Nondiscrimination Laws
Housing nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly evicted, denied housing, or refused the ability to rent or buy housing on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This map shows state housing nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Additionally, in states without state-level protections, municipalities may provide local-level nondiscrimination protections. See our maps tracking local-level nondiscrimination ordinances here.
Other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice.
*NOTE: In green stripe states, the state’s nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state’s civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state’s existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the “Citations & More Information” button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) currently interprets the Fair Housing Act’s ban on sex-based discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may be able to pursue claims through this avenue. However, local ordinances, state laws, federal court rulings, and more create a patchwork of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country. Given this patchwork, individuals who have experienced discrimination should contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice. This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. 2026. “Equality Maps: Housing Nondiscrimination Laws.” https://mapresearch.org/equality-map/nondiscrimination-laws/#housing. Data as of April 17, 2026.
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.
Public accommodation nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly refused service, denied entry to, or otherwise discriminated against in public places based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Public accommodation laws generally cover anywhere someone is when they are not at home, work, or school, including retail stores, restaurants, parks, hotels, doctors’ offices, and banks. This map shows state public accommodation nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Additionally, in states without state protections, municipalities may provide local-level nondiscrimination protections. See our map tracking local-level nondiscrimination ordinances here.
Other rights may exist or be recognized where you live; this map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice.
NOTE: In green stripe states, the state’s nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state’s civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state’s existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the “Citations & More Information” button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. 2026. “Equality Maps: Public Accommodations Nondiscrimination Laws.” https://mapresearch.org/equality-map/nondiscrimination-laws/#public-accommodations. Data as of April 17, 2026.
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.
Credit and lending nondiscrimination laws protect people from being unfairly denied credit and lending services, such as opening a bank account, taking out a loan, and more. This map shows state credit and lending nondiscrimination laws that explicitly enumerate sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected classes, as well as states that explicitly interpret existing sex protections in credit law to include sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Other rights may exist or be applicable where you live, including through broadly-defined public accommodations laws (click the “citations” button for additional information). This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights. If you have experienced discrimination, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise see legal advice.
NOTE: In green stripe states, the state’s nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state’s civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state’s existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. See the “Citations & More Information” button beneath the map legend for more detail for every state.
Individuals who have experienced discrimination should contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk or otherwise seek legal advice. This map is not intended as legal advice or an indication of your rights.
Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. 2026. “Equality Maps: Credit Nondiscrimination Laws.” https://mapresearch.org/equality-map/nondiscrimination-laws/#credit. Data as of April 17, 2026.
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
Law covers sexual orientation
Law covers sexual orientation and gender identity/expression
| State | Employment | Housing | Public Accommodations | Credit | State Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citation | Citation | Citation | Citation | Citation | |
| Alabama |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alaska |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| American Samoa |
|
|
|
|
|
| Arizona |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Arkansas |
|
|
|
|
|
| California |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Colorado |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Connecticut |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Delaware |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
|
SO/GI
|
| District of Columbia |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Florida |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Georgia |
|
|
|
|
|
| Guam |
SO/GI
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Hawaii |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Idaho |
|
|
|
|
|
| Illinois |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Indiana |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Iowa |
SO
|
Housing SO
|
SO
|
SO
|
SO
|
| Kansas |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Kentucky |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Louisiana |
|
|
|
|
|
| Maine |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Maryland |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Massachusetts |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Michigan |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Minnesota |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Mississippi |
|
|
|
|
|
| Missouri |
|
|
|
|
SO
|
| Montana |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Nebraska |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Nevada |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| New Hampshire |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
|
SO/GI
|
| New Jersey |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| New Mexico |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| New York |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| North Carolina |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| North Dakota |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Northern Mariana Islands |
|
|
|
|
SO
|
| Ohio |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Oklahoma |
|
|
|
|
|
| Oregon |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Pennsylvania |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Puerto Rico |
SO/GI
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Rhode Island |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| South Carolina |
|
|
|
|
|
| South Dakota |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tennessee |
|
|
|
|
|
| Texas |
|
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| U.S. Virgin Islands |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Utah |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Vermont |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Virginia |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| Washington |
SO/GI
|
Housing SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
SO/GI
|
| West Virginia |
|
|
|
|
|
| Wisconsin |
SO
|
Housing SO
|
SO
|
|
SO/GI
|
| Wyoming |
|
|
|
|
|
