In this article, we will look at the 15 Gayest States in America in 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis if you wish to look at 5 Gayest States in America in 2024.
State-wise Breakdown of the Number of LGBTQ+ People in the US
According to a report by the Williams Institute at UCLA on Adult LGBT Population in the United States, 5.5% of adults in the country identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, or Trans as of 2023. The percentage translates to around 13.9 million LGBT adults in the United States. A region-wise dissection reveals the highest number of LGBT people living in the South and the Midwest, consistent with the population of the United States. About 35.9% of LGBT people in the country live in the South, while 21.2% reside in the Midwest. The total percentage of the two regions comes up to more than half of the total LGBT people in the country, standing at 57.0%. This amounts to around 5.0 million LGBT people in the South and 2.9 million people in the Midwest.
The Western region of the United States houses about a quarter of the total LGBT people in the country, at 24.5%. This translates to approximately 3.4 million LGBT people living in the Western states. The Northeast ranks the lowest on the list, with less than one in five LGBT adults. Nevertheless, around 2.6 million LGBT people reside in the Northeast, which comes up to 18.5%. When dissected state-wise, Washington DC houses the most LGBT people in the country with 14.3% of its adult residents identifying as such. Oregon, Delaware, and Vermont trail behind, with 7.8%, 7.5%, and 7.4% of LGBT adult residents. To gain better insight, you can also look at 36 Countries Where Gay Marriage Is Legal and 25 Cities With The Highest Gay Populations In The US.
Age-wise Breakdown of the Number of LGBTQ+ People in the US
The report also offers an age-wise breakdown of the percentage of LGBT adults in the United States, with the largest number of adults existing between the ages of 18-24. As of 2020-2021, around 15.2% of individuals in the 18-24 age group identified as LGBT, which comes up to around 4.659 million people. The age groups of 25-34 and 35-49 had 9.1% and 4.1% of LGBT people, respectively. These statistics come up to around 4.085 million people in the 24-34 age group, and 2.538 million people in the 35-49 age group as of 2020-2021.
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However, the percentage of LGBT people in age groups over 50 was relatively scarce: 2.7% in people aged 50-64 and 1.8% in people over the age of 60, which translates to 1.734 million people and 924,300 people, respectively. While nearly one in every six adults between the ages of 18-24 identify as LGBT, the numbers drop as the age bracket increases. You can also look at the 15 Best Gay Dating Sites and Apps of 2024.
Identity-wise Breakdown of the Number of LGBTQ+ People in the US
In addition, a 2023 survey by Gallup reveals that more than one in five Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+ in the United States, bringing the country’s total LGBTQ+ representation to 7.6%. The representation has increased from 5.6% in 2020, and from 3.5% in 2012. The survey revealed that while 85.6% people claimed to be straight or heterosexual, 6.8% refused to respond. The biggest portion of the LGBTQ+ population in the US comprises bisexual adults, who make up 57.3% of LGBTQ+ adults and 4.4% of American adults. Gay and lesbian people take the second spot, with approximately one in six LGBTQ+ adults identifying as such. They make up over 1% of the total adults in the country. In addition, about one in eight LGBTQ+ adults are transgender, which is slightly lower than 1% of U.S. adults. Asexual and pansexual identities each makeup less than 2% of LGBTQ+ adults in the country.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 46 states shows that a majority of schools in 15 US states, along with the District of Columbia, reported offering specialized sex-ed curricula and supplementary materials containing information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, and pregnancy prevention in LGBTQ students. Less than half of the secondary schools in the remaining 31 states offered the same, with Utah ranking at the bottom with only 20.0% of secondary schools offering the necessary educational and prevention resources to LGBTQ students as of 2016. Arizona trailed behind at 20.2%. In contrast, New York had the highest percentage of secondary schools offering inclusive curricula at 67.6%.
Now that we have taken an overview of the percentage of LGBTQ+ people in the United States, let’s look at the 15 gayest states in America in 2024. You can also look at 20 Gayest Cities in Florida and 35 Most Gay-Friendly Cities in the World.
