Conversion “Therapy” Laws

Conversion “therapy” laws prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from subjecting LGBTQ minors to harmful conversion “therapy” practices that attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. These laws do not restrict the practice among religious providers. For an in-depth analysis of these laws, please read our LGBTQ Policy Spotlight Report: Laws Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Conversion “Therapy” (2025).

State prohibits licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion "therapy"

(23 states + D.C.)

State restricts, but does not prohibit licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion "therapy"

(5 states + 1 territory)

No state law or policy about conversion "therapy"

(22 states + 4 territories)

State law, budget, or court ruling prohibits or deters local-level laws protecting youth from conversion "therapy" (see note beneath map

(1 state)

Denotes states in a federal court circuit with a relevant ruling (see note beneath map)

*NOTE: In December 2025, the federal 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Michigan’s law that prohibited licensed professionals from subjecting youth to conversion “therapy.” The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to a similar law in Colorado by June 2026.
*NOTE: States in orange limit local-level protections against conversion “therapy” in different ways. In Indiana, state law explicitly prohibits local-level protections against conversion therapy, and in the 11th Circuit (Alabama, Florida, and Georgia), a federal court ruling similarly prevents enforcement of such laws. In South Carolina, the state’s budget explicitly withholds state funding from any municipality with local level protections against conversion “therapy,” effectively deterring such ordinances. Click “Citations & More Information” beneath the map legend for more detail.
*NOTE: States in striped green have taken state-level action to restrict the practice of conversion “therapy” in different ways, though these states do not fully prohibit the practice. Click “Citations & More Information” beneath the map legend for more detail about each state.
*NOTE: In 2020, Virginia passed a law prohibiting conversion practices for minors, but a 2025 legal settlement barred the state from enforcing key provisions—effectively making the majority (though not all) of conversion “therapy” practices legal again in the state.

For an in-depth analysis of these laws, please read our LGBTQ Policy Spotlight Report: Laws Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Conversion “Therapy” (2025).

Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project. [Year of access]. “Equality Maps: Conversion Therapy Laws.” https://www.mapresearch.org/equality-maps/conversion_therapy. Data as of [day of access].

Percent of LGBTQ Youth Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of LGBTQ youth in the U.S. territories or under age 13 are not available, and so cannot be reflected here. Population estimates are from The Williams Institute.

49% of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that prohibit licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion "therapy"

10% of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that restrict, but do not prohibit licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion "therapy"

27% of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states with no state laws or policies about conversion therapy

14% of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that prohibit or deter local-level laws protecting youth from conversion "therapy"

States in dark green reflect states with statewide laws prohibiting conversion “therapy,” meaning 100% of the state population is protected. States with green stripes have taken state-level action to partially restrict conversion “therapy” (see more below the map). States with green pins reflect states with local-level laws only, and the green pin shows the percent of the state population protected by local ordinances. If a state is beige and has no pin, then there are no local or state laws against conversion “therapy,” and therefore 0% of the state population is protected from this harmful practice.

State prohibits licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion "therapy"

(23 states + D.C.)

State restricts, but does not prohibit licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion "therapy"

(5 states + 1 territory)

No state law or policy about conversion "therapy"

(22 states + 4 territories)

State law, budget, or court ruling prohibits or deters local-level laws protecting youth from conversion "therapy" (see note beneath map

(1 state)

Percent of the state population protected from conversion "therapy" by local ordinances

*NOTE: States in orange limit local-level protections against conversion “therapy” in different ways. In Indiana, state law explicitly prohibits local-level protections against conversion therapy, and in the 11th Circuit (Alabama, Florida, and Georgia), a federal court ruling similarly prevents enforcement of such laws. In South Carolina, the state’s budget explicitly withholds state funding from any municipality with local level protections against conversion “therapy,” effectively deterring such ordinances. Click “Citations & More Information” beneath the map legend for more detail.

*NOTE: States in striped green have taken state-level action to restrict the practice of conversion “therapy” in different ways, though these states do not fully prohibit the practice. Click “Citations & More Information” beneath the map legend for more detail. If a state restricts the practice and also has local level ordinances that fully prohibit the practice (e.g., Wisconsin), the percent of the population that is fully protected is shown in the green pin. If a state partially restricts the practice and has no orange pin, that means there are currently no local ordinances that fully prohibit the practice.

*NOTE: In 2020, Virginia passed a law prohibiting conversion practices for minors, but a 2025 legal settlement barred the state from enforcing key provisions—effectively making the majority (though not all) of conversion “therapy” practices legal again in the state.

