A Florida lawmaker accused of creating a sexualized work environment and sexually harassing two male staffers was cleared in a House investigation. That’s the second time this year the Florida House of Representatives found no merit to accusations against Florida Rep. Fabian Basabe, a Republican.
“Throughout this process, I never doubted for a moment that I would be cleared of these false and feigned allegations,” Basabe said. “I’d like to thank the investigators for their diligent work in ensuring a thorough examination of the facts; and also express my gratitude to my constituents who stood by me during this challenging time.”
Two former employees, legislative aide Nicholas Frevola and former intern Jacob Cutbirth, accused Basabe of perpetually demanding they have sex with him. The allegations were being investigated by the Florida House internally, but the two men also sued Basabe in Florida circuit court.
Cindy Myers, an attorney for both men, said that suit remains ongoing. She criticized the internal investigation as incomplete and insincere.
“This whole report is just, so concerning and disappointing,” she said.
The report said accounts from the accusers ultimately could not be verified.
“My investigation could not confirm Mr. Frevola or Mr. Cutbirth’s version of events, other than both reporting similar independently made comments from Representative Basabe about sex being a sport for men, and both being shown the photo on Representative Basabe’s phone of the man in a bikini,” wrote investigator Marlene Quintana, from law firm GrayRobinson. “Therefore I find no evidence to support that Representative Basabe engaged in harassment, sexual or otherwise.”
This is the second time investigators hired by the Florida House cleared Basabe of allegations from Frevola. The aide said Basabe, at a party the day of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second inauguration, had challenged Frevola about whether he was sleeping with a female lobbyist, in the woman’s presence. When both Frevlola and the woman said no, Basabe said “Oh, so you’re cheating” and slapped the aide, according to his lawsuit.
But an investigation by Allen Norton & Blue said no one interviewed would corroborate that story, and investigators findings were inconclusive.
The second investigation was prompted by further allegations from Frevola, including that Basabe at a school Career Day event grabbed his buttocks and said “I want ALL of that butt!” per the ongoing lawsuit. Separately, Cutbirth said that after driving an intoxicated Basabe to a hotel, the lawmaker tried to kiss the intern and entice him to his room for sex. Cutbirth declined, he said in the lawsuit.
Both plaintiffs identify as straight.
The latest report said Basabe was surprised by allegations and described Cutbirth’s time working for the office as a “brief internship.” Quintana said while Cutbirth appeared “very credible” in interviews, Basabe was also forthright in all answers about incidents.
The report notes Frevola for a time lived in a guest house at a Miami property Basabe owned and describes a time Basabe was present at a social gathering at the home. It also, curiously, described a social gathering at a home owned by Basabe, which Cuba Gooding, Jr. attended as a personal friend of the lawmaker. Frevola told investigators that someone at the party asked if Frevola could be abused sexually, and the lawmaker said, “You can abuse him all you want.” Basabe denies any memory of this.
The report references both men saying Basabe frequently described sex as a sport — the lawsuit quotes Basabe encouraging the men to participate in “sportfucking.” The report also notes accusations that Basabe showed photos of naked men or men clad in bikinis, and Frevola said the lawmaker would “tickle grab” individuals and make them feel uncomfortable.
Basabe denied all accusations, something he reiterated in a statement after the release of the report.
“I hold no ill will towards the young men who made these accusations. I believe they were misguided and, in my opinion, embarked on the wrong path with ill intentions for personal gain. I trust this will serve as a learning experience for all involved,” Basabe said.
“As someone who has been in the public’s eye for a very long time, I have become accustomed to both bad and falsified press.”
Myers said the report glossed over, or completely omitted, many details. Both men said Basabe shared nude photos of men, not men in bikinis, as one example. But she was most distressed that the report made no mention of a text message Cutbirth sent on his final day working in the office.
“I quit the capital, kinda,” Cutbirth wrote in the message, which was supplied to The Advocate. “I said I’ll help with their newsletter if that means I can keep the position on my resume but I won’t be going to the capital anymore and will be doing any awoke (sic) from home to avoid being sexually harassed.”
Myers said the contemporaneous account, sent long before Cutbirth went public with the accusation, should serve as evidence. She said the Florida House has continually brushed off accusations against Basabe, and suggested leaders there were more interested in keeping control of a swing seat.
“We are not surprised this happened, and it doesn’t change anything with our complaint,” she said.
Basabe said he just wants the attention on the report clearing him that was given to the initial accusations.
“The media sensationalized a story that, in my opinion, had no merit,” he said. “It has often been said that the media loves to focus on tabloid-style gossip, but when it comes to vindication, the coverage can be far less enthusiastic. I only hope that the media will now focus on the clearing of my name with as much vigor they applied when the allegations first surfaced.”
As the LGBTQ community continues to expand and become more visible, the 2023 Accelerating Acceptance study reveals that a record number of non-LGBTQ Americans support equal rights for the LGBTQ community. The Study also shows that an overwhelming majority of non-LGBTQ Americans now believe that LGBTQ people should have the freedom to live their life and not be discriminated against, and that schools should be a safe and accepting place for all youth.
With the release of this data, GLAAD finds that support for LGBTQ equal rights in America among non-LGBTQ people is now at an all-time high. Any narrative claiming otherwise, goes against a statistical supermajority of consensus, public opinion and American values. The Study also directly correlates how the epidemic of anti-LGBTQ legislation and online hate leads to higher levels of real-world harm for LGBTQ people, including but not limited to discrimination and violence.
Moreover, GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance study finds that while acceptance for LGBTQ people and youth have reached record highs, the research also reveals a significant lack of understanding and familiarity for nonbinary and transgender people. The Study directly correlates insufficient visibility and representation in media and advertising for these communities of people to a lack of familiarity as individuals who comprise the LGBTQ community at large. This signals a heightened need to represent intersectional touchpoints of nonbinary and transgender experiences across all media, from TV, film, publishing, journalism, gaming, advertising and more.
