One year into President Donald Trump’s second term, LGBTQ+ Americans are facing a sharp reversal of hard-won gains in visibility, health care access, workplace safety, and financial stability, according to a new report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
The report, One Year In, draws on data from HRC’s Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey, which surveyed nearly 15,000 adults nationwide, including close to 10,000 LGBTQ+ respondents. At a time when the federal government has halted the collection of LGBTQ+-specific data across agencies like the Census Bureau and CDC, HRC says the survey now serves as one of the most comprehensive snapshots of LGBTQ+ life in the U.S.
“This is not a warning anymore. It’s our daily reality,” HRC President Kelley Robinson wrote in a letter introducing the report, describing a coordinated effort by the Trump administration to erase LGBTQ+ people from federal policy while dismantling protections related to health care, civil rights and employment.
Visibility in Decline
The findings show a measurable retreat in LGBTQ+ visibility over the past year. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed said they are less “out” in at least one area of their lives, including workplaces, health care settings, schools and public spaces. More than half reported feeling less visible overall than they were a year ago.
That retreat appears to be driven by fear. One in five U.S. adults said acceptance of LGBTQ+ people has declined, while nearly three in ten LGBTQ+ adults said the same. Parents of LGBTQ+ children and LGBTQ+ parents themselves reported particularly high levels of concern, with 40% saying they are less visible in school environments.
Health Care Barriers Growing
The report also highlights worsening health outcomes tied to federal policy changes. Cuts to HIV prevention and research funding, rollbacks of nondiscrimination protections and restrictions on gender-affirming care have left many LGBTQ+ people struggling to access basic medical services.
Two-thirds of transgender and nonbinary respondents reported difficulty accessing health care over the past year. LGBTQ+ adults who experienced discrimination in health care were twice as likely to report fair or poor health, and nearly a third said their health had worsened.
Advocates warn these policies could reverse decades of progress in HIV prevention and treatment, especially for low-income LGBTQ+ people and those relying on Medicaid or Medicare.
Hostile Workplaces, Financial Strain
Economic insecurity emerged as another major theme. LGBTQ+ adults were nearly twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to say their financial situation had worsened over the past year. Those earning under $75,000 reported the highest levels of instability.
At work, rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have coincided with rising stigma. LGBTQ+ workers at companies that scaled back DEI policies were more than twice as likely to report experiencing bias or discrimination, with many describing their workplaces as increasingly hostile.
Texas on the Front Lines
During HRC’s American Dreams Tour, which included a stop in Dallas, advocates documented how federal actions are compounding state-level attacks. This is particularly the case in Texas, where legislation targeting transgender and nonbinary people continues to advance.
Despite the sobering data, HRC leaders say the report also reflects resilience. Membership in the organization grew to 3.6 million over the past year, signaling that support for LGBTQ+ equality remains strong even as political pressure intensifies.
“The evidence is clear:,” the report concludes, “A year into the second Trump Administration, “LGBTQ+ Americans are under siege—but undeterred in the fight for equality.
Caroline Savoie