Gay Population By State

Last updated May 23, 2025

LGBTQ Population
Top
Last
LGBTQ Population 2017Question Mark
1CaliforniaCalifornia1.9M
2TexasTexas1.1M
3New YorkNew York913K
4FloridaFlorida886K
5IllinoisIllinois506K
6PennsylvaniaPennsylvania490K
7OhioOhio462K
8GeorgiaGeorgia425K
9North CarolinaNorth Carolina382K
10MichiganMichigan373K
11New JerseyNew Jersey343K
12WashingtonWashington342K
13MassachusettsMassachusetts335K
14VirginiaVirginia308K
15ArizonaArizona286K
16IndianaIndiana272K
17MarylandMaryland234K
17ColoradoColorado234K
19TennesseeTennessee223K
20MissouriMissouri217K
21MinnesotaMinnesota210K
22OregonOregon207K
22WisconsinWisconsin207K
24LouisianaLouisiana169K
25South CarolinaSouth Carolina167K
26AlabamaAlabama147K
27NevadaNevada145K
28KentuckyKentucky144K
29OklahomaOklahoma138K
30ConnecticutConnecticut133K
31IowaIowa106K
32UtahUtah104K
33MississippiMississippi99K
34ArkansasArkansas95K
35KansasKansas92K
36New MexicoNew Mexico85K
37West VirginiaWest Virginia68K
38NebraskaNebraska67K
39MaineMaine60K
40HawaiiHawaii59K
40New HampshireNew Hampshire59K
42District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia58K
43IdahoIdaho48K
44Rhode IslandRhode Island44K
45DelawareDelaware40K
46MontanaMontana30K
46VermontVermont30K
48South DakotaSouth Dakota25K
48AlaskaAlaska25K
50North DakotaNorth Dakota20K
51WyomingWyoming18K

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
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