Across corporate responsibility and representation, the Study also finds that a significant number non-LGBTQ Americans agree that companies should publicly support and include the LGBTQ community through hiring practices as well as advertising and sponsorships.
Major Findings: Universally, non-LGBTQ Americans overwhelmingly agree that LGBTQ people should be free to live their lives and not be discriminated against. Yet, GLAAD knows that a majority of LGBTQ people are experiencing discrimination. There is also universal agreement that schools should be safe and accepting places for all youth, and children should be taught to appreciate and accept people as they are:
A 96% supermajority of non-LGBTQ Americans agree that schools should be a safe and accepting place for all youth.
A 91% supermajority of non-LGBTQ Americans agree that LGBTQ people should have the freedom to live their life and not be discriminated against
An 84% supermajority of non-LGBTQ Americans support equal rights for the LGBTQ community
On the Familiarity of LGBTQ People in America: GLAAD’s Study found that there are feelings of unfamiliarity and misunderstanding of the specific dimensions that compose the LGBTQ community. This unequivocally points to the need for increased exposure and visibility, alongside fair and accurate representation of specifically nonbinary and transgender experiences in media:
55% of non-LGBTQ Americans do not understand the dimensions of the LGBTQ community or how to describe individuals that make up the LGBTQ community.
Less than 30% (28%) of non-LGBTQ Americans say they personally know a transgender person.
50% of non-LGBTQ Americans agree that nonbinary and transgender people are new and/or unfamiliar to them.
On the Comfortability of LGBTQ Representation in Media: When people are exposed to LGBTQ people and experiences in media, it changes hearts and minds and shifts culture and sentiment. Measuring comfortability in media is a pathway to 100% acceptance for LGBTQ people:
75% of non-LGBTQ adults feel comfortable seeing LGBTQ people in advertisements.
73% of non-LGBTQ adults report feeling comfortable seeing LGBTQ characters included in TV shows or movies.
68% of non-LGBTQ adults feel comfortable seeing an LGBTQ family with children included in an advertisement.
60% of non-LGBTQ adults agree that seeing LGBTQ in ads make them more comfortable with people who are different than themselves.
Non-LGBTQ adults who are exposed to the LGBTQ community in media are 30% more likely to feel famliar with LGBTQ people overall, compared to people who haven’t been exposed to LGBTQ people in content or media.
On Visibility Across Corporate Responsibility*: GLAAD’s research concludes that non-LGBTQ people believe companies should publicly support our community through hiring practices and advertising.
70% of non-LGBTQ adults agree companies should publicly support the LGBTQ community through hiring practices, advertising, and/or sponsorships.
*GLAAD’s industry-first Ad Index report, focused on elevating LGBTQ representation across advertising, which includes both reality checks and playbooks for visible corporate responsibility breaks later this summer.
On the Comfortability of Interacting with LGBTQ People, Family Members and Medical Providers: From including LGBTQ people in places of worship, to learning that a family member is LGBTQ, to knowing your doctor is LGBTQ, a majority of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable interacting with LGBTQ people. However, comfortability wanes for nonbinary and transgender people:
Shared Place of Worship Comfortability
80% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable having a gay, lesbian or bisexual person at their place of worship.
76% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable having a nonbinary person at their place of worship
76% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable having a transgender person at their place of worship.
Family Member Comfortability
75% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable learning a family member is gay, lesbian or bisexual
68% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable learning a family member is nonbinary.
66% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable learning a family member is transgender.
Public Display of Affection Comfortability
74% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable seeing a same-sex couple holding hands
Medical Provider Comfortability
72% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable learning their doctor is gay, lesbian or bisexual
64% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable learning their doctor is nonbinary.
63% of non-LGBTQ adults are comfortable learning their doctor is transgender.
On False Claims About LGBTQ People and the Impact of Online Hate: Data from Equality Federation show over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills this year. Each of the previous two years – 2022 and 2021 – were record-setting years for anti-LGBTQ legislation. Misinformation and the spread of false narratives about the LGBTQ community remain at an all-time high, despite record acceptance figures:
66% of non-LGBTQ Americans believe the false claim that the LGBTQ community is one group who all share similar needs and issues.
54% of non-LGBTQ people believe the false claim that people who use they/them pronouns are, “in the process of figuring out who they are.”
This claim is false because pronouns are used to refer to individuals as who they are in their fullness. Getting pronouns right is also not exclusively a transgender issue.
86% of non-LGBTQ Americans agree that exposure to online hate content leads to real-world violence,
From GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis: “While these results are a clear demonstration that fair and accurate representation in media and journalism have a powerful and measurable effect on the lives of LGBTQ people, America is at a critical juncture when it comes to LGBTQ acceptance and safety. Support for LGBTQ equality has reached an all-time high, but allyship must turn into action. Media, content creators, and corporate leaders need to lead and respond to hate with undeterred support for the LGBTQ community, including LGBTQ employees, shareholders and consumers. Allyship is not easy, but when values of diversity, equity and inclusion are tested, we must defend them unequivocally.”
Additional Data on LGBTQ Representation in the U.S.: Gallup polling released in February of this year showed that the percentage of U.S. adults’ identification as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual held steady in 2022, at 7.2%. That figure is double what it was when Gallup first measured LGBT identification a decade ago. Also according to Gallup, adult members of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2004 who were aged 18 to 25 in 2022, are the most likely subgroup to identify as LGBT, with 19.7% doing so. The rate is 11.2% among millennials and 3.3% or less among older generations. In Generation Z, 13.1% say they are bisexual, 3.4% are gay, 2.2% are lesbian, and 1.9% are transgender. Each of those percentages is higher than it is for all other generations.
