Scientists at the University of Houston say that big changes in how states treat the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people are influencing what folks think about moving between states. This might not be good for states’ economies and job markets, according to the researchers.
After the Supreme Court decided in 2022 to limit abortion rights, the researchers surveyed over 1,000 people with different backgrounds. They wanted to know what these folks thought about moving to a state with rules about abortion, gender-related medical care, transgender people in sports, teaching about gender and sexuality in schools, same-sex marriage, and protection from job discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Willing to move
“The majority of people who responded to our survey, regardless of their political orientation, indicated they would be less willing to move to states with these policies or that the policies wouldn’t affect their decision to do so,” the researchers explain. “These policies are much more of a deterrent to migration than an incentive.”
The research discovered that women, along with their partners—gay men, lesbians, and individuals with LGBTQ+ family members—might steer clear of states with policies signaling an unwelcoming political climate. The results also indicate that people in higher-paying jobs or those keen on work and education prospects might be less inclined to move to states with these policies.
“Migration attitudes provide an important benchmark for understanding how abortion and LGBT laws and policies influence opinions about the desirability of states as potential destinations,” the researchers explain. “If the policies are deterring people from moving to a certain state, there could be negative economic and workforce impacts.”
Limiting rights
As reported by the New York Times, 21 states currently either ban or put restrictions on abortions. Legal battles over abortion access are ongoing in various other states. The American Civil Liberties Union notes a surge in anti-LGBT bills, with over 500 introduced this year—more than double the previous year’s count.
The study revealed that most people are hesitant to move to states with stringent abortion laws, particularly those prohibiting travel for abortions or allowing reporting of abortion seekers to authorities. Conversely, respondents were less opposed to relocating to states with restrictions on gender-affirming care for kids, rules about transgender children participating in sports based on their assigned sex at birth, and education-related limitations such as “don’t say gay” laws.
“Our findings suggest these restrictive laws and policies have implications for migration attitudes beyond women and LGBT individuals,” the authors conclude. “States, including legislators and business owners, should consider potential social and economic effects of these actions as an important part of their policy deliberations.”
