As the number of LGBTQ+ teens rises nationwide, so does the number of laws targeting their rights. A new report from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) finds that over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced each year since 2023 — more than triple the number from 2020.
Most of these laws affect schools and healthcare access. Seven out of nine types of restrictive legislation focus on school environments — including bans on LGBTQ+ curriculum, pronoun use, bathroom access, and trans sports participation. This legislative trend has taken a steep toll: 90% of LGBTQ youth ages 13–24 say politics are negatively impacting their mental health.
Why This Matters to WeHo
West Hollywood has long been a national leader in LGBTQ+ protections, inclusivity, and visibility. But while California remains a stronghold of support, these national rollbacks have local consequences.
Many LGBTQ+ families are relocating to affirming cities like West Hollywood, seeking safety, healthcare, and support — especially for trans youth. Organizations across L.A. County report rising demand for housing, mental health services, and school placement for queer youth fleeing hostile states.
According to The Trevor Project, 2 in 5 LGBTQ youth considered moving due to state laws in 2023. If that trend holds nationally, over 250,000 people may have relocated — and West Hollywood is one of the few places prepared to meet their needs. While there is no reliable data as to how many queer youth live in the city, we know many look to us and our policies as a beacon of hope and city that provides a safe haven for them.
A Growing Generation, Under Pressure
LGBTQ+ youth now make up nearly 10% of teens ages 13–17, with Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+ at higher rates than any previous generation. Yet 6 in 10 LGBTQ+ youth live in states without any legal protections.
The number of young people impacted has swelled, a change the report attributes in part to generational shifts. While 3% of Baby Boomers and 5% of Gen X identify as LGBTQ, a 2025 Gallup survey found the rate is 14% among Millennials and 23% for Gen Z.
Some of the sharp increase can be attributed to changes in how data is collected and categorized; to people realizing at younger ages they are not straight or cisgender; and to internet access to queer communities. But much of the rise can be attributed to the number of young people who identify as bisexual and/or nonbinary.
The number of transgender people of all ages, for example, has hovered around half a percent for the last decade, according to the University of California, Los Angeles’ Williams Institute. Meanwhile, Gallup found 59% of LGBTQ people in Gen Z, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, are bisexual, and 76% of nonbinary adults are under age 29.
Explore more:
LGBTQ policy map: lgbtmap.org/equality-maps
Youth mental health support: thetrevorproject.org
Inclusive schools advocacy: glsen.org
This story first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering education.
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