Additional GLAAD Reporting and Research: GLAAD is a leader across media industries using data-backed initiatives alongside proprietary research and reports to empower and equip everyone to be effective stewards of LGBTQ representation and visibility to reflect the world we live and do business in. Learn how to take action for our community at glaad.org/ActNow and see our research, including previous annual editions of GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance study at glaad.org/publications.
Methodology: GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance Study was conducted online in February 2023, among a national sample of 2,533 U.S. adults, age 18 or over, using sample sourced by Cint (who has the world’s largest consumer network for digital survey-based research). Data were weighted to ensure results represent the adult 18+ U.S. population.
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Florida’s bid to enforce statewide a contentious law that targets drag show performances that, challengers say, imposes unlawful restrictions on free speech.
The court, divided 6-3 with three conservatives dissenting, turned away an emergency request from Florida officials after lower courts blocked the law statewide. The majority did not explain its reasoning.
Officially dubbed the Protection of Children Act, the law makes it a crime to admit a child to an “adult live performance” that the state deems sexually explicit. The three justices who would have granted the state’s request were Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Neil Gorsuch.
The representatives — Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO), Kay Granger (R-TX), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), and Victoria Spartz (R-IN) — all voted against the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, a law that requires the federal government to recognize legal same-sex marriages.
“The Republican House is failing the American people again,” Spartz said. “[The House is] like a theater full of actors in the circus…. Our children will be ashamed of another worthless Congress.”
“Right now, Washington, D.C. is broken; it is hard to get anything done,” Lesko said in a statement.
“I always have been disappointed with our inability in Congress to deal with major issues, and I’m also disappointed that the Republican Party continues to rely on this lie that the 2020 election was stolen,” Buck said. “Our nation is on a collision course with reality and a steadfast commitment to truth, even uncomfortable truths, is the only way forward.”
Buck predicted that even more House Republicans will leave “in the near future,” The Hill reported.
These announced departures accompany recent unrest among Republicans following a contentious three-week search for a new House speaker after the previous one, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), was ousted by far-right Republicans for striking a deal with Democrats to pass a stopgap funding bill to avert a federal government shutdown. With another shutdown looming, the new speaker, rabidly anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), seems poised to do the exact same thing.
Republicans are also reeling from heavy election night losses in which Democrats took control of the Virginia state legislature, passed abortion protections in Ohio, elected a Democratic governor in red-state Kentucky, and defeated the book-banning “parents’ rights” group Moms for Liberty in school board races nationwide. Many pundits said that the election results signal a growing backlash to Republicans’ pro-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ culture war that could hurt the party’s chances in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump also seems highly likely to clinch the party’s presidential nomination, putting Republicans nationwide in the uncomfortable position of either supporting Trump’s anti-democratic stances or angering his loyal (and large) voting base. While recent national polls show Trump beating President Joe Biden in key swing states, polls also suggest that large swaths will stop supporting Trump if he’s convicted of any of the 91 federal criminal charges facing him.
It’s likely that the departing Republicans — especially those from conservative-leaning districts — will simply be replaced by Republicans who are similarly anti-LGBTQ+. But the departures signal a widening rift between Trump’s small but influential MAGA wing and the party’s more moderate members.
In its review of the United States’ record on civil and political rights, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) condemned a flood of discriminatory state legislation restricting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
The United States ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1992. Every four years, the HRC reviews laws and policies in countries that have ratified the treaty to evaluate where they are in compliance with the treaty and where they fall short. The review of the US was postponed during the Covid-19 pandemic, making this the first review of the US in nine years.
In advance of the review, released on November 3, the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, the University of Miami School of Law Human Rights Clinic, and partner organizations submitted a report to the committee identifying how Florida and other US states have aggressively rolled back LGBT rights in recent years.
Among the worrying US laws are those restricting access to gender-affirming care and prohibiting transgender children from participating in school sports or using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Also concerning are laws banning books as well as prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity, LGBT people, and their families in schools.
As our groups noted, these laws jeopardize a range of civil and political rights, including rights to nondiscrimination, expression, information, privacy, security of the person, life, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
In its concluding observations, the committee expressed concern about laws limiting transgender people’s access to healthcare, athletics, and public accommodations, and restricting discussions of race, slavery, sexual orientation, and gender identity in schools. It underscored the prevalence of discrimination against LGBT people in the US, including in housing, employment, correctional facilities, and other domains. The committee also condemned derogatory speech aimed at LGBT people, including from public officials, and violence against LGBT people and members of other minority groups.
The Committee’s findings should be a wake-up call for state and federal lawmakers in the United States. Amid an aggressive backlash, state lawmakers should stop actively undermining US human rights obligations and repeal discriminatory laws, and the federal government should both enact comprehensive legislation to safeguard LGBT people’s rights and enforce existing civil and human rights guarantees.
Sherman High School in Texas is not OK with a transgender boy playing the male lead in Oklahoma!
Max Hightower, a senior, was cast in the role about two weeks ago, TV station KXII reports. The station doesn’t name the character, but the lead male role in the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is Curly, a cowboy who’s been played by stars including Alfred Drake, Gordon MacRae, and Hugh Jackman.
A few days later, however, Hightower was called in to the principal’s office and told he couldn’t play the role. He said the principal told him that for this production, “actors and actresses could only play a role that was the same gender they were assigned at birth.” The school’s website identifies the principal as Scott Johnston.
Hightower, who was elated when he was cast, said he was “devastated” when the role was taken away from him, according to KXII. He has played female characters in previous shows, but the staffers who run the theater productions had no problem with appearing as male, he and his father said.
“All kinds of actors have played all kinds of parts,” Hightower said. “I mean, I grew up watching Mrs. Doubtfire.”
He is determined to be reinstated, he said. “I want every kid to be recognized and noticed and allowed to be themselves,” he told the station.
“I expected him to be crying, but no, Max is a fighter,” said his father, Philip Hightower.
