More and more, the question of where LGBTQ+ people feel safe is one of blue versus red, according to advocacy group Out Leadership.
Iowa ranks 32nd in the nation on the organization’s State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, which ranks the most welcoming states for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. In the Midwest, Iowa ranks eighth out of the 12 states.
At the top are Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan, with South Dakota at the very bottom of the 12-state Midwest list.
The index measures legislation impacting LGBTQ+ youth and adults in a state, access to health care, familial support, work and employment environments and more. It acts as a resource for employers determining where to do business and how leaders can push for inclusion, which Out Leadership believes benefits employers, employees and the communities they serve.
Here’s how Iowa performed in this year’s index.
How did Iowa rank nationally on Out Leadership’s State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index?
The state ranks No. 32 nationally with a score 47.45 out of 100, making the state a high risk. For context, neighboring Illinois scored 88.47. The higher the number, the better a state scored for providing protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Iowa’s score is down from 49.60 in 2024 and 55 in 2023. Despite the lower score, the state did improve two spots compared to its No. 34 ranking in 2024.
The state was ranked No. 24 with a score of 57.73 when the index was first released in 2019.
Iowa ranked as a notable risk in the following categories:
- Legal and nondiscrimination protection
- Youth and family support
- Political and religious attitudes
The state’s highest scores — 11 out of 20 — came in the health access and safety category as well as the work environment and employment category.
The report noted that Iowa has a “favorable economic environment for business investment,” but that LGBTQ+ policies could make it harder to attract top talent.
What legislation has Iowa passed on LGBTQ+ topics?
Lily Smith/The Register
This year, Iowa’s Republican-dominated Legislature voted to pass a bill removing gender identity as a protected class in the state’s civil rights act. In May, Iowa lawmakers banned transgender individuals from using Medicaid funds to pay for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies under a Republican-backed bill awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature.
In recent years, other legislation has banned instruction of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools through sixth grade, blocked transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming medical care, restricted transgender students from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity and banned transgender women and girls from competing in female sports.
Support for pride events has also declined in Iowa, with Des Moines’ Capital City Pride reporting a drop of $75,000 in corporate sponsorships for its 2025 PrideFest.
The report put the state at a notable risk of a “future headline-making, negative event” that could impact a business due to “discriminatory bills” that a filed each year in the Iowa Legislature.
What is the best and worst state for LGBTQ+ equality in America?
Massachusetts and New York scored the highest, 93.37 out of 100, across all 50 states. New York had been the sole leader for the last two years.
The lowest-ranking state in LGBTQ+ equality is Arkansas, with a score of 29.5. Last year, its score of 27 was the lowest score a state has received in the index’s history, according to Out Leadership.
Stay in the know with stories that matter — visit HolaAmericaNews.com for the latest news, culture, and community updates!