For an in-depth analysis of these laws, please read our LGBTQ Policy Spotlight Report: Laws Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Conversion “Therapy” (2025).

Alabama

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 67 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Alaska

39% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 18 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

American Samoa

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Arizona

14% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 15 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Arkansas

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 75 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

California

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Colorado

12% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 64 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Connecticut

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Delaware

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

District of Columbia

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Florida

6% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 67 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

12 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

City and County Listing:

Bay Harbor IslandsBoynton BeachEl PortalGainesvilleKey WestLake Worth BeachMiamiMiami BeachNorth Bay VillageOakland ParkRiviera BeachTallahassee
Alachua County

Georgia

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 159 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Guam

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Hawaii

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Idaho

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 44 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Illinois

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Indiana

0% of population protected

Court ruling prohibits the enforcement of local-level laws protecting youth from conversion “therapy”

Iowa

4% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 99 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

1 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

City and County Listing:

Davenport
Linn County (unincorporated areas only)

Kansas

4% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 105 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

3 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Kentucky

25% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

2 counties out of 120 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

1 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

City and County Listing:

Covington
Lexington-Fayette CountyLouisville-Jefferson County

Louisiana

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 64 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Maine

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Maryland

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Massachusetts

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Michigan

3% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 83 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

8 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Minnesota

19% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

11 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Mississippi

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 82 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Missouri

18% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

1 counties out of 115 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

5 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

City and County Listing:

ColumbiaIndependenceKansas CityNorth Kansas CitySt. Louis
Jackson County (unincorporated areas only)

Montana

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 56 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Nebraska

15% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 93 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

1 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Nevada

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

New Hampshire

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 10 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

New Jersey

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

New Mexico

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

New York

56% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

4 counties out of 62 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

3 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

City and County Listing:

AlbanyNew York CityRochester
Albany CountyErie CountyUlster CountyWestchester County

North Carolina

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 100 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

North Dakota

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 53 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Northern Mariana Islands

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Ohio

21% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 88 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

12 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Oklahoma

3% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 77 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

1 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Oregon

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Pennsylvania

27% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

2 counties out of 67 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

14 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

City and County Listing:

AllentownBellefonte BoroughBethlehemDoylestown BoroughErieLower Makefield TownshipMiddletown Township (Bucks County)Newtown Township (Bucks County)PittsburghReadingScrantonState CollegeYardley BoroughYork
Allegheny CountyPhiladelphia City-County

Puerto Rico

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Rhode Island

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

South Carolina

3% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 46 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

1 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

South Dakota

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 66 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Tennessee

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 95 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Texas

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 254 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

U.S. Virgin Islands

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Utah

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 29 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Vermont

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 0 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Virginia

100% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 95 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Washington

9% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 39 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

1 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

West Virginia

8% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 55 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

4 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Wisconsin

24% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 72 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

14 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

Wyoming

0% of population protected

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 23 have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

0 cities have an ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.

No data available or not applicable

key

State prohibits licensed healthcare providers from subjecting minors to conversion

State restricts but does not prohibit conversion

State law or court ruling prohibits local-level laws protecting youth from conversion

State	Conversion Therapy Law	Year Passed
	Citation
Alabama		N/A
Alaska		N/A
American Samoa		N/A
Arizona	State restricts but does not prohibit conversion therapy	2023
Arkansas		N/A
California	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2012
Colorado	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2019
Connecticut	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2017
Delaware	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2018
District of Columbia	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2014
Florida		N/A
Georgia		N/A
Guam		N/A
Hawaii	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2018
Idaho		N/A
Illinois	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2015
Indiana	State law or court ruling prohibits local laws	N/A
Iowa		N/A
Kansas		N/A
Kentucky	State restricts but does not prohibit conversion therapy	2024
Louisiana		N/A
Maine	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2019
Maryland	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2018
Massachusetts	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2019
Michigan	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2023
Minnesota	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2023
Mississippi		N/A
Missouri		N/A
Montana		N/A
Nebraska		N/A
Nevada	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2017
New Hampshire	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2018
New Jersey	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2013
New Mexico	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2017
New York	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2019
North Carolina	State restricts but does not prohibit conversion therapy	2019
North Dakota	State restricts but does not prohibit conversion therapy	2021
Northern Mariana Islands		N/A
Ohio		N/A
Oklahoma		N/A
Oregon	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2015
Pennsylvania	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2024
Puerto Rico	State restricts but does not prohibit conversion therapy	2019
Rhode Island	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2017
South Carolina		N/A
South Dakota		N/A
Tennessee		N/A
Texas		N/A
U.S. Virgin Islands		N/A
Utah	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2020
Vermont	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2016
Virginia	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2020
Washington	Prohibits Conversion Therapy to Minors	2018
West Virginia		N/A
Wisconsin	State restricts but does not prohibit conversion therapy	2021
Wyoming		N/A

