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Anti-LGBTQ+ state policies lead young people to move or consider it: study

Three sad young roommates surrounded by moving boxes
Antonio Guillem/shutterstock

Three sad young roommates surrounded by moving boxes

A new report from the Trevor Project and the Movement Advancement Project calls for state policymakers to consider the impact of their actions.

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Anti-LGBTQ+ state laws are leading young people and their families to relocate or at least consider it, according to a new study, "How State Policy Affects the Well-Being and Relocation of LGBTQ+ Young People," from the Trevor Project and the Movement Advancement Project.

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LGBTQ+ youth in welcoming environments have fewer mental health challenges and lower suicide risk than those in hostile areas, as previous research has demonstrated, notes the study, released Wednesday. However, little is known about whether state policies lead to relocation or crossing state lines to receive health care, and the new report aims to fill this gap.

Using data from the 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People as well as information from the Movement Advancement Project on LGBTQ+-related laws and policies, the researchers found that 39 percent of respondents reported considering moving to a different state and 4 percent actually moved due to LGBTQ-related politics or laws.

In addition, 9 percent of LGBTQ+ young people reported having to go to another state to obtain medical care due to these policies. Compared to cisgender youth, a greater proportion of transgender and nonbinary young people reported considering a move to a different state (45 percent versus 26 percent), making such a move (4 percent versus 3 percent), and going to another state for medical care (12 percent versus 4 percent).

Ninety percent of LGBTQ+ young people reported that recent politics negatively affect their well-being, with 37 percent experiencing this impact sometimes and 53 percent experiencing it a lot. Only 10 percent reported no negative impact. Transgender and nonbinary youth reported a greater degree of negative impacts than cisgender young people. Just over 41 percent reported any positive impacts from recent politics to their well-being either sometimes or a lot. Positive impacts from recent politics did not differ by gender identity.

The Movement Advancement Project, which tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies, scored and summarized them to determine an overall policy score for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. The major categories of laws covered are relationship and parental recognition, nondiscrimination, religious exemptions, LGBTQ+ youth, health care, criminal justice, and identity documents.

Using these scores, researchers found that 20 percent of LGBTQ+ youth lived in a state with a low overall LGBTQ+ policy index, 7 percent in fair, 8 percent in medium, and 38 percent in states with a high LGBTQ+ policy index.

Those living in states with higher LGBTQ+ policy indexes reported less frequently considering leaving a state or crossing state lines to access health care and were more likely to have previously moved states. This was particularly pronounced among trans and nonbinary young people living in a state with a poor policy index, with 68 percent having considered moving to another state and 18 percent having left their state to access health care.

“Looking forward, this research calls for continued advocacy for affirming policies at the local, state, and federal levels,” the report says. “Future studies should explore the long-term effects of policy on LGBTQ+ youth, with attention to intersectional factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. Additionally, investigating how community organizations, schools, and healthcare providers can complement affirming policies to further support LGBTQ+ youth is crucial. By prioritizing affirming policies and practices, we can address the systemic challenges that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ youth and work toward creating a society where all young people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, can flourish.”

“For many LGBTQ+ young people in the U.S., the steady stream of anti-LGBTQ+ news may feel overwhelming right now — and it is heartbreaking to see that nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth have considered moving due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies in their home state, according to these new findings,” Dr. Steven Hobaica, a research scientist at the Trevor Project, said in a statement to The Advocate. "However, these data also offer a powerful message to lawmakers across the country: enacting LGBTQ+ inclusive policies is related to more positive well-being in LGBTQ+ youth, likely due to these youth feeling safer and happier in the place they call home. We encourage all legislators to pass laws that give every young person the chance to lead the happy, healthy, and safe lives they deserve.”

“While at least 18 states enacted new anti-LGBTQ policies in 2024, according to MAP’s recent state policy analysis, we also found that at least 13 states enacted new pro-LGBTQ laws or policies last year,” added Logan Casey, director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project. “It’s critical that we not only call attention to the negative impact of these divisive political attacks but also highlight that this research supports the idea that more inclusive policy environments lead to better outcomes for LGBTQ young people across a range of measures.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.