Dana Juniel

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Forecasting Equality: Expected Changes to LGBTQ Policies in 2026

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Since 2020, political attacks on LGBTQ people, and especially transgender people, have escalated — but LGBTQ people and allies have also fought back and won important victories. This forecast takes stock of recent years in LGBTQ legislation at the state level and suggests what may lie ahead in 2026.Anti-LGBTQ Policies to WatchPro-LGBTQ Policies to WatchBallot Initiatives Given the scale of anti-LGBTQ political attacks over recent years, much attention has been paid to these harmful, hateful, and intentional efforts, and rightfully so. However, it is also important to note the consistent victories and pro-LGBTQ efforts unfolding across the country. This map […]

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Majority of LGBTQ Adults Report Harm, Mistreatment, and Dramatic Life Changes Since November 2024

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Since November 2024—and especially in the months since the beginning of President Trump’s second term—anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has increased, violence has escalated, and legislation, executive orders, and other targeted actions have drastically altered the lives of LGBTQ people, especially transgender people. Survey findings from the Movement Advancement Project and NORC show that the majority of LGBTQ adults report harm, mistreatment, and other negative experiences since the 2024 presidential election.  To better understand the impacts of the extraordinarily difficult and stressful political environment, this nationally representative survey provides a critical snapshot into the experiences, concerns, and dramatic life changes LGBTQ people have […]

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LGBTQ Equality Maps Updates and Bill Tracking for September 2025

In this rapidly changing landscape, MAP’s LGBTQ Equality Maps provide a detailed snapshot of the current state of LGBTQ laws and policies in the United States. See below for a listing of state and local level policy changes, plus MAP’s bill tracking and policy research updates, as of August 25, 2025. ▸▸ State Policy UpdatesOngoing developments with gender marker changes on identity documentsIn Kansas, residents’ ability to change the gender marker on their driver’s licensesremains contested. After a 2023 law was enacted defining “sex” throughout state law to enable discrimination against transgender people, the state’s attorney general successfully sued the state’s license-issuing agency to force […]

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New Repost from MAP and The Trevor Project Underscores the Harms of Conversion Therapy

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Today, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and The Trevor Project released a new report that spotlights the harms of conversion “therapy” and details the shifting landscape of efforts to protect LGBTQ young people against this abuse. With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear a case this fall (Chiles v. Salazar) challenging the legality of these protections, this report offers a timely analysis into the history of these laws, the present landscape, and the importance of continuing to protect LGBTQ youth.   THE PREVALENCE OF CONVERSION “THERAPY” — AND ITS GROWING FOCUS ON TRANSGENDER YOUTH  Conversion “therapy” is a dangerous and discredited practice […]

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LGBTQ CURRICULAR LAWS by State

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LGBTQ-related curricular laws are important for LGBTQ students’ health, well-being, and academic success. This map shows multiple distinct policies related to LGBTQ inclusion in—or exclusion from—school curricula or standards. First, LGBTQ-inclusive curricular laws explicitly require the state’s curricular standards to include LGBTQ people and history, such as in subjects like history, civics, or social studies. Harmful, exclusionary laws include older-style censorship laws that restrict how schools can discuss “homosexuality” in specific subjects; parental notification laws, which require parents to be notified in advance of any LGBTQ-related curricula and allow parents to opt their children out of those classes (or require […]

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Forced Outing of Transgender Youth in Schools by State

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Since 2020, there has been a growing legislative attack on transgender people, and particularly on transgender youth. This includes a growing number of bills (and now laws) that explicitly require school staff—and in some cases, any government or public employee—to out transgender youth to their families, often without regard for whether doing so might put the child at risk of harm. Importantly, however, these laws vary in their actual requirements, as shown below. Click the “Citations & More Information” orange button for more detail.*Notes: –States with a caution icon have policies that vary, but generally have vague requirements to notify parents about any “health” […]

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Hate Crime Laws by State

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Hate crime laws create additional or enhanced penalties for crimes committed with bias toward particular characteristics, such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.  As shown on separate maps, some state laws also require data collection about hate crimes and training for law enforcement about hate crimes.  The federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act allows the federal government to prosecute hate crimes, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity. State laws may also allow for state or local prosecution of certain hate crimes, depending on what, if any, protections the state […]

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Equality Wrapped: Key Takeaways from LGBTQ-Related Policy in 2024

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As this unprecedented year of change comes to an end, we at MAP are taking a look back at the laws and policies that directly impact the experiences of LGBTQ people across the country. Below, we offer an overview of the major trends and biggest shifts from the past 12 months. High Level Points of Interest MAP’s real-time tracking shows that anti-LGBTQ laws were enacted in at least 18 states this year, but it also highlights numerous wins, including the fact that 92% of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year have not become law, according to the ACLU, as of December 10, 2024. […]

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Overwhelming Majority of LGBTQ Community Centers Have Experienced Anti-LGBTQ Harassment Over the Past Two Years, Report Finds 

Today the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and CenterLink released the 2024 LGBTQ Community Center Survey Report, which showed that 73% of LGBTQ centers surveyed reported they had experienced anti-LGBTQ threats or harassment over the past two years, much of which were specifically in response to anti-LGBTQ politics or rhetoric.  The 2024 LGBTQ Community Center Survey report had 199 participating LGBTQ community centers in 42 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The biennial survey series started in 2008, highlights the crucial role these centers play in the broader LGBTQ movement, offering an invaluable link between LGBTQ people and local, state, and national […]