A new report evaluates the business climate for LGTBQ+ people across the U.S., aiming to help leaders make equitable decisions about where to operate — in an increasingly polarizing country.

Why it matters: Doing business in a state that's hostile to LGBTQ+ rights can be costly. Disney learned this lesson earlier this year, after Florida passed its so-called Don't Say Gay Bill and the company became embroiled in a big PR dustup.

• Disney found itself caught between its Florida employees — many angered by the bill — and its relationship with the state government.
• Bigger picture, companies may have trouble attracting employees in regions that are openly hostile to LGBTQ+ rights — especially at a time when there's heightened competition for talent among employers.
• "LGBTQ friendly environments are business-friendly environments," said Todd Sears, a former investment banker, who founded Out Leadership, which launched this report four years ago.

Details: To arrive at these numbers, they looked at data across a few categories, including:

• State laws that impact LGBTQ+ people, like protections in housing, the workplace and foster care.
• Religious exemption laws that might allow businesses to discriminate against people.
• The relative difficulty transgender people face in changing gender markers on official documents.
• The index also considers work environment and employment, looking at incidences of harassment, assault, mistreatment and the overall employment rates and incomes of...

Read Full Story: https://www.axios.com/2022/06/06/best-and-worst-states-for-lgbtq-equality