Connect with America's top researchers.

While the legal climate in the United States for LGBTQ+ people and their families has improved in recent years, significant legal and practical difficulties remain, including greater poverty among, and pervasive stigma and discrimination toward, families headed by LGBTQ+ parents.

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Policy Brief

Understanding and Handling Hate Crimes against Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People

Eli Coston

Recent research reveals that, over the course of their lifetimes, about one in five lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans will experience hate violence. More than one in four transgender people face the same risk.

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Podcast

Episode 247: The Flurry of Anti-Trans Legislation

Zein Murib

Professor Zein Murib shared why transgender people have become the focus of so much legislative activity recently and what these laws mean for the future of the LGBTQ+ movement and American society as a whole.

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Our Newest Members

Tanisha Fazal

Professor of Political Science

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Foreign Policy & Security

Fazal focuses on sovereignty, international law, and armed conflict. Fazal’s current research analyzes the effect of improvements in...

Audrey Fisch

President of More Than Bootstraps, Professor of English

New Jersey City University

Colleges & Universities

Fisch's research focuses on access and success for first-generation college students. Overarching themes in Fisch's writings include...

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Find tip sheets on everything from writing compelling OpEds to preparing policy talking points. Our how-to guides will help you bridge the research-practice gap.

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Learn the skills you need to connect with stakeholders and promote the use of research. We offer trainings for our chapters and other organizations, facilitated by our expert staff.

Policy happens in the states. SSN is there.

Alabama

The Alabama SSN chapter launched in January of 2019. Alabama SSN focuses on connecting its members with policymakers, civic leaders, and journalist on issues related to health and education policy -...

Bay Area SSN was launched in 2010, bringing together an engaged, interdisciplinary group of scholars from across the region. Drawing on the research of local participants, SSN members from other...

Boston SSN brings together scholars from a broad range of policy fields at Harvard, MIT, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Tufts, and other Boston area universities. Members are particularly...

Founded in 2016, Central Ohio SSN is a hub in the Columbus area with the bulk of its membership hailing from The Ohio State University. The chapter has organized around a variety of issues and seeks...

Central Pennsylvania SSN was launched in 2020, bringing together an interdisciplinary group of scholars from across central and western PA. Drawing on the research of our members we seek to contribute...

Chicagoland SSN brings together members from more than five local universities spanning multiple fields, including sociology, social policy, social work, education, political science, economics, urban...

Colorado SSN was launched in 2016 to bring together engaged scholars statewide. Colorado SSN focuses on connecting members with policymakers, community leaders, and journalists. Members conduct policy...

Confluence SSN is composed of dedicated scholars from Missouri, southern Illinois, and Kansas looking to enact positive change through policy work in the American Midwest and Upper South. Confluence...

Connecticut SSN brings together a vibrant, engaged group of scholars from disciplines ranging from African American studies to political science to medicine to sociology. Although interested in a...

Dallas-Fort Worth SSN connects scholars to journalists, policymakers, and civic leaders in the DFW metro area.

The Florida SSN chapter launched in 2017 to build more connections between local scholars, civic leaders, policymakers, and journalists. Our members are particularly interested in immigration policy...

Georgia SSN is comprised of members from different universities across the state. Georgia SSNers contribute meaningful policy research on a variety of topics, from women in legislatures to energy...

Hawaii SSN was launched in 2012 to connect high quality, independent research from scholars working at universities throughout the state. We hope to contribute to more effective public policy at the...

Indiana SSN connects its members with policymakers, civic leaders, and journalists.

Kentucky SSN focuses on connecting its members with policymakers, civic leaders, and journalists.

Addressing issues distinct to the Los Angeles, Southern CA, and Central CA areas, Los Angeles Unified SSN draws on faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students from the institutions...

Maine SSN was launched in 2012 with engaged scholars from public and private colleges and universities. As Maine is a geographically expansive state with strong participatory traditions, we meet in...

Michigan SSN was launched in 2017 to bring together engaged scholars from colleges and universities across the state with policymakers, civic leaders, and journalists. The chapter's hub is in the East...

Minneapolis-St. Paul SSN was launched in 2010 to bring together a collection of university faculty and administrators with individuals from government, business and non-profit communities to share...

Nebraska SSN was launched in 2020 with a group of interdisciplinary and civically engaged scholars and leaders from colleges and universities across the state. Through partnerships between scholars...

Nevada SSN focuses on connecting its members with policymakers, civic leaders, and journalists. We are passionate about public policies concerning education, public health, and criminal justice reform...

New Jersey-Philadelphia SSN is comprised of members from a number of universities in the Garden State and the Philadelphia area. Our chapter members contribute meaningful policy research on a variety...

New Mexico SSN brings together scholars from New Mexico and Arizona. Members use their own research and expertise, as well the work of SSN members across the network, to contribute to public...

New Orleans SSN launched in 2013 to build more connections between local scholars, civic leaders, policymakers, and journalists. Our members are particularly interested in the issues that are at the...

Bringing together scholars from the many universities and public policy institutions in the New York City metropolitan area, New York City SSN addresses a variety of public policy issues, particularly...

North Carolina SSN brings together a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of engaged scholars from the mountains to the coast. By leveraging the expertise of our state's world-class...

Oklahoma SSN encourages collaboration between scholars at universities and state-level policy groups to benefit the public good. This chapter, based in Tulsa, is particularly invested in environmental...

The Oregon SSN chapter launched in March 2019 with a coalition of multidisciplinary scholars and researchers from leading advocacy organizations. Oregonians have a rich history of community, labor and...

Sacramento SSN connects scholars from across the capitol region and the Sacramento valley. Our chapter seeks to foster relationships with each other, with policy-makers, and with community leaders. We...

San Diego SSN unites area scholars with expertise that focus on both the unique challenges facing San Diegans, as well as the concerns of Americans across the country. Our focus areas include...

South Carolina SSN was founded in 2020 and consists of academic and professional researchers in a variety of disciplines across the Palmetto State. We are committed to engaging a diverse collection of...

Tennessee SSN brings together scholars from middle and east Tennessee, including members from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Vanderbilt University. Members currently focus on education...

Utah SSN brings together scholars from colleges and universities across Utah, including the state’s three research universities: the University of Utah, Utah State University, and Brigham Young...

The Virginia SSN Chapter was launched in 2021 to create a community of scholars to inform policymakers and journalists about research that can be applied to public discourse and policy decisions. We...

Wisconsin SSN launched in 2014 to connect academic researchers with individuals from the government, business, media and non-profit communities to share ideas and analyses of state and national policy...