MAP

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 taken to protect themselves or their families since the November 2024 election. It also shows that LGBTQ people reported increasing their efforts to participate in or protect their community in the face of anti-LGBTQ politics or laws.

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The Majority of LGBTQ People, and Even Higher Numbers of Transgender People, Have Made Major Life Decisions Due to Recent LGBTQ-Related Politics  Since November 2024, the majority (57%) of LGBTQ people—including 84% of transgender and nonbinary people—have made significant life decisions or taken steps in response to LGBTQ-related politics or laws as seen in Figure 1. These include considering or actually moving to a different state; considering or actually finding a different job; attempting to update legal name or gender markers on identity documents; crossing state lines to receive medical care, and much more.

Figure 1

These are remarkably sobering findings that reflect the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that many LGBTQ people and their families across the country are currently facing—and the very real and difficult choices about their lives that they are being forced to consider. This is especially true given the relatively short period of time considered by the survey (November 2024 to June 2025), suggesting that as political attacks on LGBTQ people continue, these numbers may grow even higher.

Although 43% of transgender people—and 25% of all LGBTQ people—have considered moving to a different state, a shocking 9% of transgender people report they’ve actually moved to a different state since November 2024, as have five percent (5%) of all LGBTQ people.

The Majority of LGBTQ People Report Discrimination and Harassment Since the November 2024 Election  As shown in Figure 2 below, the motivation for the life decisions and other steps LGBTQ people report taking due to LGBTQ-related politics are well-founded: 60% of LGBTQ people, including 82% of transgender and nonbinary people, report that they or an immediate family member have had at least one negative experience related to being LGBTQ since the November 2024 election.

Figure 2

The survey further shows the negative impact that recent anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric have had on LGBTQ people, and especially transgender people. Key takeaways include: The majority of LGBTQ people, and even more transgender people, say recent anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric have negatively impacted their mental health.Most LGBTQ people report politics have negatively impacted their wellbeing. And transgender people are especially likely to say politics have impacted them “a lot.” Six in 10 LGBTQ people (60%) say they are worried about the impacts of Trump’s anti-LGBTQ actions on them or their families. That number rises to nearly nine in 10 for transgender people (86%).Supermajorities of LGBTQ people, and even higher numbers of transgender people, feel negatively about Trump’s anti-LGBTQ actions since inauguration.  Among LGBTQ People, Trump’s Approval Ratings Are Extremely Low—As Is Approval of State Governments’ Handling of LGBTQ Issues   Only 10% of LGBTQ people in this survey approved of how Trump is handling his job overall. Even fewer (6%) approve of how he is handling LGBTQ issues specifically.     While LGBTQ respondents have a much higher approval rating for their state government’s handling of LGBTQ issues (36%) compared to Trump’s handling of them (6% approve), this is still a notably low approval. This speaks to the widespread and ongoing attacks on LGBTQ people in state legislatures across the country today.   Survey findings also show a clear relationship between LGBTQ respondents’ approval of how their state government is handling LGBTQ issues and the state’s actual LGBTQ policies, as seen in the figure below.

Figure 7

The majority of LGBTQ people—and, consistently, even higher rates of transgender and nonbinary people—reported significant and often negative impacts across the board, such as making major life decisions due to LGBTQ-related laws or politics, experiencing harassment or discrimination, harm to their mental health or overall well-being, and much more.   As political attacks on LGBTQ people by federal, state, and local governments continue, it is likely that these impacts will only accumulate. While the survey illustrates some of the many ways LGBTQ people are taking action to protect not only themselves but also their broader community, it is vital that people beyond LGBTQ people join in these efforts to protect their LGBTQ neighbors, friends, and family members, and to stop the ongoing attacks on LGBTQ people.

For questions, please contact Dana Juniel at dana@mapresearch.org. # # # MAP’s mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life. www.mapresearch.org

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 that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices have gone by many names and misleading euphemisms over many years, including “ex-gay therapy,” “reparative therapy,” and, more recently, “reintegrative therapy” or “exploratory therapy.” No matter the name, such practices share the fundamental premise that being LGBTQ is wrong, undesirable, and abnormal. 

For decades, an unregulated industry masquerading as health care has used these tactics against LGBTQ people and their families—and they continue to do so today. Because these practices are often conducted in relative secret or under the guise of different names, they are difficult to track, and estimates may vary as a result.  

This report includes national estimates from recent research and national surveys, which show how conversion “therapy” practices remain widespread today. MAP’s analysis also importantly explains how these harmful practices target transgender people’s gender identity, including transgender youth. 

PROTECTING LGBTQ YOUTH FROM THESE HARMFUL PRACTICES 

Historically, and continuing today, there has been widespread public support for protecting LGBTQ youth from conversion “therapy,” including across the political spectrum. For example: 

• Both a 2025 Data for Progress poll and a 2019 Reuters-Ipsos poll found 56% of U.S. adults think conversion “therapy” should be illegal to use on LGBTQ minors.
• In the 23 states that have passed legislation protecting minors from conversion “therapy,” every bill has passed with Republican support.
• As of July 2025, state Republican lawmakers had sponsored or voted in favor of legislation protecting LGBTQ youth from conversion “therapy” at least 682 times. 
• One-third of existing state protections against conversion “therapy” were enacted by Republican governors. 

Today, 23 states and the District of Columbia have laws protecting minors from these practices, while another four states and Puerto Rico restrict these practices in other ways. 

Laws protecting LGBTQ children from conversion “therapy” have helped raise awareness and ensure that state-licensed therapists and medical providers are providing competent, evidence-based care and are not causing harm to those entrusted to their care. 

A LARGER AND COORDINATED ATTACK ON LGBTQ PEOPLE—ESPECIALLY YOUTH 

Since 2020, there has been a significant and dramatic escalation in political attacks on the LGBTQ community, with most of these attacks especially targeting LGBTQ youth and transgender people. This has caused startling shifts in the policy landscape, including new and escalating efforts to protect—and in some cases even promote—conversion “therapy.”

For example, in April 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an anonymously authored report attacking evidence-based, medically necessary care for transgender youth, while repeatedly mentioning conversion “therapy” using the deceptive euphemism “exploratory therapy”. It did so both to promote subjecting transgender young people to these dangerous practices, and to further attack families’ ability to get a transgender child the medical care they need. This report details lawsuits challenging conversion “therapy” laws, as well as recent legislation that aims to push these harmful practices or challenge existing protections at both the state and local level. 

RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOURCES 

The scientific research and personal testimonies of LGBTQ people who have been subjected to conversion “therapy” are clear: this is a dangerous and discredited practice—one that the government can and should restrict to protect its citizens.  

• States and municipalities should protect minors from harmful conversion “therapy” practices. 
• States and municipalities should fight against efforts to protect or promote conversion “therapy,” including attempted repeals of existing protections. 
• LGBTQ youth in crisis can contact The Trevor Project by calling 1-866-488-7386; texting “START” to 678-678; or starting a chat at www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help. 

All youth deserve love, support, and acceptance. While the law cannot ensure that all youth have these vital needs met, it can protect them from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion “therapy”—and promote an environment in which every young person knows they are safe, supported, and exactly who they were meant to be. 

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About MAP 

The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) provides rigorous research, insight, and analysis that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that LGBTQ people and their families can live their lives with dignity, safety, and respect by focusing on three key areas: policy and issue analysis, movement capacity, and effective messaging. MAP’s work also covers a broad range of social justice issues that intersect with the LGBTQ movement, including racial justice, economic justice, and healthcare access. www.mapresearch.org