The Sherman Independent School District released a statement saying, “There is no policy on how students are assigned to roles. As it relates to this particular production, the sex of the role as identified in the script will be used when casting. Because the nature and subject matter of productions vary, the District is not inclined to apply this criteria to all future productions.”
The statement also said the production is under review and would be postponed.
“It was brought to the District’s attention that the current production contained mature adult themes, profane language, and sexual content,” the statement noted. “Unfortunately, all aspects of the production need to be reviewed, including content, stage production/props, and casting to ensure that the production is appropriate for the high school stage.”
For the record, Oklahoma! is considered a classic of American musical theater. It was first produced on Broadway in 1943 and has been revived several times, most recently in 2019, and made into a film. It has received countless awards and is a staple of school theater departments and community theater troupes.
The Sherman High School production was originally scheduled for December 8-10. The new dates will likely be sometime after January 15, the statement said.
A nonbinary teacher in Florida was fired for using the gender-neutral title “Mx.” Now they’ve filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that could challenge the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law.
According to WMNF, AV Vary recently came out as nonbinary and began using the title Mx. They say they informed the principal at Florida Virtual School (FLVS), a statewide online public school where they taught physics, of the change. “I let him know that I was doing it. And he didn’t say anything at first, and then about a month later he told me he needed me to change it,” Vary said.
On September 15, Vary received a written directive from the school letting them know that Ms., Mrs., or Miss were the only acceptable titles for them to use at work, the Orlando Sentinel reports. In late October, they were fired for refusing to use a title that did not align with their gender identity.
While FLVS spokesperson Laura Neff-Henderson would not comment on the reason for Vary’s termination, she told the Sentinel, “As a Florida public school, FLVS is obligated to follow Florida laws and regulations pertaining to public education.”
Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law an expansion of the state’s infamous Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly known to critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. H.B. 1069 includes restrictions on the pronouns and titles both students and public school employees can use.
But Vary notes an inconvenient wrinkle in the law. They told WMNF that they discussed using other gender-neutral titles with FLVS. “I was told that professor was not okay, Dr. was not okay for me because I didn’t have a Ph.D., but there are lots of people at FLVS who do use Dr., which, coincidentally, is also in violation of the same law I got disciplined for,” they said.
H.B. 1069 states that “an employee or contractor of a public K-12 educational institution may not provide to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.” But the law does not address gender-neutral professional titles like Dr., which is used by people of all genders.
Vary has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and hopes to challenge the Florida law. “I can fight this fight. I can be unemployed for a little while,” they told the Sentinel, citing their husband’s income. “I feel very strongly in standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.”
Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) said that Vary’s situation is exactly the kind of thing opponents of “Don’t Say Gay” feared when the law was passed. She also noted that “it’s pretty ridiculous to terminate teachers over something like this” during the state’s ongoing teacher shortage.
In September, Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar told Fox 13that there were more than 7,000 teacher and support staff vacancies across the state. He said that the Parental Rights in Education and Stop WOKE Acts have contributed to the crisis.
Policies pertaining to LGBTQ+ Americans and their rights have dominated headlines over the past year. Recently passed anti-LGBTQ legislation has underscored the urgent need to examine the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in America as many LGBTQ Americans announce they’re on the move to more accepting cities, states, and even countries.
The Human Rights Campaign declared a “state of emergency” for LGBTQ Americans and issued a national warning and guidebook, which highlights the ongoing struggles this community faces. We found in prior research that 38% of Americans still oppose same-sex marriage, a sobering reminder that the fight for equality is far from over.
Amid these challenges, we find glimmers of hope and resilience in various corners of the U.S. Pittsburgh’s city council passed bills aimed at protecting the LGBT community, while Kansas City proudly declared itself an LGBTQ sanctuary city. Notably, New York City hosts one of the world’s largest pride celebrations, attracting a staggering 2 million attendees and showcasing the vibrant and resilient spirit of its LGBTQ community.
Our study not only balances the fun aspects of the LGBTQ community but also the political realities necessary for LGBTQ Americans to thrive when they are moving across state lines for better futures amid rising costs of living.
To identify which cities are the most LGBTQ-friendly, our weighted rankings evaluated the following criteria:
7x: Percent of state population that is LGBTQ
7x: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) chapters per 100,000 residents
6x: Designated LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per capita
6x: Number of anti-trans legislation passed at the state level
6x: Pride events per 100,000 residents
5x: National LGBT Chamber of Commerce chapters
5x: Percentage of residents opposing to anti-discrimination laws
5x: Gay bars per 100,000 residents
3x: Percentage of residents opposing same-sex marriage
3x: Municipal equality score
3x: State equality tally score
3x: Inclusive curricular standards
2x: Parental opt-out laws
2x: “Don’t Say Gay” laws
Find out how the 50 most-populous metros in the U.S. stack up against each other in terms of LGBTQ-friendliness.
Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities Stats 🏳️🌈
San Francisco is America’s most LGBTQ-friendly city, while Memphis is the least friendly. Jump to section👇
California has the highest state equality tally score (100), while Tennessee has the lowest (-11.5).👇
Fifteen of the 50 most-populous metros in the U.S. are located in states with “Don’t Say Gay” laws.👇
New Orleans has the most pride celebrations per capita (0.32), while Houston has the fewest (0.01).👇
New Orleans has the most gay bars per 100,000 residents (1.43), while Riverside, California, has the fewest (0.06).👇
Raleigh, North Carolina, has the highest number of LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per capita (5.73), while Buffalo, New York, has the lowest at just 0.09 providers per capita.👇
Providence, Rhode Island, and Nashville, Tennessee, residents are the most supportive of anti-discrimination laws. Just 9% of residents oppose them. Kansas City, Missouri, and Birmingham, Alabama, have the highest opposition rate at 33%.👇
The 50 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities, Ranked
Rank
Metro
State LGBTQ Population (%)
Gay Bars per Capita
Pride Events per Capita
Municipal Equality Score*
State Equality Tally Score**
State LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curricular Standards
State Parental Opt-Out Laws
State “Don’t Say Gay” Laws
PFLAG Chapters per Capita***
NGLCC Chapters****
LGBTQ Affirming Health Care Providers per Capita*****
State Anti-Trans Legislation Passed
% of Residents Opposing Non-Discrimination Laws
% of Residents Opposing Same-Sex Marriage
–
Study Average
5.1
0.3
0.07
95
16.7
N
N
N
0.08
0.9
1.4
1.7
19%
27%
1
San Francisco, CA
6
0.63
0.09
100
43
Y
N
N
0.13
2
1.73
0
12%
21%
2
Hartford, CT
5
0.08
0.08
100
39
Y
N
N
0.25
1
1.65
0
22%
11%
3
Las Vegas, NV
6
0.57
0.22
100
40.5
Y
N
N
0.04
1
0.39
0
12%
19%
4
Portland, OR
8
0.36
0.04
100
38.5
Y
N
N
0.04
1
3.07
0
20%
17%
5
Denver, CO
6
0.61
0.03
100
42.5
Y
N
N
0.07
1
1.75
0
17%
15%
6
Los Angeles, CA
6
0.11
0.07
100
43
Y
N
N
0.07
2
0.58
0
15%
25%
7
San Diego, CA
6
0.37
0.12
100
43
Y
N
N
0.03
1
1
0
14%
18%
8
Sacramento, CA
6
0.29
0.04
100
43
Y
N
N
0.08
1
0.79
0
17%
26%
9
Chicago, IL
5
0.22
0.05
100
37.5
Y
N
N
0.11
1
0.79
0
15%
25%
10
New Orleans, LA
5
1.43
0.32
100
-4.5
N
N
Y
0.08
1
1.82
1
11%
31%
11
San Jose, CA
6
0.26
0.05
97
43
Y
N
N
0.05
0
1.23
0
17%
13%
12
Richmond, VA
5
0.3
0.08
100
25.5
N
N
N
0.15
1
1.29
0
21%
20%
13
Pittsburgh, PA
4
0.25
0.08
100
16.5
N
N
N
0.08
1
2.72
0
14%
18%
14
Baltimore, MD
5
0.18
0.04
100
31.5
N
N
N
0.14
1
1.76
0
19%
27%
15
Milwaukee, WI
6
0.45
0.06
100
18.5
N
N
N
0.13
1
0.83
0
20%
24%
16
Minneapolis, MN
4
0.22
0.03
100
36
N
N
N
0.03
1
2.06
0
10%
17%
17
Boston, MA
6
0.12
0.02
100
36
N
N
N
0.02
1
1.49
0
15%
16%
18
Seattle, WA
5
0.47
0.05
100
38.25
N
N
N
0.02
1
2.02
0
18%
23%
19
Cleveland, OH
5
0.34
0.1
100
10.75
N
N
N
0.05
1
1.78
0
16%
27%
20
New York, NY
5
0.37
0.04
100
40.5
N
N
N
0.05
1
0.49
0
16%
28%
21
Providence, RI
6
0.36
0.06
100
33
N
N
N
0.06
0
1.07
0
9%
32%
22
Philadelphia, PA
4
0.14
0.02
100
16.5
N
N
N
0.14
1
1.3
0
20%
23%
23
Riverside, CA
6
0.06
0.02
100
43
Y
N
N
0
0
0.15
0
17%
19%
24
Washington, DC
5
0.25
0.05
100
38.5
N
N
N
0.05
1
0.38
0
18%
25%
25
Indianapolis, IN
5
0.14
0.05
80
0
N
N
Y
0.14
1
3.76
3
16%
25%
26
Columbus, OH
5
0.51
0.05
100
10.75
N
N
N
0.05
1
2.14
0
18%
35%
27
Louisville, KY
3
0.23
0.08
100
5.25
N
N
Y
0.08
1
5.68
2
15%
38%
28
Detroit, MI
4
0.18
0.02
100
22
N
N
N
0.09
1
0.78
0
22%
24%
29
Charlotte, NC
5
0.19
0.04
86
7.25
N
N
Y
0.15
2
1.37
3
21%
30%
30
Salt Lake City, UT
6
0.32
0.08
100
9.25
N
N
N
0.08
1
1.98
4
17%
38%
31
Austin, TX
5
0.26
0.13
100
-1
N
N
Y
0.09
1
2.21
4
16%
23%
32
Atlanta, GA
4
0.21
0.02
100
-0.5
N
N
N
0.13
1
1.2
1
14%
34%
33
Cincinnati, OH
5
0.27
0.04
100
10.75
N
N
N
0.09
0
1.5
0
19%
24%
34
Raleigh, NC
5
0.07
0.07
85
7.25
N
N
Y
0.07
1
5.73
3
16%
45%
35
Virginia Beach, VA
5
0.17
0.06
100
25.5
N
N
N
0.06
0
0.22
0
21%
20%
36
Phoenix, AZ
6
0.26
0.02
100
6
N
Y
N
0
1
0.44
0
18%
27%
37
Buffalo, NY
5
0.34
0.09
94
40.5
N
N
N
0.09
0
0.09
0
26%
46%
38
Nashville, TN
3
0.35
0.05
77
-11.5
N
Y
N
0.2
1
0.94
10
9%
15%
39
San Antonio, TX
5
0.38
0.04
100
-1
N
N
Y
0.08
1
0.92
4
24%
16%
40
Orlando, FL
5
0.22
0.15
100
-0.75
N
Y
Y
0.04
1
1.23
5
18%
16%
41
Kansas City, MO
5
0.27
0.05
100
-0.25
N
N
N
0.05
2
0.95
3
33%
35%
42
St. Louis, MO
5
0.21
0.04
100
-0.25
N
N
N
0.07
0
0.89
3
20%
25%
43
Tampa, FL
5
0.28
0.03
100
-0.75
N
Y
Y
0.12
1
1.09
5
16%
26%
44
Oklahoma City, OK
4
0.42
0.07
78
-5.75
N
N
Y
0.14
0
1.04
3
18%
30%
45
Dallas, TX
5
0.24
0.04
100
-1
N
N
Y
0.04
1
0.57
4
22%
22%
46
Miami, FL
5
0.08
0.1
89
-0.75
N
Y
Y
0.03
2
0.72
5
17%
32%
47
Birmingham, AL
5
0.18
0.09
100
-9.5
N
N
Y
0.18
0
0.9
2
33%
35%
48
Jacksonville, FL
5
0.12
0.06
79
-0.75
N
Y
Y
0.06
0
0.61
5
14%
11%
49
Houston, TX
5
0.22
0.01
73
-1
N
N
Y
0.03
1
0.37
4
20%
29%
50
Memphis, TN
3
0.22
0.07
54
-11.5
N
Y
N
0
1
0.37
10
14%
36%
*100-point scale **43.5-point tally scale ***Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapters ****National LGBT Chamber of Commerce chapters *****Within a 25-mile radius
The 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities
With five cities in the top 15 — including San Francisco, our No. 1 LGBTQ-friendly city — California is the most LGBTQ-friendly state. In terms of its policies, it has a near-perfect equality tally score of 43 out of 43.5, which is attractive to LGBTQ Americans looking to move to more inclusive states.
