 2,556,332)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 47.7%
Gender breakdown: 43% male, 57% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.1%
Earlier this year, Republicans in the Tennessee legislature in order to maintain the legal basis for a lawsuit mounted by the against the 2015 Supreme Court marriage decision. Tennessee is also the only state with an "LGBT Erasure Bill" which defines terms in Tennessee law according to , thus potentially preventing same-sex couples from being legally recognized as the parents of children they are raising together.
#16. Ohio
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.60% (27,615 out of 4,624,669)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 43.8%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17.7%
Since before the Supreme Court decision, LGBT+ advocates in Ohio have pushed for in housing, jobs, and places of public accommodation. All bills introduced have stalled so far, but state Rep. Nickie Antonio is optimistic about a current proposal the .
#15. South Carolina
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.57% (10,651 out of 1,877,887)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 60.6%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.9%
Similar to the bill proposed by a Missouri legislator, a bill recently introduced by South Carolina Republicans called the Marriage and Constitution Restoration Act, would define all same-sex marriage in the state as 鈥減arody marriage.鈥 that the lawmakers behind this bill 鈥渂elieve that the observance of same-sex marriage rights has 鈥榚xcessively entangled鈥 the state government with secular humanism and has created an indefensible legal weapon to be used on its opponents.鈥
#14. Michigan
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.56% (21,579 out of 3,884,153)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 48.7%
Gender breakdown: 40% male, 60% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.2%
Last summer, gay YouTube comedian Elijah Daniel paid $100 to the town of Hell, Mich. to be declared its mayor. In his first decree, he from the town and was promptly impeached. On a more serious note, Michigan鈥檚 Civil Rights Commission has recently for its LGBT+ residents, and began investigating claims this past May.
#13. Louisiana
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.55% (9,422 out of 1,720,801)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 43.8%
Gender breakdown: 41% male, 59% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 19.9%
New Orleans鈥 LGBT+ community has a , but elsewhere in the state, communities are not so inclusive. Louisiana鈥檚 Republican lawmakers are pushing to reinstate a state law that bans .
#12. Idaho
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.54% (3,293 out of 610,872)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 54.2%
Gender breakdown: 33% male, 67% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 22.3%
Idaho legislators are having a hard time accepting their LGBT+ constituents. In January 2017, state Reps. Ron Nate and Stephen Hartgen argued that the despite the Supreme Court decision 鈥&苍产蝉辫;and a in 2014. And this past January, Nate and another legislator, Heather Scott, again.
#11. Montana
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.52% (2,180 out of 416,125)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 49.4%
Gender breakdown: 30% male, 70% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 22.0%
Transgender and non-binary residents of Montana are currently fighting for their rights: a newly introduced bill, I-183, would require them to use restrooms not consistent with their gender identities. Kasandra Reddington, a transgender Montana resident and member of the American Civil Liberties Union, explained that such legislation would put her
#10. Iowa
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.52% (6,477 out of 1,247,932)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 59.4%
Gender breakdown: 39% male, 61% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 18.6%
Controversy erupted over Iowa鈥檚 branch of youth development organization 4-H this past April, when the organization began to consider a new inclusion measure to accept Some Christian and family-based groups questioned the policy, while 4-H leaders argued on behalf of LGBT+ students.
#9. West Virginia
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.50% (3,627 out of 722,125)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 40.7%
Gender breakdown: 44% male, 56% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 17.8%
Last spring, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that , and would not be subject to prosecution as such. This decision was made even though LGBT+ people, as a minority group, are widely targeted by hate crimes 鈥second only to African-American people.
#8. South Dakota
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.49% (1,650 out of 334,003)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 37%
Gender breakdown: 31% male, 69% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 21.1%
South Dakota legislators passed a law last year that allowed religious adoption and foster care agencies to turn away potential LGBT+ parents. 鈥淭his bill proves once again that opponents of equality are to further their anti-LGBT agenda,鈥 said Laura E. Durso, vice president of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress.
#7. Nebraska
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.46% (3,454 out of 747,562)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 58%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 19.6%
While South Dakota recently instituted a bill challenging adoption by same-sex couples, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year to on same-sex couples becoming foster parents. The state is also notable for policies many of its companies have in place based on sexual orientation.
#6. North Dakota
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.45% (1,428 out of 315,134)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 59.3%
Gender breakdown: 34% male, 66% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 21.6%
North Dakota鈥檚 legislature is not so favorable for LGBT+ inclusivity. Even though the state Senate voted to advance a non-discrimination bill in 2015, . LGBT+ activists in the state remain optimistic; however, another non-discrimination bill has .
#5. Arkansas
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.45% (5,099 out of 1,142,718)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 43.7%
Gender breakdown: 41% male, 59% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 21.2%
The Arkansas Supreme Court in the city of Fayetteville last year. A legal battle as the city struggled to support its citizens.
#4. Alabama
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.43% (7,885 out of 1,852,518)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 49.5%
Gender breakdown: 42% male, 58% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 20.4%
Patricia Todd, the first and only openly gay member of the Alabama state legislature, fought in vain against a bill that protected in the state. 鈥淚 practically had the sponsor in tears when we were debating this on the floor,鈥 she .
#3. Kansas
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.42% (4,686 out of 1,110,407)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 61.6%
Gender breakdown: 40% male, 60% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 21.8%
The same week Oklahoma鈥檚 discriminatory adoption bill was signed this May, Kansas鈥 governor . An art teacher in Seneca, Kan. in April after receiving threats. In response, "The American Prospect" published a story entitled,
#2. Wyoming
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.36% (816 out of 223,619)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 75.4%
Gender breakdown: 39% male, 61% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 24.7%
for Wyoming's small LGBT+ population, but some of the state's residents are pushing for more inclusivity. Last year, after Wyoming Republican Senator Mike Enzi said that someone who wore a tutu to bars on Friday nights was "asking for" a fight, Wyoming citizens began 鈥&苍产蝉辫;and sending Enzi photographic evidence.
#1. Mississippi
Percent of households that are same-sex: 0.36% (3,964 out of 1,091,245)
Percent of members of these same-sex households who are same-sex spouses: 50.2%
Gender breakdown: 38% male, 62% female
Percent of same-sex households raising children: 25.7%
In 2014, Rolling Stone dubbed Mississippi the . This past January, the Mississippi鈥檚 Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, which "Gay Star News" called This law allows individuals, businesses, and organizations to turn away LGBT+ individuals on the basis of religion, and allows foster families to force children into conversion therapy.