	Sexual Orientation Score	Gender Identity Score	Overall Score
High (75-100% of total points possible)	17.25+	19.5+	36.75+
Medium (50-74.9% of total points possible)	11.5 to 17	13 to 19.25	24.5 to 36.5
Fair (25-49.9% of total points possible)	5.75 to 11.25	6 to 12.75	12.25 to 24.25
Low (0-24.9% of total points possible)	0 to 5.5	0 to 5.75	0 to 12
Negative (<0 points)	<0	<0	<0
Total points possible	23	26	49

Marriage Recognition	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
As a result of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell, same-sex couples can marry nationwide and states must extend all the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. As a result, the following benefits are available to all married same-sex couples on the same basis they are available to married different-sex couples: Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Medical Decision-Making Authority for Married Same-Sex Couples Stepparent Adoption for Married Same-Sex Couples Joint Adoption for Married Same-Sex Couples		1
Second-Parent Adoption for Unmarried Couples	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Second-parent adoption laws permit a parent in a relationship to adopt their partner’s child and become a legal parent of that child, giving the child two legal parents and giving both parents legal rights. LGBTQ people often create families in diverse ways, including outside of legal marriage, so these laws help protect LGBTQ parents’ rights without requiring legal marriage.	Only parents in legally recognized relationships can petition to adopt their partner’s child.	0	These laws permit adoption of a child by a second parent who is not married to the child’s parent, irrespective of one’s gender identity. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	Parents can petition for second-parent or stepparent adoption statewide irrespective of parents' marital status or legal recognition of their relationship.	0
Confirmatory Adoption	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
A confirmatory adoption is a streamlined process established by law to confirm a parent’s existing legal relationship to a child. The parent may have established parentage through other means, but completing the confirmatory adoption process results in a formal adoption decree. Other means of establishing parentage can include the marital presumption (the presumption that married parents are the parents of a child born during their marriage), the holding out presumption (the presumption that if a person acted as a parent to a child, such as by providing a home and raising them, then they are a parent), or as someone who intended to parent a child born through assisted reproduction. In the streamlined confirmatory adoption process, the home study or background check requirements associated with other types of adoptions are not required.	Confirmatory adoption is not available.	0
	Confirmatory adoption is available.	1
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
For most children born to unmarried parents, legal recognition of parentage is established through the “voluntary acknowledgment of parentage” (VAP), a legal document typically completed at the hospital at the time of the child’s birth. There are no costs associated with it, and once it takes effect, it is the legal equivalent of a court decree of parentage and, under federal law, must be respected across state lines and in all jurisdictions. However, in many states, only men who are believed to be the genetic father of the child in question are permitted to sign VAPs. As a result, many LGBTQ families face obstacles to this pathway to parental recognition. Now, a growing number of states are updating their parenting laws to ensure that any parent—regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or genetic relationship to the child—can sign a VAP and have their parental relationship legally recognized and protected.	State has not yet expanded access of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP)	0
	State has Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP) that is explicitly available to non-genetic and LGBTQ parents	1
Family Services Nondiscrimination Laws	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Adoption nondiscrimination policies protect LGBTQ parents from discrimination by adoption agencies and officials. In combination with foster care nondiscrimination, this creates a full point for family services nondiscrimination policy.	Adoption nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate sexual orientation.	0	Adoption nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate gender identity.	0
	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in adoption based on sexual orientation of parent(s).	1	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in adoption based on gender identity of parent(s).	1
