For the LGBTQ+ community, digital spaces can prove both empowering and fraught with challenges. Technology acts as a catalyst for community building, economic opportunities, self-expression, and advocacy, while simultaneously posing risks of online discrimination, privacy concerns, and disparities in access. These dual realities define the stakes examined in LGBT Tech's new report, Beyond Binary: LGBTQ+ Rights in the Digital Landscape.

The report arrived as technology and policy are rapidly evolving, with critical decisions being made about online privacy, platform accountability, and digital equity. Against this backdrop, Beyond Binary underscores the urgent need to prioritize inclusivity and safeguard digital spaces to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals—and those within other marginalized communities—thrive in an increasingly connected world.

The Community Landscape

In the United States, there are an estimated 20 million LGBTQ+ adults. Despite progress in visibility and general acceptance, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face systemic inequities across multiple facets of life.

• Discrimination in healthcare leads to inadequate or stigmatized care, while workplace biases create barriers to equitable employment opportunities.
• LGBTQ+ students often confront harassment, limited representation, and policies that fail to protect their identities.
• Finding affirming physical spaces and resources, such as community centers or healthcare providers, remains a significant challenge, particularly for those in rural areas or states with anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

In this context, the LGBTQ+ digital landscape becomes a critical lifeline shaped by the community’s unique need for equitable access to healthcare, education, employment, social connection, and information. Reliable digital access is not just a convenience but a vital resource for navigating the world.

The digital needs of LGBTQ+ individuals manifest in a few ways.

Education

For students, reliable internet and digital devices unlock opportunities for academic growth and success. Research shows LGBTQ+ students often face lower educational expectations and reduced school engagement, but digital tools can bridge this gap.

LGBT Tech polling reveals that 73 percent of LGBTQ+ adults rely on online platforms for courses and learning opportunities, highlighting the transformative role of connected access.

Healthcare 

Online resources provide lifelines for managing health conditions and accessing affirming care. Telehealth became indispensable during COVID-19, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination in healthcare settings.

Nearly 44 percent of LGBTQ+ adults and 70 percent of transgender adults turn to digital spaces for LGBTQ+-specific health information.

Employment

Employment opportunities also depend heavily on digital access. LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those facing workplace discrimination, use online tools to find LGBTQ+-friendly employers and professional networks.

According to LGBT Tech polling, 41 percent of LGBTQ+ adults and 68 percent of transgender adults use digital platforms to seek inclusive job opportunities, underscoring the necessity of connectivity in career development. 

Social Connection & Information

Beyond services, digital access fosters community. Online platforms connect 81 percent of LGBTQ+ adults and 93 percent of transgender adults with new friends and support networks, providing safe spaces for belonging and growth.

Moreover, 74 percent of LGBTQ+ adults—and 90 percent of transgender adults—credit online access with shaping their understanding of their identities. This connectivity empowers LGBTQ+ individuals to engage with their world fully and equitably.

The Federal Landscape

LGBT Tech finds that historically, leadership changes have always brought new priorities and policies; however, the Trump Administration has signaled a particular focus on reshaping approaches to technology, online spaces, and civil rights in ways that will affect marginalized communities. These shifts are likely to have far-reaching implications for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in areas like data privacy, platform accountability, and protections against discrimination in digital spaces.

Here are just a few of the issues LGBT Tech is watching regarding digital rights and the LGBTQ+ community.

Privacy: The Foundation of Digital Rights

A comprehensive federal privacy framework is urgently needed to establish a strong foundation for protecting all users in the digital age, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Robust privacy protections would safeguard personal data—such as health records, browsing histories, and location information—from exploitation or misuse. For LGBTQ+ individuals, whose personal data can often reveal sensitive information about their identities, the risks of a weak privacy framework are especially dire.

Without a federal standard, existing protections remain inconsistent and insufficient, leaving gaps that undermine other critical areas such as online safety and platform accountability. Federal privacy legislation must address these vulnerabilities while striking a balance between innovation and individual rights. Privacy is not just a policy goal—it is the cornerstone of equity and trust in a connected world.

Digital Discrimination: Equity in Connectivity

Access to reliable internet is a lifeline for LGBTQ+ individuals, connecting them to affirming resources, peer support, and advocacy networks that provide essential support. Yet systemic inequities in broadband infrastructure disproportionately affect marginalized communities, especially in rural and underserved areas. LGBTQ+ individuals in these regions face heightened barriers to participating in the digital economy and accessing essential services.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program offers a chance to close this digital divide, but equity-focused implementation will be critical to ensuring that federal investments benefit those most in need.

Section 230: The Foundation of Free Online Speech

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act underpins the internet’s balance between free expression and platform accountability. For LGBTQ+ individuals, this provision has enabled platforms to host affirming content and create safe online communities without fear of over-moderation. However, proposed reforms under the Trump administration threaten to destabilize this delicate balance.

Changes to Section 230 could lead to platforms censoring LGBTQ+ voices to avoid liability or, conversely, allowing harmful content such as hate speech and harassment to proliferate.

Rhetoric grounded in claims of “censorship” and efforts to enforce “must-carry” provisions for politically disfavored content, such as anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda, could undermine protections against harassment and misinformation online. Policymakers must carefully consider reforms that balance the preservation of free speech with the need to ensure marginalized communities can safely engage in digital spaces.

