Gay Population By State
1 |  | California | 1,859,000 |
2 |  | Texas | 1,053,000 |
3 |  | New York | 913,000 |
4 |  | Florida | 886,000 |
5 |  | Illinois | 506,000 |
6 |  | Pennsylvania | 490,000 |
7 |  | Ohio | 462,000 |
8 |  | Georgia | 425,000 |
9 |  | North Carolina | 382,000 |
10 |  | Michigan | 373,000 |
11 |  | New Jersey | 343,000 |
12 |  | Washington | 342,000 |
13 |  | Massachusetts | 335,000 |
14 |  | Virginia | 308,000 |
15 |  | Arizona | 286,000 |
16 |  | Indiana | 272,000 |
17 |  | Maryland | 234,000 |
17 |  | Colorado | 234,000 |
19 |  | Tennessee | 223,000 |
20 |  | Missouri | 217,000 |
21 |  | Minnesota | 210,000 |
22 |  | Oregon | 207,000 |
22 |  | Wisconsin | 207,000 |
24 |  | Louisiana | 169,000 |
25 |  | South Carolina | 167,000 |
26 |  | Alabama | 147,000 |
27 |  | Nevada | 145,000 |
28 |  | Kentucky | 144,000 |
29 |  | Oklahoma | 138,000 |
30 |  | Connecticut | 133,000 |
31 |  | Iowa | 106,000 |
32 |  | Utah | 104,000 |
33 |  | Mississippi | 99,000 |
34 |  | Arkansas | 95,000 |
35 |  | Kansas | 92,000 |
36 |  | New Mexico | 85,000 |
37 |  | West Virginia | 68,000 |
38 |  | Nebraska | 67,000 |
39 |  | Maine | 60,000 |
40 |  | Hawaii | 59,000 |
40 |  | New Hampshire | 59,000 |
42 |  | District of Columbia | 58,000 |
43 |  | Idaho | 48,000 |
44 |  | Rhode Island | 44,000 |
45 |  | Delaware | 40,000 |
46 |  | Montana | 30,000 |
46 |  | Vermont | 30,000 |
48 |  | South Dakota | 25,000 |
48 |  | Alaska | 25,000 |
50 |  | North Dakota | 20,000 |
51 |  | Wyoming | 18,000 |
Last updated February 28, 2026
The Rainbow Across America
Every state in the United States has its unique fabric. The LGBTQ+ community, vibrant and diverse, forms a critical thread in this design, its members contributing significantly to their states and local communities in various capacities. Recognizing and understanding the distribution of this community is of paramount value in celebrating and protecting its rights.
- Large population states such as California, Texas, and Florida are home to the largest numbers of LGBTQ+ citizens.
- New York, highly noted for its vibrant LGBTQ+ culture and history, stands fourth in the overall population.
- There is a noticeable correlation between the urbanization rate and LGBTQ+ population size. The ten states with the highest LGBTQ+ populations are all highly urbanized.
- Despite being known for progressive LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance, states like Vermont and New Hampshire have smaller LGBTQ+ populations.
All Metrics
| Region ↕ | LGBTQ Population 2017↕ | Transgender Population 2022↕ | Liberal Ranking↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1.9M | ||
| Texas | 1.1M | ||
| New York | 913K | ||
| Florida | 886K | ||
| Illinois | 506K | ||
| Pennsylvania | 490K | ||
| Ohio | 462K | ||
| Georgia | 425K | ||
| North Carolina | 382K | ||
| Michigan | 373K | ||
| New Jersey | 343K | ||
| Washington | 342K | ||
| Massachusetts | 335K | ||
| Virginia | 308K | ||
| Arizona | 286K | ||
| Indiana | 272K | ||
| Maryland | 234K | ||
| Colorado | 234K | ||
| Tennessee | 223K | ||
| Missouri | 217K | ||
| Minnesota | 210K | ||
| Oregon | 207K | ||
| Wisconsin | 207K | ||
| Louisiana | 169K | ||
| South Carolina | 167K | ||
| Alabama | 147K | ||
| Nevada | 145K | ||
| Kentucky | 144K | ||
| Oklahoma | 138K | ||
| Connecticut | 133K | ||
| Iowa | 106K | ||
| Utah | 104K | ||
| Mississippi | 99K | ||
| Arkansas | 95K | ||
| Kansas | 92K | ||
| New Mexico | 85K | ||
| West Virginia | 68K | ||
| Nebraska | 67K | ||
| Maine | 60K | ||
| Hawaii | 59K | ||
| New Hampshire | 59K | ||
| District of Columbia | 58K | ||
| Idaho | 48K | ||
| Rhode Island | 44K | ||
| Delaware | 40K | ||
| Montana | 30K | ||
| Vermont | 30K | ||
| South Dakota | 25K | ||
| Alaska | 25K | ||
| North Dakota | 20K | ||
| Wyoming | 18K |
States with the Most Gays
At the top of the list is California, bearing the banner with an estimated 1.5 million members of the LGBTQ+ community. California's diversity, cultural vibrancy, and the comprehensive legal protections it offers to its LGBTQ+ citizens notably contribute to its top position. The second position is held by Texas, which is home to an estimated 1.1 million LGBTQ+ individuals. The state's considerable overall population contributing to this high number of LGBTQ+ residents despite its conservative nature. Florida holds the third position with around 898,000 LGBTQ+ individuals. New York ranks fourth, with an estimated 853,600 LGBTQ+ residents. Notable for its rich LGBTQ+ history and culture, with New York City's Greenwich Village being the birthplace of the gay rights movement, the state is renowned for its welcoming environment towards the LGBTQ+ community. Pennsylvania ranks fifth, with an estimated 586,500 members of the LGBTQ+ community making their homes there. Ohio and Michigan follow closely, with LGBTQ+ populations of around 557,600 and 467,300 respectively. Illinois, Georgia, and Washington round out the top ten. Home to large metropolitan areas like Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle, respectively, these states each have substantial LGBTQ+ populations, with Illinois at around 446,600, Georgia at roughly 402,900, and Washington at about 398,700 individuals. States with the Most Gays:
- California - 1.5M
- Texas - 1.1M
- Florida - 898.0 K
- New York - 853.6 K
- Pennsylvania - 586.5 K
- Ohio - 557.6 K
- Michigan - 467.3 K
- Illinois - 446.6 K
- Georgia - 402.9 K
- Washington - 398.7 K
Sources & Notes
Total number of people who identify as LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other sexual or gender minorities).
Total number of people who identify as transgender.