Family Services Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ Parents: Foster Care	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Foster care nondiscrimination policies protect LGBTQ foster parents from discrimination by foster care agencies and officials. In combination with adoption nondiscrimination, this creates a full point for family services nondiscrimination policy.	Foster care nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate sexual orientation.	0	Foster care nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate gender identity.	0
	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in foster care based on sexual orientation of parent(s).	1	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in foster care based on gender identity of parent(s).	0.5
Legal Recognition for Parents Using Assisted Reproduction	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
These laws apply when a child is conceived through donor insemination and other forms of assisted reproduction. These laws grant legal parenting rights to the non-gestational, non-genetic parent (just as a woman’s husband would be a legal parent of a child they have using donor insemination even though he is not the biological father). In some states, being a married is not a legal requirement for parental recognition of a non-gestational, non-genetic parent. The process of “consenting to inseminate” allows parents in some states a way to establish a legal relationship to the child irrespective of the parents’ marital status.	State lacks clear mechanisms to create legal ties between a non-gestational, non-genetic parent and a child born via donor insemination.	0	Historically, parents using donor insemination are not denied legal recognition because they are transgender, but because they are part of (or perceived to be part of) a same-sex couple. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	State law recognizes the non-gestational parent as a legal parent, regardless of marital status, if the non-gestational parent consents to the process by which a child is conceived via donor insemination or other assisted reproduction.	1
State Family Leave Laws: Definitions of Spouse/Partner	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
State family leave laws allow a person to take leave from work to care for their family members, including a spouse or partner. Some laws allow the worker to take leave for a partner only if they are in a legally recognized relationship (i.e. marriage) to the person who needs care. Other family leave laws use broader definitions of spouse or partner that better reflect the varied ways that LGBTQ people create family, including outside of legal marriage.	State lacks a family leave law entirely.	0	Although transgender people may be (or be considered to be) in a same-sex relationship and benefit from family leave, historically these laws’ definitions of family have the effect of recognizing or not recognizing a same-sex partner or spouse because both parties are the same sex, not because one of the parties is transgender. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	State law grants workers leave to care for a partner, but only if the couple is in a legally recognized relationship.	0.25
	State law grants workers leave to care for a partner, even if the couple is not in a legally recognized relationship.	0.5
State Family Leave Laws: Definitions of Child/Parent	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
State family leave laws allow a person to take leave from work to care for a child. Barriers to parental recognition for LGBTQ people raising children often mean that one parent lacks legal ties to the child or children they are raising. Additionally, LGBTQ people create families in many ways, and some LGBTQ workers may not have legal or biological relationships to their children. Parents who are not legal or biological parents may be denied this leave unless the state law uses broader definitions of children or parenting that recognizes these varied ways of family building.	State lacks a family leave law entirely.	0	In the domain of family leave laws, LGBTQ parents’ struggles to gain legal ties to the children they are raising, and thus be recognized under state family leave laws, stem from lack of recognition of parents who are part of a same-sex couple, rather than because a parent is transgender. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside the scope of these laws.
	State law grants workers leave to care for a child for whom the worker is parenting, but only if the worker has a legal or biological relationship to the child.	0.25
	State law grants workers leave to care for a child for whom the worker is parenting, even if the worker lacks a legal or biological relationship to the child.	0.5
Relationship and Parental Recognition (Tallies for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)	7		1.5
Relationship and Parental Recognition Total	8.5