In addition to laws passed by their state congresses, the top 15 cities have enacted municipal laws that protect their residents. The top 15 cities have an average city municipal equality score of 99 out of 100.
Only one city in the top 15 is located in a state that has passed anti-trans legislation. Louisiana may have restrictive laws, but New Orleans stands out from other cities in the South.
The top 15 cities, of course, have a high number of gay bars per capita: 0.4 per 100,000 residents on average — compared to 0.22 in the bottom 10 cities.
Despite hosting the world’s largest Pride celebration, New York City didn’t make the top 15 — coming in at No. 20 instead. New York City has a particularly low number of PFLAG chapters, with just 0.05 per 100,000 residents — 38% fewer than the average metro (0.08).
It also has just 0.49 LGBT-affirming health care providers per 100,000, which is 65% fewer than the average metro in our study (1.4). There are also no inclusive curricular standards in the state of New York.
1. San Francisco, CA
🌈 Rainbow Families San Francisco need not prove why it’s the No. 1 most LGBTQ-friendly city, as it’s already a popular destination for LGBTQ tourists. LGBTQ locals are also in luck: The Bay Area has 0.13 PFLAG chapters per 100,000 residents, 63% more than the average metro in our study (0.08).
San Francisco got a big boost for being located in a state with such inclusive policies for LGBTQ Americans. However, it boasts some impressive stats on its own.
With a remarkable 0.63 gay bars per 100,000 residents, it soars 110% above the average city in our study, making it a vibrant hotspot for LGBTQ+ nightlife and culture. But it’s not just about the party scene. San Franciscans are more inclusive than average, with only 12% opposing non-discrimination laws for LGBTQ Americans — 37% lower than the national average of 19%.
At 6% of its total population, San Francisco’s LGBTQ community slightly surpasses the national proportion of 5.1%, solidifying its status as a welcoming and diverse haven.
2. Hartford, CT
🏛️ Representin’ Hartford is the only Connecticut city in the 50 most-populous metros in the U.S. As such, it gets to represent its state in our study, and its residents should be proud! Connecticut’s state equality tally score is 39 — 134% higher than the average state’s tally score of 16.7.
Hartford is the third-smallest metro in the study, so it has just 0.08 gay bars per 100,000 residents, which is tied with Miami for the third-lowest number. That’s 73% fewer gay bars than the average city in our study (0.3).
However, it makes up for this by having a more inclusive and supportive community than other cities. The Hartford metro area has 0.25 PFLAG chapters per 100,000 resident – 213% more than the average metro in our study (0.08). Additionally, just 11% of Hartford residents oppose same-sex marriage, the lowest percentage in the study. That’s 59% fewer than the national response of 27%.
3. Las Vegas, NV
🎰 Pride Jackpot As a city known for its nightlife and party scene, it may come as no surprise that Pride Month in Las Vegas is exceptional. The Las Vegas metro area has 0.22 pride events per 100,000 residents annually — 214% more than the average metro in our study (0.07).
Las Vegas doesn’t just dazzle on the famous Strip. It shines as an oasis of LGBTQ inclusivity. Just 19% of its residents oppose same-sex marriage. That’s 30% fewer than the average city in our study (27%).
Keeping with its image, Las Vegas also boasts 0.57 gay bars per 100,000 residents — 90% more than the average city in our study (0.3). Las Vegas is home to the popular Hamburger Mary’s and The Phoenix Bar & Lounge, both staples of the LGBTQ community.
With a state equality tally score of 40.5, Nevada as a whole scores an impressive 143% above the average state’s tally score of 16.7.
4. Portland, OR
🧑🤝🧑 In Good Company Boosting Portland’s rank is its location in Oregon, the state with the largest percentage of LGBTQ residents. Oregon’s LGBTQ population of 8% is 57% more than the national proportion of 5.1%.
When it comes to LGBTQ inclusivity, Portland isn’t just leading the way, it’s also setting the pace. With an impressive 3.07 LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per 100,000 residents, it rises 119% above the average metro in our study (1.4), ensuring the community’s health care needs are met with care and compassion.
Oregon’s commitment to equality is also undeniable, with a state equality tally score of 38.5, an astonishing 131% higher than the average state’s score of 16.7. Portland also benefits from having a thriving LGBTQ community. With 0.36 gay bars per 100,000 residents, Portland is home to 20% more than the average city in our study (0.3).
