MAP "Wrapped": How LGBTQ and Democracy Policy Changed in 2024

As this unprecedented year of change comes to an end, MAP has taken a comprehensive look at the laws and policies that directly impact our country's voting and elections, as well as the experiences of LGBTQ Americans.

Below, we offer an overview of the major trends and biggest shifts in policies from both of our program areas over the past 12 months. Keep reading to learn more and access our full-length briefs on LGBTQ policy and democracy-related laws.

LGBTQ Policy Changes

At least 18 states* enacted new anti-LGBTQ laws or policies in 2024:

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming

At least 13 states* enacted new pro-LGBTQ laws or policies in 2024:

California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington

* Note: these lists reflect issues tracked by MAP's Equality Maps, covering 50+ policies. States may have enacted additional anti- or pro-LGBTQ laws or policies not included here.

MAP's real-time tracking shows that anti-LGBTQ laws were enacted in at least 18 states this year, but it also highlights numerous wins, including the fact that 92% of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year have not become law, according to the ACLU, as of December 10, 2024.

However, it is important to note that states that enacted a new anti-LGBTQ policy this year tended to enact more than one negative policy. Of the at least 18 states that enacted any new anti-LGBTQ policy this year, at least 13 enacted multiple anti-LGBTQ policies.

MAP's "Equality Wrapped" tracks the following policy areas at the state level:

• Bans on medical care for transgender youth
• "Shield" or "refuge" laws protecting transgender health care
• Public funding or coverage of transgender related health benefits
• Gender marker changes on driver's licenses and birth certificates
• Laws that regulate gender to allow for discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people
• Parental recognition laws
• School based policies, including bans on transgender kids playing sports and LGBTQ curricular laws
• Bathrooms and facilities bans

Click here to read "Equality Wrapped"

Voting and Election Policy Changes

Presidential election years tend to be the least active in terms of election and voting legislation, in part due to the practice and principle of states not changing these policies too close to the election itself in order to avoid confusion for voters and election officials.

However, in the states that did enact new policies this year, the trend of diverging views of democracy has continued:

At least 14 states enacted new expansive laws or policies in 2024:

Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York*, Virginia*, Washington, and Washington D.C.

At least 8 states enacted new restrictive laws or policies in 2024:

Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana*, Nevada, New Hampshire,

North Carolina*, Tennessee, Wisconsin

* Note: these lists reflect issues tracked by MAP's Democracy Maps, covering 50+ policies. States may have enacted additional expansive or restrictive policies not included here. States marked with an asterisk enacted multiple policies.

MAP's "Democracy Wrapped" tracks the following policy areas at the state level and includes:

• Voter ID laws
• Voting rights for formerly incarcerated people
• State membership in ERIC
• Bans on ballot drop boxes
• Curbside voting policies
• Plus much more.

Click here to read "Democracy Wrapped"

About MAP: MAP's mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life. www.mapresearch.org