Marriage Recognition	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
As a result of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell, same-sex couples can marry nationwide and states must extend all the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. As a result, the following benefits are available to all married same-sex couples on the same basis they are available to married different-sex couples: Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Medical Decision-Making Authority for Married Same-Sex Couples Stepparent Adoption for Married Same-Sex Couples Joint Adoption for Married Same-Sex Couples		1
Second-Parent Adoption for Unmarried Couples	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Second-parent adoption laws permit a parent in a relationship to adopt their partner's child and become a legal parent of that child, giving the child two legal parents and giving both parents legal rights. LGBTQ people often create families in diverse ways, including outside of legal marriage, so these laws help protect LGBTQ parents’ rights without requiring legal marriage.	Only parents in legally recognized relationships can petition to adopt their partner’s child.	0	These laws permit adoption of a child by a second parent who is not married to the child’s parent, irrespective of one’s gender identity. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	Parents can petition for second-parent or stepparent adoption statewide irrespective of parents' marital status or legal recognition of their relationship.	1
Confirmatory Adoption	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
A confirmatory adoption is a streamlined process established by law to confirm a parent’s existing legal relationship to a child. The parent may have established parentage through other means, but completing the confirmatory adoption process results in a formal adoption decree. Other means of establishing parentage can include the marital presumption (the presumption that married parents are the parents of a child born during their marriage), the holding out presumption (the presumption that if a person acted as a parent to a child, such as by providing a home and raising them, then they are a parent), or as someone who intended to parent a child born through assisted reproduction. In the streamlined confirmatory adoption process, the home study or background check requirements associated with other types of adoptions are not required.	Confirmatory adoption is not available.	0
	Confirmatory adoption is available.	1
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
For most children born to unmarried parents, legal recognition of parentage is established through the “voluntary acknowledgment of parentage” (VAP), a legal document typically completed at the hospital at the time of the child’s birth. There are no costs associated with it, and once it takes effect, it is the legal equivalent of a court decree of parentage and, under federal law, must be respected across state lines and in all jurisdictions. However, in many states, only men who are believed to be the genetic father of the child in question are permitted to sign VAPs. As a result, many LGBTQ families face obstacles to this pathway to parental recognition. Now, a growing number of states are updating their parenting laws to ensure that any parent—regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or genetic relationship to the child—can sign a VAP and have their parental relationship legally recognized and protected.	State has not yet expanded access of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP)	0
	State has Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP) that is explicitly available to non-genetic and LGBTQ parents	1
Family Services Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ Parents: Adoption	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Adoption nondiscrimination policies protect LGBTQ parents from discrimination by adoption agencies and officials. In combination with foster care nondiscrimination, this creates a full point for family services nondiscrimination policy.	Adoption nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate sexual orientation.	0	Adoption nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate gender identity.	0
	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in adoption based on sexual orientation of parent(s).	0.5	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in adoption based on gender identity of parent(s).	0.5
Family Services Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ Parents: Foster Care	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Foster care nondiscrimination policies protect LGBTQ foster parents from discrimination by foster care agencies and officials. In combination with adoption nondiscrimination, this creates a full point for family services nondiscrimination policy.	Foster care nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate sexual orientation.	0	Foster care nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate gender identity.	0
	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in foster care based on sexual orientation of parent(s).	0.5	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in foster care based on gender identity of parent(s).	0.5
Legal Recognition for Parents Using Assisted Reproduction	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
These laws apply when a child is conceived through donor insemination and other forms of assisted reproduction. These laws grant legal parenting rights to the non-gestational, non-genetic parent (just as a woman’s husband would be a legal parent of a child they have using donor insemination even though he is not the biological father). In some states, being a married is not a legal requirement for parental recognition of a non-gestational, non-genetic parent. The process of “consenting to inseminate” allows parents in some states a way to establish a legal relationship to the child irrespective of the parents’ marital status.	State lacks clear mechanisms to create legal ties between a non-gestational, non-genetic parent and a child born via donor insemination.	0	Historically, parents using donor insemination are not denied legal recognition because they are transgender, but because they are part of (or perceived to be part of) a same-sex couple. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	State law recognizes the non-gestational parent as a legal parent, regardless of marital status, if the non-gestational parent consents to the process by which a child is conceived via donor insemination or other assisted reproduction.	1
State Family Leave Laws: Definitions of Spouse/Partner	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
State family leave laws allow a person to take leave from work to care for their family members, including a spouse or partner. Some laws allow the worker to take leave for a partner only if they are in a legally recognized relationship (i.e. marriage) to the person who needs care. Other family leave laws use broader definitions of spouse or partner that better reflect the varied ways that LGBTQ people create family, including outside of legal marriage.	State lacks a family leave law entirely.	0	Although transgender people may be (or be considered to be) in a same-sex relationship and benefit from family leave, historically these laws’ definitions of family have the effect of recognizing or not recognizing a same-sex partner or spouse because both parties are the same sex, not because one of the parties is transgender. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	State law grants workers leave to care for a partner, but only if the couple is in a legally recognized relationship.	0.25
	State law grants workers leave to care for a partner, even if the couple is not in a legally recognized relationship.	0.5
State Family Leave Laws: Definitions of Child/Parent	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
State family leave laws allow a person to take leave from work to care for a child. Barriers to parental recognition for LGBTQ people raising children often mean that one parent lacks legal ties to the child or children they are raising. Additionally, LGBTQ people create families in many ways, and some LGBTQ workers may not have legal or biological relationships to their children. Parents who are not legal or biological parents may be denied this leave unless the state law uses broader definitions of children or parenting that recognizes these varied ways of family building.	State lacks a family leave law entirely.	0	In the domain of family leave laws, LGBTQ parents’ struggles to gain legal ties to the children they are raising, and thus be recognized under state family leave laws, stem from lack of recognition of parents who are part of a same-sex couple, rather than because a parent is transgender. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside the scope of these laws.
	State law grants workers leave to care for a child for whom the worker is parenting, but only if the worker has a legal or biological relationship to the child.	0.25
	State law grants workers leave to care for a child for whom the worker is parenting, even if the worker lacks a legal or biological relationship to the child.	0.5
Relationship and Parental Recognition Subtotals (Tallies for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)	7		1
Relationship and Parental Recognition Total	8