15 Gayest States in America in 2024
Our Methodology
In order to compile our list of the 15 gayest states in America in 2024, we have considered the percentage of LGBTQ+ people living in each state as of December 2023 as the primary metric. For states that have the same percentage of LGBTQ+ people, we have taken its total population as a secondary tie-breaking metric. States with higher populations are considered gayer. Data for the percentage of LGBTQ+ people living in each country has been taken from the report by the Williams Institute titled Adult LGBTQ+ Population in the United States, released in December 2023. We have taken data for the population of each state from the Economic Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is an official website of the United States government. The population estimates are available from 2022. We have also included statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an official website of the United States government, in our list to offer extra insight. The 15 gayest states in America in 2024 are arranged in ascending order of the percentage of LGBTQ+ people living there.
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15 Gayest States in America in 2024
15. Utah
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.1%
Population as of 2022: 3.38 million people
Utah ranks 15th on our list of the 15 gayest states in America as of 2024 with 6.1% of its residents identifying as LGBTQ+ as of December 2023. Data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 85.1% of individuals in the state identify as heterosexual or straight, while 1.8% have a sexual orientation of gay or lesbian. In addition, the state has 7.2% bisexual residents, with 4.8% of people living in the state falling in the sexual orientation category of “Other/Questioning.”
14. Ohio
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.2%
Population as of 2022: 11.78 million people
Located in the midwestern region of the United States, Ohio ranks 14th on our list with a population of 11.78 million people as of 2022. 6.2% of the state’s residents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or questioning as of December 2023.
13. Minnesota
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.3%
Population as of 2022: 5.71 million people
With 6.3% of residents identifying as LGBTQ+, Minnesota ranks on our list. This midwestern U.S. state shares a border with Canada and Lake Superior and is famous for housing more than 10,000 other lakes. It has a population of 5.71 million people as of 2022, bringing the number of its LGBTQ+ residents to around 267,600 people as of December 2023.
12. Tennessee
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.3%
Population as of 2022: 7.05 million people
Tennessee ranks 12th on our list of the 15 gayest states in America in 2024, housing 6.3% of residents identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or questioning as of December 2023. The landlocked state is located in the southern portion of the United States, and has a population of 7.05 million people as of 2022.
11. Rhode Island
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.5%
Population as of 2022: 1.093 million people
According to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. state of Rhode Island has a 71.8% heterosexual population as of 2021. However, it also houses 3.9% of individuals whose sexual orientation is gay or lesbian, along with 12.3% bisexual residents as of the same year. It ranks 11th on our list with a 6.5% LGBTQ+ population as of December 2023.
10. Massachusetts
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.5%
Population as of 2022: 6.98 million people
Massachusetts is located in the New England region of northeastern United States, with the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine located to its East. It ranks tenth on our list with 6.5% of its residents identifying as LGBTQ+. The state has an overall population of 6.98 million people as of 2022.
9. Nevada
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.6%
Population as of 2022: 3.17 million people
With 6.6% of Nevada’s population identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or questioning, the state ranks ninth on our list of the 15 gayest states in America in 2024. It has a total population of around 3.17 million people as of 2022, bringing the number of its LGBTQ+ residents to 150,100 people as of December 2023.
8. Colorado
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.8%
Population as of 2022: 5.83 million people
Colorado is located in the Western United States, and has a population of 5.83 million people as of 2022. It ranks eighth on our list with 6.8% of its residents identifying as LGBTQ+ as of December 2023. Estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 70.3% of the state’s population identifies as heterosexual, while 4.9% is gay/lesbian and 12.8% is bisexual as of 2021.
7. Maine
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.8%
Population as of 2022: 1.38 million people
According to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 72.8% of residents of the state of Maine identify as heterosexual as of 2021. Furthermore, the sexual orientation of 3.6% of residents is gay or lesbian, while that of 12.9% of individuals is bisexual as of the same year. 9.3% of residents of the state fall in the “Other/Questioning” category. Maine ranks seventh on our list with 6.8% of LGBTQ+ people living there as of December 2023.
6. Washington
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 6.9%
Population as of 2022: 7.78 million people
With a total population of 7.78 million people as of 2022, Washington ranks sixth on our list. 6.9% of residents of the state identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or questioning, which comes up to around 398,700 people as of December 2023.
5. New Hampshire
Percentage of LGBTQ+ People Living in the State as of December 2023: 7.2%
Population as of 2022: 1.39 million people
New Hampshire ranks fifth on our list of the 15 gayest states in America in 2024, with 7.2% of its residents identifying as LGBTQ+ as of December 2023. The state has a total population of 1.39 million people as of 2022. It is located in New England.
