Happy Pride! & Our 7th Annual LGBTQ+ State Business Climate Index

Happy Pride!

Fifty-five years ago, on June 28th, 1970, hundreds of courageous individuals took to the streets of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco for the very first Pride marches.

Since that day, year after year, we’ve steadily chipped away at the barriers that confined us. With each breakthrough, we let in more light, revealing our true selves to the world in all our wonderful diversity.

To all the leaders, mentors, colleagues, allies and friends who have worked so tirelessly to bring about the incredible progress we’ve seen over the past two decades, thank you. I stand on your shoulders with pride and gratitude.
Because of you, we have made enormous strides for equality and today it’s easier than ever before for us to live openly, love freely, and claim our rightful place in this world. 

There are way way way too many of you to mention, literally thousands.

But at this specific moment I would like to single out one person who represents the very best of us and who embodies everything that is right with the world: my mentee Brandon Rhode, United States Military Academy West Point graduate and the first openly gay gymnast to compete for the Academy, where not long ago it was impossible to be out.

Brandon interned at Out Leadership. He is one of my mentees, and one of the most decent, upbeat, hopeful people you could hope to meet. He recently invited me to his graduation and I could not have been prouder.

I recently reconnected with Brandon for a wonderful Pride edition of our Leadership Lounge series and he is as upbeat as ever. He delivers a GREAT Pride message and discusses his perspective on the current anti-LGBTQ+ movement in our country.

To me he represents what’s best about us now, and our promising future– and reminds us that today’s challenges are just a temporary setback on a steady upward trajectory of progress.

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in America, and we are in a dark and challenging time. The combination of legislative attacks, federal policy reversals, rising violence, and corporate withdrawal is creating a climate of fear and instability for LGBTQ+ Americans.

While some states remain havens, the national trend is one of increased polarization and regression in our rights. And it’s going to get a lot worse if we don’t resist, challenge, and fight.

This downward trend is well-documented in Out Leadership’s 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, our 7th annual ranking of all 50 states and our most significant research publication of the year. We release this critical Index each year at the start of Pride– and it’s become the go-to guide for CEO’s, business and government leaders. Read our exclusive in USA Today, and watch our launch video here.

Some states, like New York and Massachusetts, top the list as pillars of progress, safeguarding access to gender-affirming healthcare and expanding protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

But in states like Arkansas and Florida, we’re seeing a dangerous backslide with bans on gender-affirming care, attacks on our youth, and large gaps in basic protections.

Sometimes improving rankings can be misleading and deserve a closer look. Texas moved up 3 places from #38 to #35—not because of increased protections, but because other states declined. Despite some progress in cities like Austin and Dallas, Texas remains one of the least supportive states for LGBTQ+ inclusion overall.

Kentucky is another example of why the fight is so tough and why victories can be so elusive. This year Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat in a red state and a friend to the LGBTQ+ community raised his state’s ranking in our Climate Index by 5 points, the most significant gain nationwide. He did this by, among other things, signing an executive order banning conversion therapy for minors. However, it was a short-lived victory, as the state legislature overturned it.

Then there’s Massachusetts which reclaimed the top spot in the nation for LGBTQ+ acceptance. Much of this success is credited to the state’s openly lesbian Governor Maura Healey, a longtime friend of Out Leadership who as a lawyer, and former attorney spoke at our past events, and has really done the work to get where she is. Her message for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable in their own state, “Come to Massachusetts! Start a family here and grow a business here. We’ll celebrate you.”

But here’s why I try to remain optimistic– because culture changes, it’s dynamic, it moves and evolves. In times when we lose faith in our institutions, we can still look to other leaders like you for guidance.

Every time a CEO speaks up or a company chooses inclusion over indifference, they redefine what’s socially acceptable. This year for Pride, Dow Chemical’s CEO and Out Leadership member, my friend Jim Fitterling unveiled a rainbow crosswalk at Dow’s HQ using the company’s own technology. While it may seem like a small gesture, these moments of inclusivity really matter.

And every time we pull out our wallets we are making a choice. Research shows 80% of LGBTQ+ consumers are willing to boycott companies that are rolling back inclusion initiatives, and more than half will urge others to do so (HRC 2025).  That’s power.

Even in the face of more than 700 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced this year, we’re seeing allies step up like never before. We see it in very effective consumer boycotts and companies realizing it’s just not smart to be on the wrong side of history.

