The LGBTQ+ Equality Project is a data-driven visual research initiative examining how LGBTQ+ people are viewed, supported (or not), and legislated across the United States. Through information design, comparative indices, and visual storytelling, this project highlights how social attitudes, political climates, and community conditions vary dramatically across regions and states.

Using quantitative data from leading national sources, including the Movement Advancement Project, Human Rights Campaign, Williams Institute and The Trevor Project, this work brings together multiple indicators to reveal the realities of LGBTQ+ life across the country. A major component of the project is the Health & Safety Ranking, which includes a set of custom Positive and Negative Indices developed to measure factors shaping LGBTQ+ youth well-being. These indices draw from survey data such as mental-health outcomes, experiences of discrimination, family support, community acceptance, and protective factors, allowing for clear comparative visualizations across states and regions including state rankings.

The project helps audiences understand both where progress is occurring and where significant risks remain. The focus is on translating complex datasets into accessible, meaningful visual narratives that illuminate the lived landscape of LGBTQ+ equality at the structural and community levels.

Future phases of the project will include collecting firsthand accounts from LGBTQ+ individuals to deepen the qualitative dimension of the work, as well as expanding the exploration of how identity, geography, policy, and lived experience intersect. These additions will help expand the project beyond statistics to provide a fuller understanding of the human impact behind the data.

All visualizations are shared on this site under a Creative Commons license so that individuals, educators, advocates, journalists, and policymakers can access, reuse, and build upon the work. The goal is to create a trustworthy, openly available resource that helps people understand the current landscape of LGBTQ+ equality and the urgent needs shaping its future.

This work was researched and designed by Professor Danielle Currier while on Sabbatical Fall 2025. Currier is a professor at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. She has an M.F.A. from Parsons New School for Design in NYC. She is the the co-author of the popular portfolio book, No Plastic Sleeves: The Complete Portfolio Guide for Photographers and Designers, now in it's 3rd edition. Currier has received numerous grants, fellowships and has spoken at industry events from Chicago to Puerto Rico. She also leads her school's study tour to Japan!