5. Denver, CO
🤲 Sound State Cementing Colorado’s reputation as a progressive state and Denver’s allure to the LGBTQ community, Colorado’s state equality tally score is 42.5 — 154% higher than the average state’s tally score of 16.7
In Denver, diversity thrives. With a stunning 0.61 gay bars per 100,000 residents, it stands 103% above the average city in our study (0.3). This city doesn’t just embrace love, it also champions it, with only 15% opposing same-sex marriage, a substantial 44% lower than the national average (27%).
Moreover, Denver ensures access to compassionate health care, boasting an estimated 1.75 LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per 100,000 residents, a solid 25% more than the average metro in our study (1.4).
6. Los Angeles, CA
🎬 Lights, Camera, Action Like San Francisco, Los Angeles is another Californian city known for its LGBTQ community. It’s the filming location of community staples such as RuPaul’s Drag Race and Dragula. It is also known for the iconic neighborhoods of West Hollywood and Silver Lake, which are home to several notable gay bars.
The number of annual pride events in Los Angeles is tied with the national average at 0.07 per 100,000 residents. The L.A. Pride Festival & Parade is one of the most well-attended pride events in the country, with an estimated 146,000attending last year.
Los Angeles is also slightly more tolerant than other U.S. cities. Just 15% oppose non-discrimination laws, a noteworthy 21% less than the national average of 19%. Moreover, when it comes to same-sex marriage, the city stands out with only 25% opposing, a commendable 7% below the national average of 27%.
7. San Diego, CA
💃 Time to Party In “America’s Finest City,” the pride truly shines through, boasting an impressive 0.12 pride events per 100,000 residents annually, a spirited 71% above the average in our study.
San Diego has long been a popular LGBTQ destination, dating to the 1950s when venues like Bradley’s and Blue Jacket attracted travelers from all over the country. These days, the iconic Gossip Grill – a bustling lesbian-centered bar and grill – is a community standout that is a hot spot for LGBTQ tourists and locals alike.
Given its illustrious LGBTQ history, it’s no surprise that people in San Diego are more progressive when it comes to LGBTQ topics. Just 14% of San Diego residents oppose non-discrimination laws, which is 26% lower than the national response of 19%. Furthermore, only 18% are in opposition to same-sex marriage, a significant 33% less than the overall national response of 27%.
8. Sacramento, CA
🏆 10s Across the Board Sacramento is yet another California city with a commitment to protecting the rights of LGBTQ residents. It has a perfect municipal equality score of 100.
In Sacramento, just 17% of residents oppose non-discrimination laws — 11% below the national average of 19%. Additionally, only 26% oppose same-sex marriage, a heartening 4% lower than the national average of 27%.
But Sacramento doesn’t stop there — it’s a city that actively fosters LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It boasts a National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, demonstrating its dedication to providing resources and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to thrive.
9. Chicago, IL
📜 Legislating by Example When it comes to state policies concerning LGBTQ+ rights, Illinois stands out with an impressive state equality tally score of 37.5, surpassing the average state’s tally score of 16.7 by a remarkable 125%.
Chicago has a reputation for being a progressive city in the Midwest, and the stats support that view. Chicago is home to 0.11 PFLAG chapters per 100,000 residents – 38% above the average metro in the study (0.08).
Chicagoans also seem to be a bit more tolerant than Americans in other cities. Only 15% of its residents oppose non-discrimination laws, a remarkable 21% lower than the national average of 19%. Moreover, just 25% oppose same-sex marriage, a modest 7% lower than the national response of 27%.
10. New Orleans, LA
🎭 A Southern Standout Despite being in a state with a low equality tally score (-4.5), New Orleans’ LGBTQ community continues to thrive. New Orleans is home to 1.43 gay bars per 100,000 residents — the highest in the study! That’s 5x more than the average city (0.3).
With 0.32 pride events per 100,000 residents annually, New Orleans has 357% more pride events than the average metro in our study (0.07). It proudly claims the title of most pride events per capita, proving that in NOLA, celebration knows no bounds.
But New Orleans doesn’t just stop at parades and parties. It is home to 1.82 LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per 100,000, which is 30% more than the national average (1.4).
When it comes to inclusivity, NOLA is an example in the South. Just 11% of its residents oppose non-discrimination laws — 42% lower than the national average of 19%.
11. San Jose, CA
💫 Well-Rounded Compared to other California cities, San Jose ranks the lowest, only above Riverside. However, given that California is one of the highest-ranked states in terms of equality, San Jose still proves to be an LGBTQ-friendly city.
In the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose charts its unique course when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Although it has 12% fewer LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per 100,000 residents than the average metro area (1.4), it’s buoyed by its location in a progressive state and a near-perfect municipal equality score of 97 out of 100.
Its residents are also more tolerant than those in other cities. With just 17% opposing non-discrimination laws, it stands 11% below the national average of 19%. Moreover, in the realm of love and marriage, San Jose is a leading city with only 13% opposing same-sex marriage, a remarkable 52% lower than the national average of 27%.
12. Richmond, VA
🤝 Rich in Friends Richmond not only boasts a perfect municipal equality score of 100, it’s also home to 0.15 PFLAG chapters per 100,000 residents — 88% more than the national average — making it another standout LGBTQ city in the South.
Although Virginia could improve its policies pertaining to LGBTQ rights, its state equality score of 25.5 is still 53% higher than the average state’s score of 16.7.
Richmond, specifically, is slightly more tolerant than other cities in the country. Just 20% of Richmond residents oppose same-sex marriage — compared to 27% nationally.
When it’s time to celebrate, Richmond knows how to do it right with a spirited 0.08 pride events per 100,000 residents annually, a robust 14% more than the average metro in our study,
13. Pittsburgh, PA
🏥 An Abundance of Care Pittsburgh is another standout when it comes to LGBTQ health care accessibility, offering 2.72 LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per 100,000 residents. That’s 94% higher than the average metro in our study, ensuring that the community’s medical needs are well-cared for.