The best, and worst, example of this is Target, whose stock and revenue plunged after it announced it would eliminate hiring goals for minority employees and a complete rollback of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies.

So this Pride, let’s remember that those first marchers didn’t ask for permission…they showed up, they made noise, and they changed everything.

Now it’s our turn.

With their spirit and 55 years of momentum behind us, let’s keep pushing forward together. Let’s keep chipping away at those barriers every chance we get.

With Gratitude,
Todd G. Sears
Founder & CEO, Out Leadership

A State of Firsts, a new documentary following Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride’s historic campaign to become the first openly transgender member of Congress, is out now!

The film offers a deeply personal look at Sarah’s journey – not just as a candidate, but as a changemaker whose authenticity, empathy, and public service are reshaping what leadership can look like in America. In addition to her service in congress, McBride is a huge friend and supporter of Out Leadership, having spoken so eloquently at our 2023 OutNEXT talent program for emerging LGBTQ+ leaders. Having faced hardship both in Congress and in her day-to-day life, McBride is a champion of leadership in the face of adversity and truly encompasses what it means to be an OutLeader.

This film is a story about the future of representation – and the power of leading with purpose and courage, as McBride fights for the rights of millions of Americans.

Prince Manvendra is one on India’s foremost LGBTQ+ activists and has been a driving force for inclusion, especially the transgender community. He has also been a longtime friend of Out Leadership, having supported us since 2014 when he first spoke at our Asia Summit!

In this Leadership Lounge India’s first openly gay royal, and his husband share the extraordinary journey that brought them together and made history. From a serendipitous online exchange about Indian fashion to navigating royal expectations and entering into an arranged gay marriage, the Princes open up about love and living authentically within tradition. They also shine a light on India’s long-recognized third gender, the Hijra.

Out Leadership is proud to sponsor the couple’s US book tour for their new memoir celebrating queer royalty “A Royal Commitment.” Tour Dates can be found on their website.

Be sure to tune into their meaningful conversation Friday, July 11 at 12pm EST

Leadership Lounge Podcasts on Spotify

Whether you want to start your morning commute with engaging thought leadership or want to be inspired by the stories of LGBTQ+ people across the globe, these on demand podcasts allow you to listen to these conversations anywhere and everywhere.

Not a podcast person? Good news! Every Leadership Lounge video is ready to watch now on our website!

Be sure to subscribe to the Leadership Lounge Spotify channel, share with your friends and colleagues, and stay up to date with each guest in the Leadership Lounge!

Legendary Gay Author Edmund White Passes Away at 85

LGBTQ+ icon and American author Edmond White has passed away aged 85. Known for works such as “The Joy of Gay Sex” and “A Boy’s Own Story,” White explored the dynamic experiences of LGBTQ+ people across fiction, semi-autobiography, and memoir, drawing on his own experiences to write about LGBTQ+ people and sexual freedom.

His trailblazing writing will go on to to influence and inspire millions of LGBTQ+ people who experienced their first pieces of media representation through his work. At a time when LGBTQ+ people were underrepresented while fighting for their rights, White gave the LGBTQ+ community a voice through his work which resonated with people from the 70s all the way to today.

White’s impact extended far beyond the pages of his 30 novels, but through his advocacy and work alongside Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the first organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS advocacy and research.

As we kick off Pride Month, we look towards White with gratitude for helping so many of us find our way out. White’s legacy as an author, teacher, mentor, and LGBTQ+ creative will forever shine through his efforts to support, uplift, and represent the LGBTQ+ community.

Bernie Wagenblast, the voice behind the subway’s iconic announcements, is living out her truth as a transgender woman. Known for telling passengers to “stand clear of the closing doors” and that the next train is “approaching the station,” Wagenblast has come out at 65.

In an effort to highlight transgender visibility, the MTA is celebrating her transition through a campaign called In Transit. In honor of Trans Day of Visibility, Wagenblast re-recorded these iconic announcements in her female voice — showcasing the woman Wagenblast was always meant to live as and demonstrating how trans people are part of the everyday lives of millions of Americans.

Additionally, they have created an imaginary, digital T Subway line with stops at famous sites of trans protest and progress. This is more than a marketing campaign, but an effort to amplify the voices of trans people all over the United States as they face concurrent attacks from the American government. Wagenblast serves as a reminder that trans people live and work alongside us every day — and they always will.