A new nationally representative survey confirms that a majority of LGBTQ adults, especially transgender and nonbinary people, have experienced discrimination, worsening mental health, and major disruptions to their lives since the November 2024 presidential election and the return of Donald Trump to office.
The study, conducted by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, surveyed 1,055 LGBTQ adults nationwide between May 29 and June 13, 2025. The results paint a stark picture of life under the renewed wave of anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric that have escalated since the 2024 election.
According to the survey, 57% of LGBTQ respondents—and 84% of transgender and nonbinary respondents—have made major life decisions due to anti-LGBTQ politics. These include relocating to another state, changing jobs, seeking legal documentation updates, and crossing state lines for medical care.
Among transgender and nonbinary adults, 55% have taken steps to reduce their visibility in daily life. Nearly one in ten (9%) have already moved to a new state, nearly double the number reported in comparable surveys just two years earlier.
Mental Health and Well-Being in Decline
More than 60% of LGBTQ adults reported experiencing harm or mistreatment since the 2024 election. Among transgender and nonbinary people, that figure jumps to 82%. Reported harms include online harassment, discrimination at work or school, and threats to physical safety.
Mental health impacts were also widespread. A majority of LGBTQ respondents said anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric have negatively affected their mental health, with transgender respondents more likely to report intense distress. Forty-eight percent of transgender adults said they were affected “a lot” by federal politics, compared to 37% of LGBTQ respondents overall.
The report also underscores that political developments cause harm even when laws are not enacted. While most anti-LGBTQ bills introduced at the state level do not become law, they nonetheless contribute to a political atmosphere of hostility and fear.
Despite these challenges, the report also reveals an increase in LGBTQ civic and community engagement. Since the election, 21% of LGBTQ adults and 38% of transgender adults have joined LGBTQ community or recreational groups; 20% of LGBTQ adults and 42% of transgender adults have participated in activism or advocacy; and 18% of LGBTQ adults and 31% of transgender adults have taken steps to be more publicly visible as LGBTQ
These responses suggest that, even amid fear and uncertainty, LGBTQ people are finding ways to organize, support one another, and push back against political attacks.
Emotional Toll of Federal Actions
The survey also measured emotional responses to Trump administration policies. Large majorities of LGBTQ people reported feeling disgust (80%), anger (77%), worry (76%), anxiety (71%), and fear (70%) in response to anti-LGBTQ actions. These numbers were even higher for transgender respondents, with 62% saying they felt “very afraid.”
Approval of federal leadership among LGBTQ adults is notably low, with just 10% approving of President Trump’s overall job performance and only 6% approving of his handling of LGBTQ issues. At the state level, approval was slightly higher (36%) but still showed significant dissatisfaction, especially in states with fewer LGBTQ protections.
According to the survey, LGBTQ issues, healthcare, and economic stability were top concerns for LGBTQ voters in 2024. While 68% of LGBTQ respondents reported voting for Kamala Harris, just 11% voted for Trump.
The report concludes with a clear warning that as anti-LGBTQ attacks at all levels of government persist, the harms experienced by LGBTQ people are likely to grow. However, it also calls for action from LGBTQ communities and from allies, policymakers, and the general public.
“It is vital that people beyond LGBTQ communities join in efforts to protect LGBTQ neighbors, friends, and family members,” the report states.
Read the full MAP/NORC report here.