*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.
*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.
*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.
In addition to these explicit policies, several states have policies that prohibit discrimination based on “sex.” Although such policies do not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and are therefore not included on this map, advocates may be able to utilize these protections to protect transgender youth as case law evolves.
This map also includes the states in which there are laws or regulations that require current and prospective foster parents and child welfare staff to receive training about LGBTQ youth in areas like cultural competency and legal requirements, as well as the states with laws requiring that transgender youth be placed in accordance with their gender identity. Only states with explicit legal guidance for transgender youth placement are included. These laws and regulations are designed to improve the safety and outcomes for LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system.
For more information, please contact Lambda Legal.
*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.
State | Foster Care | Adoption | LGBTQ Youth in Child Welfare |
Religious Exemptions in Child Welfare |
Citations | Citations | Citations | ||
Alabama | State does not have this law | |||
Alaska | ||||
American Samoa | ||||
Arizona | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law |
Arkansas | ||||
California | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Colorado | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Connecticut | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Delaware | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
District of Columbia | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Florida | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |||
Georgia | ||||
Guam | ||||
Hawaii | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Idaho | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law | ||
Illinois | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Indiana | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Iowa | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Kansas | State does not have this law | |||
Kentucky | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Louisiana | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | |||
Maine | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Maryland | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Massachusetts | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Michigan | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law |
Minnesota | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Mississippi | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law | ||
Missouri | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | |
Montana | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | |
Nebraska | ||||
Nevada | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
New Hampshire | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
New Jersey | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
New Mexico | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
New York | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
North Carolina | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
North Dakota | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law |
Northern Mariana Islands | ||||
Ohio | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Oklahoma | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law | ||
Oregon | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Pennsylvania | ||||
Puerto Rico | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Rhode Island | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
South Carolina | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State does not have this law |
South Dakota | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law |
Tennessee | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law |
Texas | State does not have this law | |||
U.S. Virgin Islands | ||||
Utah | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State does not have this law | ||
Vermont | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Virginia | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State does not have this law | ||
Washington | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
West Virginia | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity | |
Wisconsin | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | State has law that only covers sexual orientation | ||
Wyoming | State has law that only covers sexual orientation |
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