Employment Nondiscrimination Laws	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Employment nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly fired, not hired, or discriminated against in the workplace by private employers. If state lacks a statewide law, this tally looks at local nondiscrimination ordinances and provides partial points based on the percent of the state’s LGBTQ population covered by local laws that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination by private employers. No points are awarded for state policies or local laws that only protect government/public employees.	No state law prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and <25% of state population is protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0	No state law prohibiting employment discrimination based on gender identity, and <25% of state population is protected from discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0
	No state law prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, but 25-49% of state population is protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0.25	No state law prohibiting employment discrimination based on gender identity, but 25-49% of state population is protected from discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0.25
	No state law prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, but 50-99% of state population is protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0.5	No state law prohibiting employment discrimination based on gender identity, but 50-99% of state population is protected from discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0.5
	State employment nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation.	0.75	State employment nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate gender identity, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include gender identity.	0.75
	State law explicitly prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.	1	State law explicitly prohibits employment discrimination based on gender identity.	1
Housing Nondiscrimination Laws	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Housing nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly evicted, denied housing, or refused the ability to rent or buy housing. If state lacks a statewide law, this tally looks at local nondiscrimination ordinances and provides partial points based on the percent of the state’s LGBTQ population covered by local laws that protect LGBTQ people from housing discrimination.	No state law prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, and <25% of state population is protected from housing discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0	No state law prohibiting housing discrimination based on gender identity, and <25% of state population is protected from housing discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0
	No state law prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, but 25-49% of state population is protected from housing discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0.25	No state law prohibiting housing discrimination based on gender identity, but 25-49% of state population is protected from housing discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0.25
	No state law prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, but 50-99% of state population is protected from housing discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0.5	No state law prohibiting housing discrimination based on gender identity, but 50-99% of state population is protected from housing discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0.5
	State housing nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation.	0.75	State housing nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate gender identity, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include gender identity.	0.75
	State law explicitly prohibits housing discrimination based on sexual orientation.	1	State law explicitly prohibits housing discrimination based on gender identity.	1
Public Accommodations Nondiscrimination Laws	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Public accommodation nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly refused service from or entry to places accessible to the general public. Public accommodations 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. If state lacks a statewide law, this tally looks at local nondiscrimination ordinances and provides partial points based on the percent of the state’s LGBTQ population covered by local laws that protect LGBTQ people from public accommodation discrimination.	No state law prohibiting public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation, and <25% of state population is protected from public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0	No state law prohibiting public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity, and <25% of state population is protected from public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0
	No state law prohibiting public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation, but 25-49% of state population is protected from public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0.25	No state law prohibiting public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity, but 25-49% of state population is protected from public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0.25
	No state law prohibiting public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation, but 50-99% of state population is protected from public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation through local ordinances.	0.5	No state law prohibiting public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity, but 50-99% of state population is protected from public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity through local ordinances.	0.5