Pittsburgh is leading the way in municipal policies that protect LGBTQ residents. These policies are backed by a thriving community whose culture is also putting Pittsburgh on the map as an LGBTQ destination.
Pittsburgh hosts 0.08 pride events per 100,000 residents each year — 14% more than the average metro in our study (0.07).
But Pittsburgh isn’t just about parades. It’s also a city of acceptance. With just 14% of residents opposing non-discrimination laws, there are 26% fewer Pittsburghers in opposition to these protections than the national average (19%).
14. Baltimore, MD
⚖️ Tipping the Scales While not perfect, Maryland does stand out from the crowd. With a state equality tally score of 31.5, Maryland’s score is 89% higher than the average score of 16.7.
With an impressive 0.14 PFLAG chapters per 100,000 residents, Baltimore is home to 75% more PFLAG chapters than the average city (0.08). Baltimore also champions health care accessibility, boasting an estimated 1.76 LGBTQ-affirming health care providers per 100,000 residents — 26% more than the national average (1.4).
Although Maryland’s LGBTQ+ population hovers just below the national proportion at 5%, Baltimore stands out with its dedication to progress. It not only hosts an NGLCC chapter, but it also proudly boasts a perfect municipal equality score of 100, showcasing a commitment to ensuring LGBTQ rights are protected via policy and support for LGBTQ business.
15. Milwaukee, WI
👪 In Good Company Family support is crucial for the well-being of LGBTQ individuals. With 0.13 PFLAG chapters per 100,000 residents, Milwaukee has 63% more chapters than the average city in our study (0.08).
The Milwaukee metro area shines with 0.45 gay bars per 100,000 residents — 50% more than the 0.3 in the average city. Additionally, Milwaukee residents demonstrate a lower rate of opposition to same-sex marriage. Just 24% of Milwaukeeans oppose same-sex marriage, which is 11% less than the national average of 27%.
Furthermore, Wisconsin earned a state equality tally score of 18.5, an 11% higher than the average state tally score of 16.7.
Former Utah therapist Scott Owen was arrested Wednesday in connection with accusations that he sexually abused patients during sessions.
Owen, 63, was booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of six counts of object rape and four counts of forcible sodomy. A Utah County judge has ordered that Owen remain in jail without the opportunity to post bail, finding that he could be a danger to the community and would likely flee if released.
Owen was arrested on allegations connected to two former patients, both who say Owen engaged in sexual contact with them during therapy sessions. That alleged touching included kissing, cuddling and Owen using his hand to touch their anuses. One man also alleges Owen performed oral sex on him.
Owen agreed to meet with Provo and Spanish Fork police at the Spanish Fork Police station, they said, so that he could be transported from there to the Utah County Jail. Owen did not show up at the station, and authorities said they began searching. He was located on Wednesday afternoon in the town of Thistle, which is nearly 24 miles from Provo.
Officer Janna-Lee Holland, with Provo police, said that he was located alone in his car and a standoff with police occurred after he was found. Highway 89 was closed in the area while police worked to get Owen to safely surrender. Holland said tactical units were called in from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office in order to do so.
Once he surrendered, Owen was booked on six counts of object rape and four counts of forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies. “We are grateful to tactical units of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office whose skillful work resulted in safe apprehension without injury to anyone,” Holland said.
My previous reports on Owen are here and here. And now he makes our running tally of infamy.
Amber Hollibaugh, an activist, organizer, author of “My Dangerous Desires: A Queer Girl Dreaming Her Way Home” and a self-educated leading public intellectual in the LGBTQ, feminist, sexual liberation and economic justice movements, died suddenly of complications of diabetes in her home in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Oct. 20. She was 77.
Hollibaugh is she is survived by her life partner, award-winning novelist Jenifer Levin, and stepsons Mak Levin and Van De Laurier.
Hollibaugh was born in Bakersfield, Calif., on June 20, 1946. She lived in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Mississippi, Chicago and Canada before she moved to New York in 1981.
“Amber loved life with an embodied passion. She brought that passion to seek justice in the world for us in a way that was unwilling to leave any of our complicated selves behind. Amber’s work for lesbians living with HIV, poor and working-class queer folks and older LGBTQ+ members of our community was groundbreaking and sometimes left Amber not appreciated in the very movements that she was trying to move towards more liberation,” said Beth Zemsky, a former co-chair of the National LGBTQ+ Task Force and the former director of the University of Minnesota’s LGBT Programs Office. “Amber was a fierce friend, somebody you could count on to see you fully and show up for you. I’m grateful to have been able to look into her dazzling blue eyes and see the best of who we could be.”
Barbara Satin, a Task Force faith consultant, also mourned Hollibaugh.
“My early activism had focused on trans inclusion plus the affirmation of queer folks within faith settings — then I met Amber who introduced me to the beautiful, old LGBT community — my peer group. These pioneers, on whose shoulders we have built a burgeoning progressive movement, had hopes, expectations, fears and concerns around aging that were seriously overlooked by the broader community,” said Stein. “Through her work on LGBTQ aging at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, including the publication of ‘Outing Age,’ the seminal work on the issue, Amber spotlighted the needs and expectations that our elders had and offered practical and appropriate responses to their difficult situations. Amber added an important element to my activism and the applause I have received over the years for my work on aging are directly connected to her influence on my life. As I approach my 90th birthday, Amber Hollibaugh still is my role model for doing activism with grace and style.
Another remembrance notes Hollibaugh’s legacy “is an integral part of the history of the modern LGBTQ+ and feminist movements.”
“Her contributions were always visionary, as she worked at the intersections of sexual and economic inequality, LGBTQ and women’s health disparities,” it reads. “Her legacy and long-term impact in progressive movements is inestimable, and her loss will be widely and deeply mourned throughout queer communities and beyond.”