The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, co-sponsored Community Marketing & Insights (CMI)’s 17th Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey, a survey of over 14,000 LGBTQ+ adults from all 50 states and Washington, DC, in order to gauge the impact of gender-affirming care bans.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s analysis of this data found that these bans affect the physical and/or mental health of many LGBTQ+ adults, including whether they or their loved ones feel safe in their communities. For transgender and non-binary adults, these effects were even more highly reported. Survey participants also revealed that gender-affirming care bans influence where they decide to live and work and even motivate some to leave their state. These findings make it clear that the effects of gender-affirming care bans expand beyond access to medical care and can impact LGBTQ+ people in many different areas of life.

Significant findings from the 17th Annual Community Survey include:

Reports of Negative Impacts and Physical and/or Mental Health:

• 43% of LGBTQ+ adults report that gender-affirming care bans impact the physical and/or mental health of themselves or their loved ones.
  
  
  • 80.1% transgender and non-binary adults report the same.

• 79.1% LGBTQ+ adults report that gender-affirming care bans make them feel less safe as an LGBTQ+ person.
  
  

  • For transgender and non-binary adults, this number increases to more than 9 in 10 (94%).

Reports of Gender-Affirming Care Bans Influencing Decisions on Where to Live and Work:

• 1 in 3 (34.1%) LGBTQ+ adults report they would move – or already have moved away/taken steps to move – from a state that passed or enacted a gender-affirming care ban.
  
  

  • 1 in 5 (20.9%) of LGBTQ+ adults in this group would leave the country altogether if their state and/or the country enacted a gender-affirming care ban – or already have taken steps to do so.

• Over a quarter (28.3%) of LGBTQ+ adults would specifically look to change jobs to a position located in a different state if their state were to pass or enact a gender-affirming care ban.
  
  

• Over 6 in 10 (62.2%) LGBTQ+ adults would refuse to move to, or attend school in another state where a gender-affirming care ban was in place.

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The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.