	State public accommodations nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation.	0.75	State public accommodations nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate gender identity, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include gender identity.	0.75
	State law explicitly prohibits public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation.	1	State law explicitly prohibits public accommodation discrimination based on gender identity.	1
Credit and Lending Nondiscrimination Laws	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Credit and lending nondiscrimination laws protect LGBTQ people from being unfairly denied credit and lending services. Local nondiscrimination ordinances typically do not apply to credit and lending practices, so the 0.25 and 0.5 scoring options seen in the employment, housing, or public accommodations nondiscrimination policies are not applicable here.	No state law prohibiting credit and lending discrimination based on sexual orientation.	0	No state law prohibiting credit and lending discrimination based on gender identity.	0
	State credit nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation.	0.75	State credit nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate gender identity, but state explicitly interprets existing state prohibition on sex discrimination to include gender identity.	0.75
	State law explicitly prohibits credit and lending discrimination based on sexual orientation.	1	State law explicitly prohibits credit and lending discrimination based on gender identity.	1
Nondiscrimination Policies for State Employees	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Nondiscrimination policies for state employees prohibit discrimination against state employees on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.	No state policy prohibiting discrimination in public employment based on sexual orientation.	0	No state policy prohibiting discrimination in public employment based on gender identity.	0
	State law or policy explicitly prohibits discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation.	0.5	State law or policy explicitly prohibits discrimination against public employees based on gender identity.	0.5
Negative Law: State Bans Cities and Counties from Passing Nondiscrimination Laws	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
So-called “Commerce Protection Acts,” or preemption laws, prohibit cities and counties from extending local nondiscrimination protections to classes not included in state law. They also render existing local nondiscrimination ordinances unenforceable if they extend protection to these classes. These laws have been used to prevent cities and counties from protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination, and to nullify local ordinances which extend these protections.	State does not ban cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation.	0	State does not ban cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity.	0
	State law bans cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation.	-1	State law bans cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity.	-1
Negative Law: State Bans Transgender People from Using Publicly-Owned Bathrooms and Facilities According to their Gender Identity	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
These laws prohibit transgender people from using bathrooms and facilities—such as locker rooms, shower rooms, changing rooms, and other sex-segregated spaces—according to their gender identity in certain circumstances or places. All of these policies apply to K-12 school settings, and some apply even more broadly to other government-owned buildings and spaces. This can include bathrooms and facilities in government buildings (e.g., city hall, courthouses, state legislative buildings, and more), colleges or universities, jails or prisons, and even in some cases airports, public parks, and much more. Please note that these bans do not apply to, for example, private businesses or other non-government-owned spaces, though these spaces may have their own discriminatory policies.			No bathroom ban, or no bathroom ban applying beyond K-12 settings. Note that a K-12 bathroom ban may still apply; see LGBTQ youth category.	0
			State bans transgender people from using bathrooms and facilities consistent with their gender identity in K-12 schools and at least some government-owned buildings (e.g., public colleges/universities, prisons or jails, etc).	-0.5
			State bans transgender people from using bathrooms and facilities consistent with their gender identity in all government-owned buildings and spaces, including K-12 schools, colleges, and more.	-1
Negative Law: State Explicitly Regulates Gender by Defining "Sex" Throughout State Law	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
These laws explicitly regulate gender by defining “sex” throughout all state law to effectively allow discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people. These laws regulate gender and define sex as only male or female, typically based on a person’s presumed reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, hormones, or other physical characteristics at birth. These laws also define sex as a permanent category, implying that transgender people’s gender identity would never be legally recognized under state law. They may also have dangerous implications for transgender people when it comes to bathrooms, identity documents, and other areas of law or policy.			State has no law or executive order regulating gender by defining "sex" throughout state law	0
			State law regulates gender by defining "sex" throughout state law	-1
Nondiscrimination (Tallies for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)	4.5		4.5
Nondiscrimination Total	9

