Anti-bullying laws protect LGBTQ students from bullying by other students, teachers, and school staff on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 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 ban schools from adding LGBTQ protections to their anti-bullying policies. In some states, school regulation or the statewide teacher code of conduct prohibits bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity; these states are only reflected on this map if these are the only available protections in the state.
Please note, other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.
Please note, other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.
- Law prohibits bullying on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity(20 states + D.C.)
- Law prohibits bullying on the basis of sexual orientation only (0 states, 2 territories)
- School regulation or teacher code prohibits bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity (see note) (3 states, 2 territories)
- No law protecting LGBTQ students (25 states, 1 territory)
- Law prevents schools or districts from adding LGBTQ protections to anti-bullying policies (2 states)
Law prohibits bullying on the basis of association with someone with a listed characteristic (12 states + D.C.)
Note: Hawai`i, Utah, and West Virginia's school regulations prohibit bullying based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. See also the "Citations & More Information" button beneath the map legend for more information on every state.
"Association with someone with a listed characteristic" means the law prohibits bullying a student based on their relationship to someone else with a listed characteristic. These laws protect students with, for example, LGBTQ friends or family members.
While some states, districts, and schools have non-enumerated anti-bullying laws or policies (policies which generally prohibit bullying, but do not list specific characteristics like race or sexual orientation upon which a student might be bullied), research by the GLSEN finds that such laws have no impact on rates of anti-LGBTQ bullying. Therefore, these laws are not included on this map.
For additional information about anti-bullying laws more generally, visit StopBullying.gov.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Safe Schools Laws." https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/safe_school_laws. Accessed 07/12/2024.
"Association with someone with a listed characteristic" means the law prohibits bullying a student based on their relationship to someone else with a listed characteristic. These laws protect students with, for example, LGBTQ friends or family members.
While some states, districts, and schools have non-enumerated anti-bullying laws or policies (policies which generally prohibit bullying, but do not list specific characteristics like race or sexual orientation upon which a student might be bullied), research by the GLSEN finds that such laws have no impact on rates of anti-LGBTQ bullying. Therefore, these laws are not included on this map.
For additional information about anti-bullying laws more generally, visit StopBullying.gov.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Safe Schools Laws." https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/safe_school_laws. Accessed 07/12/2024.
Trevor Lifeline - (866-488-7386) - You can call the Trevor Lifeline to connect with a trained volunteer counselor who is ready to listen. It’s free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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.
School nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ students from discrimination in school, including being unfairly denied access to facilities, sports teams, or clubs on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This map shows state school nondiscrimination laws that explicitly include sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected characteristics, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing bans against sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In some states, school regulation or teacher code of conduct prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. These states are only reflected on this map if these are the only available protection in the state.
See also our Equality Map of states that ban transgender students from using school bathrooms or facilities according to their gender identity.
See also our Equality Map of states that ban transgender students from using school bathrooms or facilities according to their gender identity.
State has explicit guidance for the treatment and inclusion of transgender students (17 states , 2 territories + D.C.)- State law prohibits discrimination in schools on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity(20 states , 1 territory + D.C.)
- State law prohibits discrimination in schools on the basis of sexual orientation only (1 state)
- State explicitly interprets existing prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity (see note) (2 states, 1 territory)
- School regulation or teacher code prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity (see note) (3 states, 1 territory)
- No state law protecting LGBTQ students (24 states, 2 territories)
- State law prevents schools or districts from adding LGBTQ protections to nondiscrimination policies (2 states)
*NOTES (and click "Citations & More Information" below the map legend for more information about every state):
-In green-striped states, state agencies have explicitly stated they interpret existing protections against discrimination based on sex to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Click the "Citations & More Information" button (below the map legend) for more detail for every state.
-Utah's regulations prohibit discrimination on the bases of both sexual orientation and gender identity. In Delaware, Rhode Island, and Northern Mariana Islands, the regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation only.
Some states also prohibit discrimination on the basis of "association with someone with a listed characteristic" or a person's relationship to someone else with a listed characteristic. These laws protect students with, for example, LGBTQ friends or family members. Additional information on these protections is included in the "Citations & More Information" link beneath the map legend.
Please note, other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Safe Schools Laws." https://www.mapresearch.org/equality-maps/safe_school_laws. Accessed [day of access].
-In green-striped states, state agencies have explicitly stated they interpret existing protections against discrimination based on sex to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Click the "Citations & More Information" button (below the map legend) for more detail for every state.
-Utah's regulations prohibit discrimination on the bases of both sexual orientation and gender identity. In Delaware, Rhode Island, and Northern Mariana Islands, the regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation only.
Some states also prohibit discrimination on the basis of "association with someone with a listed characteristic" or a person's relationship to someone else with a listed characteristic. These laws protect students with, for example, LGBTQ friends or family members. Additional information on these protections is included in the "Citations & More Information" link beneath the map legend.
Please note, other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Safe Schools Laws." https://www.mapresearch.org/equality-maps/safe_school_laws. Accessed [day of access].
Trevor Lifeline - (866-488-7386) - You can call the Trevor Lifeline to connect with a trained volunteer counselor who is ready to listen. It’s free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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.
Key
- State has law that only covers sexual orientationLaw covers sexual orientation
- State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identityLaw covers sexual orientation and gender identity/expression
-
Law covers association
- Law prevents schools from adding LGBTQ protections
-
Law bans transgender students from using school facilities consistent with their gender identity
| State | Anti-bullying | Nondiscrimination | Year Passed |
| Citations | Citations | ||
| Alabama |
|
||
| Alaska | |||
| American Samoa | |||
| Arizona | |||
| Arkansas |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
|
2011 |
| California |
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 |
|
| Connecticut |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2021 |
| Delaware | |||
| District of Columbia |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2001 |
| Florida |
|
||
| Georgia | 2011 | ||
| Guam |
State has law that only covers sexual orientation |
2011 (bullying) | |
| Hawaii |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2008 | |
| Idaho |
|
||
| Illinois |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
|
| Indiana | |||
| Iowa |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
|
| Kansas | |||
| Kentucky |
|
||
| Louisiana |
|
||
| Maine |
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 |
|
| Massachusetts |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
1993(Nondiscrim Sexual Orientation)/2011(Nondiscrim Gender Identity)/2014 (Anti-bullying) |
| Michigan |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
||
| Minnesota |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
1993 (Non-Discrim)/2014 (Anti-Bullying) |
| Mississippi |
|
||
| Missouri | State does not have this law | State does not have this law | |
| Montana | |||
| Nebraska | |||
| Nevada |
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 |
|
| New Jersey |
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 |
|
| New York |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2010 |
| North Carolina |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2009 | |
| North Dakota |
|
||
| Northern Mariana Islands | 2002 (discrimination); 2011 (bullying) | ||
| Ohio | |||
| Oklahoma |
|
||
| Oregon |
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 covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
||
| Rhode Island |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2011 | |
| South Carolina |
|
||
| South Dakota | State does not have this law | State does not have this law | |
| Tennessee |
|
||
| Texas | |||
| U.S. Virgin Islands |
State has law that only covers sexual orientation |
2014 (bullying): 2017 (discrimination) | |
| Utah |
|
||
| Vermont |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
2001(Sexual Orientation)/2007(Gender Identity/Expression) |
| Virginia |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
||
| Washington |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
State has law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity |
|
| West Virginia |
|
||
| Wisconsin |
State has law that only covers sexual orientation |
2001 | |
| Wyoming |
Data current as of 11/06/2024
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