Gay Population By State

Last updated September 18, 2024

LGBTQ Population
Top
Last
LGBTQ Population
1.CaliforniaCalifornia1.5M
2.TexasTexas1.1M
3.FloridaFlorida898.0 K
4.New YorkNew York853.6 K
5.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania586.5 K
6.OhioOhio557.6 K
7.MichiganMichigan467.3 K
8.IllinoisIllinois446.6 K
9.GeorgiaGeorgia402.9 K
10.WashingtonWashington398.7 K
11.VirginiaVirginia390.7 K
12.New JerseyNew Jersey367.3 K
13.MassachusettsMassachusetts356.2 K
14.North CarolinaNorth Carolina353.1 K
15.TennesseeTennessee328.9 K
16.ArizonaArizona317.2 K
17.ColoradoColorado294.5 K
18.MissouriMissouri282.0 K
19.IndianaIndiana277.1 K
20.MinnesotaMinnesota267.6 K
21.WisconsinWisconsin258.4 K
22.OregonOregon253.3 K
23.MarylandMaryland252.7 K
24.LouisianaLouisiana202.6 K
25.South CarolinaSouth Carolina192.8 K
26.AlabamaAlabama173.0 K
27.ConnecticutConnecticut170.5 K
28.KentuckyKentucky168.6 K
29.OklahomaOklahoma164.6 K
30.NevadaNevada150.1 K
31.UtahUtah133.0 K
32.KansasKansas129.8 K
33.ArkansasArkansas121.9 K
34.IowaIowa113.6 K
35.MississippiMississippi93.3 K
36.New MexicoNew Mexico87.6 K
37.NebraskaNebraska78.7 K
38.New HampshireNew Hampshire78.4 K
39.MaineMaine73.7 K
40.IdahoIdaho68.1 K
41.West VirginiaWest Virginia60.0 K
42.HawaiiHawaii56.9 K
43.DelawareDelaware56.6 K
44.Rhode IslandRhode Island54.8 K
45.MontanaMontana41.8 K
46.VermontVermont37.6 K
47.South DakotaSouth Dakota34.5 K
48.AlaskaAlaska32.6 K
49.North DakotaNorth Dakota28.4 K
50.WyomingWyoming26.3 K

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.

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:

  1. California - 1.5M
  2. Texas - 1.1M
  3. Florida - 898.0 K
  4. New York - 853.6 K
  5. Pennsylvania - 586.5 K
  6. Ohio - 557.6 K
  7. Michigan - 467.3 K
  8. Illinois - 446.6 K
  9. Georgia - 402.9 K
  10. Washington - 398.7 K

By Region

Alabama

See Less

Ranked in U.S.

#26

Alaska

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#48

Arizona

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#16

Arkansas

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#33

California

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#1

Colorado

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#17

Connecticut

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#27

Delaware

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#43

Florida

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#3

Georgia

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#9

Hawaii

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#42

Idaho

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#40

Illinois

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#8

Indiana

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#19

Iowa

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#34

Kansas

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#32

Kentucky

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#28

Louisiana

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#24

Maine

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#39

Maryland

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#23

Massachusetts

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#13

Michigan

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#7

Minnesota

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#20

Mississippi

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#35

Missouri

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#18

Montana

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#45

Nebraska

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#37

Nevada

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#30

New Hampshire

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#38

New Jersey

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#12

New Mexico

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#36

New York

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#4

North Carolina

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#14

North Dakota

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#49

Ohio

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#6

Oklahoma

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#29

Oregon

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#22

Pennsylvania

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#5

Rhode Island

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#44

South Carolina

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#25

South Dakota

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#47

Tennessee

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#15

Texas

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#2

Utah

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#31

Vermont

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#46

Virginia

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#11

Washington

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#10

West Virginia

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#41

Wisconsin

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#21

Wyoming

See More

Ranked in U.S.

#50

Table

Region ↕LGBTQ Population↕
Alabama iconAlabama173.0 K
Alaska iconAlaska32.6 K
Arizona iconArizona317.2 K
Arkansas iconArkansas121.9 K
California iconCalifornia1.5M
Colorado iconColorado294.5 K
Connecticut iconConnecticut170.5 K
Delaware iconDelaware56.6 K
Florida iconFlorida898.0 K
Georgia iconGeorgia402.9 K
Hawaii iconHawaii56.9 K
Idaho iconIdaho68.1 K
Illinois iconIllinois446.6 K
Indiana iconIndiana277.1 K
Iowa iconIowa113.6 K
Kansas iconKansas129.8 K
Kentucky iconKentucky168.6 K
Louisiana iconLouisiana202.6 K
Maine iconMaine73.7 K
Maryland iconMaryland252.7 K
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts356.2 K
Michigan iconMichigan467.3 K
Minnesota iconMinnesota267.6 K
Mississippi iconMississippi93.3 K
Missouri iconMissouri282.0 K
Montana iconMontana41.8 K
Nebraska iconNebraska78.7 K
Nevada iconNevada150.1 K
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire78.4 K
New Jersey iconNew Jersey367.3 K
New Mexico iconNew Mexico87.6 K
New York iconNew York853.6 K
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina353.1 K
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota28.4 K
Ohio iconOhio557.6 K
Oklahoma iconOklahoma164.6 K
Oregon iconOregon253.3 K
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania586.5 K
Rhode Island iconRhode Island54.8 K
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina192.8 K
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota34.5 K
Tennessee iconTennessee328.9 K
Texas iconTexas1.1M
Utah iconUtah133.0 K
Vermont iconVermont37.6 K
Virginia iconVirginia390.7 K
Washington iconWashington398.7 K
West Virginia iconWest Virginia60.0 K
Wisconsin iconWisconsin258.4 K
Wyoming iconWyoming26.3 K
Keep reading

Additional Demographic Datasets

Gayest Cities in America
Demographics
U.S. Cities

Gayest Cities in America

Gini Coefficient By Country

Gini Coefficient By Country

Hispanic Population By State

Hispanic Population By State

Homeless Population by State

Homeless Population by State

Jewish Population By State

Jewish Population By State

Least Populated Countries

Least Populated Countries