Marriage Recognition	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
As a result of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell, same-sex couples can marry nationwide and states must extend all the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. As a result, the following benefits are available to all married same-sex couples on the same basis they are available to married different-sex couples: Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Medical Decision-Making Authority for Married Same-Sex Couples Stepparent Adoption for Married Same-Sex Couples Joint Adoption for Married Same-Sex Couples		1
Second-Parent Adoption for Unmarried Couples	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Second-parent adoption laws permit a parent in a relationship to adopt their partner's child and become a legal parent of that child, giving the child two legal parents and giving both parents legal rights. LGBTQ people often create families in diverse ways, including outside of legal marriage, so these laws help protect LGBTQ parents’ rights without requiring legal marriage.	Only parents in legally recognized relationships can petition to adopt their partner’s child.	0	These laws permit adoption of a child by a second parent who is not married to the child’s parent, irrespective of one’s gender identity. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	Parents can petition for second-parent or stepparent adoption statewide irrespective of parents' marital status or legal recognition of their relationship.	1
Confirmatory Adoption	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
A confirmatory adoption is a streamlined process established by law to confirm a parent’s existing legal relationship to a child. The parent may have established parentage through other means, but completing the confirmatory adoption process results in a formal adoption decree. Other means of establishing parentage can include the marital presumption (the presumption that married parents are the parents of a child born during their marriage), the holding out presumption (the presumption that if a person acted as a parent to a child, such as by providing a home and raising them, then they are a parent), or as someone who intended to parent a child born through assisted reproduction. In the streamlined confirmatory adoption process, the home study or background check requirements associated with other types of adoptions are not required.	Confirmatory adoption is not available.	0
	Confirmatory adoption is available.	1
Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
For most children born to unmarried parents, legal recognition of parentage is established through the “voluntary acknowledgment of parentage” (VAP), a legal document typically completed at the hospital at the time of the child’s birth. There are no costs associated with it, and once it takes effect, it is the legal equivalent of a court decree of parentage and, under federal law, must be respected across state lines and in all jurisdictions. However, in many states, only men who are believed to be the genetic father of the child in question are permitted to sign VAPs. As a result, many LGBTQ families face obstacles to this pathway to parental recognition. Now, a growing number of states are updating their parenting laws to ensure that any parent—regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or genetic relationship to the child—can sign a VAP and have their parental relationship legally recognized and protected.	State has not yet expanded access of Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP)	0
	State has Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP) that is explicitly available to non-genetic and LGBTQ parents	1
Family Services Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ Parents: Adoption	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Adoption nondiscrimination policies protect LGBTQ parents from discrimination by adoption agencies and officials. In combination with foster care nondiscrimination, this creates a full point for family services nondiscrimination policy.	Adoption nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate sexual orientation.	0	Adoption nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate gender identity.	0
	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in adoption based on sexual orientation of parent(s).	0.5	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in adoption based on gender identity of parent(s).	0.5
Family Services Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ Parents: Foster Care	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
Foster care nondiscrimination policies protect LGBTQ foster parents from discrimination by foster care agencies and officials. In combination with adoption nondiscrimination, this creates a full point for family services nondiscrimination policy.	Foster care nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate sexual orientation.	0	Foster care nondiscrimination protections do not enumerate gender identity.	0
	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in foster care based on sexual orientation of parent(s).	0.5	State law, regulation, or agency policy prohibits discrimination in foster care based on gender identity of parent(s).	0.5
Legal Recognition for Parents Using Assisted Reproduction	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
These laws apply when a child is conceived through donor insemination and other forms of assisted reproduction. These laws grant legal parenting rights to the non-gestational, non-genetic parent (just as a woman’s husband would be a legal parent of a child they have using donor insemination even though he is not the biological father). In some states, being a married is not a legal requirement for parental recognition of a non-gestational, non-genetic parent. The process of “consenting to inseminate” allows parents in some states a way to establish a legal relationship to the child irrespective of the parents’ marital status.	State lacks clear mechanisms to create legal ties between a non-gestational, non-genetic parent and a child born via donor insemination.	0	Historically, parents using donor insemination are not denied legal recognition because they are transgender, but because they are part of (or perceived to be part of) a same-sex couple. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	State law recognizes the non-gestational parent as a legal parent, regardless of marital status, if the non-gestational parent consents to the process by which a child is conceived via donor insemination or other assisted reproduction.	1
State Family Leave Laws: Definitions of Spouse/Partner	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
State family leave laws allow a person to take leave from work to care for their family members, including a spouse or partner. Some laws allow the worker to take leave for a partner only if they are in a legally recognized relationship (i.e. marriage) to the person who needs care. Other family leave laws use broader definitions of spouse or partner that better reflect the varied ways that LGBTQ people create family, including outside of legal marriage.	State lacks a family leave law entirely.	0	Although transgender people may be (or be considered to be) in a same-sex relationship and benefit from family leave, historically these laws’ definitions of family have the effect of recognizing or not recognizing a same-sex partner or spouse because both parties are the same sex, not because one of the parties is transgender. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside of the scope of these laws.
	State law grants workers leave to care for a partner, but only if the couple is in a legally recognized relationship.	0.25
	State law grants workers leave to care for a partner, even if the couple is not in a legally recognized relationship.	0.5
State Family Leave Laws: Definitions of Child/Parent	Sexual Orientation		Gender Identity
Definition	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value	Level of State Law	Corresponding Point Value
State family leave laws allow a person to take leave from work to care for a child. Barriers to parental recognition for LGBTQ people raising children often mean that one parent lacks legal ties to the child or children they are raising. Additionally, LGBTQ people create families in many ways, and some LGBTQ workers may not have legal or biological relationships to their children. Parents who are not legal or biological parents may be denied this leave unless the state law uses broader definitions of children or parenting that recognizes these varied ways of family building.	State lacks a family leave law entirely.	0	In the domain of family leave laws, LGBTQ parents’ struggles to gain legal ties to the children they are raising, and thus be recognized under state family leave laws, stem from lack of recognition of parents who are part of a same-sex couple, rather than because a parent is transgender. Therefore, enumerating gender identity is outside the scope of these laws.
	State law grants workers leave to care for a child for whom the worker is parenting, but only if the worker has a legal or biological relationship to the child.	0.25
	State law grants workers leave to care for a child for whom the worker is parenting, even if the worker lacks a legal or biological relationship to the child.	0.5
Relationship and Parental Recognition Subtotals (Tallies for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity)	7		1
Relationship and Parental Recognition Total	8