Artificial Intelligence: Mitigating Risks & Promoting Equity

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming every facet of the digital world, but its rapid adoption raises significant concerns regarding ethics, privacy, and equity. For LGBTQ+ individuals, biases embedded in AI algorithms—such as in facial recognition systems or content moderation tools—can perpetuate exclusion and harm. These risks are compounded by the absence of clear federal guidance, proposals to overturn President Biden’s Executive Order on AI, and the new Administration potentially shifting focus away from comprehensive oversight.

Thoughtful policymaking must balance innovation with accountability to ensure AI serves all communities fairly, rather than amplifying existing disparities.

The State Landscape

In 2024, state legislatures across the United States introduced a staggering 574 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, marking a record-breaking year for attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. These bills targeted everything from healthcare access and education to public accommodations, with a particular focus on restricting the rights of transgender individuals. This surge in discriminatory legislation underscores the urgent need for vigilance and advocacy to protect the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ communities nationwide.

While federal policies set the tone, many issues see increased attention or unique opportunities for state-level action. The following areas represent several critical intersections of technology, equity, and LGBTQ+ advocacy in 2025 that LGBT Tech is closely monitoring on the state level.

Broadband Equity: Building Inclusive Connectivity

While federal, states, and local efforts aim to close the digital divide, inclusivity remains inconsistent. An LGBT Tech review of 55 State and Territory Digital Equity Plans revealed that fewer than half explicitly reference LGBTQ+ populations, and only a fraction address the unique challenges these communities face in accessing digital resources.

For LGBTQ+ individuals, broadband access often serves as a gateway to essential services, from telehealth to affirming social networks. States with inclusive digital equity strategies can lead the charge by ensuring broadband expansion prioritizes historically underserved groups. Conversely, states that overlook LGBTQ+ considerations risk perpetuating inequities and leaving millions disconnected. To truly achieve digital equity, states must recognize and address the intersectional barriers faced by LGBTQ+ communities in their broadband policies.

Youth Online: Protecting Users Without Limiting Access

Online safety regulations, including age verification mandates and parental control policies, aim to shield children from harm, but often have unintended consequences. In states with anti-LGBTQ+ agendas, these measures can be easily weaponized to restrict access to affirming resources, healthcare information, and peer support networks. The same rhetoric used to ban LGBTQ+-inclusive books and gender-affirming care is now being applied to online platforms, threatening to isolate vulnerable youth.

States must strike a balance between protecting young users and preserving their ability to access critical online spaces. LGBTQ+ youth rely on digital platforms to find support and resources they may not have offline. Efforts to enhance online safety should focus on inclusive solutions, such as digital literacy programs and transparent platform accountability, rather than restrictive policies that perpetuate stigma or erase LGBTQ+ voices under the guise of protection.

Privacy Protections: A State-Led Imperative

In the absence of comprehensive and national privacy protections, LGBT Tech encourages state legislators to focus on drafting and passing legislation that provides comprehensive protections for all users, regardless of age, gender, race, or other demographic factors.

In states less supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, weak or nonexistent privacy laws exacerbate vulnerabilities, allowing data exploitation and even targeted surveillance. Privacy protections must go beyond minors and reflect the broader needs of diverse populations. By adopting inclusive privacy policies, states can foster trust in digital ecosystems and set a national example of how to balance innovation with the right to personal safety and autonomy.

Digital Literacy: Empowering Inclusive Education

Digital literacy provides a proactive and flexible approach to addressing online safety and equity. By equipping users with critical thinking skills and fostering open communication, digital literacy programs empower youth and adults to navigate risks such as cyberbullying and privacy threats while accessing affirming resources. States with LGBTQ+-inclusive policies can integrate digital literacy into education systems, teaching young people to evaluate online information and engage safely.

In less inclusive states, restrictive policies risk silencing LGBTQ+ perspectives, even in technology education. Digital literacy programs provide an opportunity to counteract this by offering a platform for inclusion and empowerment. With the ability to adapt to emerging technologies and threats, digital literacy ensures that all youth—regardless of identity—can navigate the digital world confidently and responsibly, fostering a safer and more equitable online environment.

Bridging Access and Opportunity for LGBTQ+ People

LGBT Tech reminds us that without reliable connectivity, essential devices, robust infrastructure, and the digital literacy to use them effectively, the broader goals of inclusion, advocacy, and opportunity remain out of reach. Access is the foundation upon which digital equity is built.

With that, LGBT Tech highlights some of its programs that are working to bring digital access to LGBTQ+ individuals. The organization's flagship initiative, PowerOn, is built on the belief that digital rights are human rights. Its mission is to bridge the digital gap for LGBTQ+ individuals by providing life-changing technology and resources at the grassroots level. PowerOn operates through a robust partner network of 140 LGBTQ+ centers across 40 states and territories, distributing over $500,000 in devices to date.

The PATHS Program empowers LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to pursue careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Through
mentorships, grants, and multimedia storytelling, PATHS not only bridges the digital divide but fosters the creation of an inclusive, representative workforce that builds with community in mind. To date, PATHS has awarded $171,322 in education grants to 40 LGBTQ+ students, hosted 65 mentorships, and garnered over 61,000 views of its web content featuring LGBTQ+ STEAM professionals.

LGBT Tech's Digital Navigator Program ensures individuals not only have access to technology but also the knowledge to use it safely and effectively. By combining device distribution with digital literacy training and safety resources, the Digital Navigator Program equips individuals with the tools to stay connected and navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

Programs like LGBT Tech’s PowerOn, PATHS, and Digital Navigator demonstrate that change is possible through collaboration and community-centered innovation. These initiatives prove that when investments are tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, the barriers of the digital divide can be overcome, empowering the community to achieve its full potential.

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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