Nearly 9 in 10 registered LGBTQ+ voters, who make up 12% of the U.S. adult population, say they definitely plan to vote; civil rights and cost of living top voting priorities

WASHINGTON — Four weeks out from Election Day, new data from the 2026 Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey analyzed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation finds an LGBTQ+ electorate highly motivated heading into the midterm elections, with nearly nine in ten (87%) registered voters saying they definitely plan to vote. Civil rights and equal protections overwhelmingly rank as the leading issue shaping LGBTQ+ voters’ decisions at the ballot box, while economic pressures are also weighing heavily on the community. More than half of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed say they are struggling or just getting by financially, and nearly half say they are worse off financially than they were two years ago. Read the full findings here.

Earlier this year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released updated population estimates showing that a record-high 12% of U.S. adults – roughly 25.6 million people – identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or gender diverse – meaning LGBTQ+ voters could play a defining role in the results of the midterms.

“LGBTQ+ voters are paying attention, they understand what is at stake, and they are prepared to make their voices heard,” said HRC Foundation Sr. Director of Research and Education Tari Hanneman. “What jumps out from this data is how closely concerns about our fundamental freedoms are intertwined with the economic pressures people are experiencing in their everyday lives. LGBTQ+ people are worried about their jobs, their finances, and making ends meet, while also confronting very real fears that rights and protections they rely on could be taken away.”

The findings show civil rights remain at the center of LGBTQ+ voters’ priorities, with nearly three-quarters (73.7%) selecting civil rights and equal protections for LGBTQ+ people as one of the three issues most important in shaping their vote. Economic stability, inflation and the cost of living ranked second at 35.9%, followed by government accountability and corruption (32.5%), the functioning of democracy and elections (26.9%), and abortion and reproductive rights (26.8%). Those concerns come as respondents report widespread anxiety about the future of LGBTQ+ protections, including more than nine in ten who are worried that the Supreme Court could undermine federal workplace discrimination protections and more than eight in ten who are worried about marriage recognition.

Key Data Points:

• 87% of registered LGBTQ+ voters say they definitely will vote in the 2026 midterms, while another 7.5% say they probably will.
• 73.7% of LGBTQ+ voters select civil rights and equal protections for LGBTQ+ people as one of the three issues most important in shaping their vote
  • Some priorities differ by generation: LGBTQ+ adults ages 18–34 are more likely than those 65 and older to prioritize civil rights and reproductive rights, while economic stability and cost of living are particularly prominent among adults ages 55–64.
• 51.2% of LGBTQ+ voters say they are either finding it difficult to get by or are just getting by financially, while 47.2% say they are financially worse off than two years ago.
• 92% of LGBTQ+ voters are concerned that the Supreme Court could undermine federal workplace discrimination protections, and 85% are worried they could undermine marriage equality.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 4 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action—working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people. More at hrc.org

This decision coincides with recent polling from the HRC Foundation confirming that a super-majority of Americans favor marriage equality protections

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant certiorari in Davis v. Ermold, where former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis hoped the Court would rehear a lower court’s decision awarding damages to a same-sex couple to whom she refused to issue a marriage license, despite a court ordering her to do so, in 2015. As part of her request Davis asked the Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark case that affirmed Constitutional marriage protections for same-sex couples. As a result, the lower court ruling stands, leaving Davis liable for refusing to abide by existing law and signaling that the Court is, for now, unwilling to revisit or reverse precedent that establishes marriage equality for the LGBTQ+ community. This ruling also underscores that public officials cannot evade accountability under the law by invoking anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs.

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson released the following statement:

“Today, love won again. When public officials take an oath to serve their communities, that promise extends to everyone — including LGBTQ+ people. The Supreme Court made clear today that refusing to respect the constitutional rights of others does not come without consequences.

Thanks to the hard work of HRC and so many, marriage equality remains the law of the land through Obergefell v. Hodges and the Respect for Marriage Act. Even so, we must remain vigilant.

It’s no secret that there are many in power right now working to undermine our freedoms — including marriage equality — and attack the dignity of our community any chance they get. Last week, voters rejected the politics of fear, division, and hate, and chose leaders who believe in fairness, freedom, and the future. In race after race, the American people rejected anti-transgender attacks and made history electing pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot.

And from California to Virginia to New Jersey to New York City, LGBTQ+ voters and Equality Voters made the winning difference. We will never relent and will not stop fighting until all of us are free.”

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action—working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.

###

As Federal Government and Many States Continue Legislative and Administrative Onslaught Against LGBTQ+ People, Violent Crimes Against Members of Community Remain Elevated

WASHINGTON — The latest annual crime report from the FBI highlights once again that while overall violent crime in the U.S. continues to decline, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community remain alarmingly high.

In 2024, according to FBI data submitted by local jurisdictions, attacks based on a victim’s sexual orientation made up 17.2% of all hate crimes, and 4 percent were based on gender identity.

“The FBI’s 2024 hate crime data has revealed a national emergency hiding in plain sight. Everyone deserves to be safe in this country and have the chance to thrive. But anti-equality politicians continue to spread lies about LGBTQ+ people, trying to push us out of more and more corners of society,” said Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President. “Those smears come with a cost. The FBI has exposed a chilling reality: our community remains a target of violence — and that is unacceptable. LGBTQ+ people, just like everyone else, should be free to live our lives, pursue our careers and education, build our homes and pursue our American Dreams, without the threat of violence hanging over our heads. This FBI data is clear: we need more support from our political leaders, not animosity and attacks that seek to demonize us.”

The FBI’s report noted that there were 1,950 recorded incidents relating to an alleged victim’s sexual orientation in 2024 and 463 relating to an alleged victim’s gender identity. Race/ethnicity motivated hate crimes remained the largest category, making up 51.8% of all hate crimes. Hate crimes based on religion were second, just ahead of sexual orientation.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.