HRC
These maps depict states with hate crime laws that cover sexual orientation and gender identity, including laws that require data collection on hate crimes and law enforcement training specific to hate crimes. At SafeHome. Since , our report card also incorporates the frequency of hate crimes committed against LGBTQ people in each state and the percentage of law enforcement agencies in each state reporting hate crime data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI. 
Hate Crimes
Twenty-three years after the brutal torture and fatal beating of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, the state still lacks hate crime laws covering LGBTQ people. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under federal sex-based employment protections.
HRC
All but four states (Arkansas, Indiana, South Carolina and Wyoming) have laws addressing the scourge of hate crimes, but there is variation in the list of enumerated protected classes. The laws that address hate or bias crimes against LGBTQ+ people are as follows. Eighty four of those bills became laws. These laws shape the lives and experiences of lesbian, gay and transgender Americans, according to MAP.
See maps
Since , our report card also incorporates the frequency of hate crimes committed against LGBTQ people in each state and the percentage of law enforcement agencies in each state reporting hate crime data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You can read our full methodology at the end of the article. Be the first to know about new reports and MAP news by signing up for our newsletter. Founded in , the Movement Advancement Project MAP is an independent, nonprofit think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. Movement Advancement Project
Learn about the laws and statutes for federal and state hate crimes. Find out which states have hate crime data collection regulations and hate crime laws. Recommended citation: Movement Advancement Project. Accessed [day of access]. 49 states and territories have hate crime laws – but they
Twenty-two states have laws that cover gender identity and sexual orientation in the hate crime statue. These state laws allow for state or local prosecution of hate crimes. . 
2025 LGBTQ+ State Safety Report Cards
Hate Crime Laws: State Survey Hate crimes stem from hostility toward a particular race, religion, national origin, or other trait defining a group of people. The federal government and almost all states have enacted laws targeting hate crimes. Some of these laws define a hate crime as a distinct offense with its own classification and penalties. .
Hate Crime Laws
Some states collect data, but many don’t Forty-nine states and territories have hate crime laws – but they vary. Data collection is a big divider among states with hate crime laws. .