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Municipal Equality Index Toll-Free: (800) 777-4723 Fax: (202) 347-5323 a Nationwide Evaluation of Municipal Law 2015 Municipal Equality Index

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Municipal Equality Index Toll-Free: (800) 777-4723 Fax: (202) 347-5323 a Nationwide Evaluation of Municipal Law 2015 Municipal Equality Index spine is 1/4” ADJUST AS NEEDED 1640 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20036-3278 FRONT DESK: (202) 628-4160 TTY: (202) 216-1572 Municipal Equality Index TOLL-FREE: (800) 777-4723 FAX: (202) 347-5323 A NATIONWIDE EVALUATION OF MUNICIPAL LAW 2015 Municipal Equality Index Municipal Equality 2015 2015 A N ATIONWI D E E VALUATION O VALUATION F MUNICIPAL MUNICIPAL L AW F-HRC-cover-151214-press.indd 1 12/14/15 6:00 PM TABLE OF CONTENTS Frequently Asked Questions An Introduction WHERE CAN I GET MORE DID YOU KNOW THat ISN’T CAN ONLY CITIES IN StatES 4 Letter from Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation INFORMation ABOUT THE A CITY? WITH GOOD LAWS GET GOOD 5 Letter from Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of the Equality Federation Institute CITIES ratED? Yes. A few of the places rated in the SCORES? 6 Letter from Richard Florida, “Enduring Growth for Cities is Driven by Diversity” This booklet contains only a summary MEI are “census-designated places” Definitely not. The MEI was 7 Why Cities Should Invest in Equality of the scorecards for each of the which are not incorporated as cities. specifically designed to measure the 408 cities rated on the 2015 MEI. In that case, we rated the local laws and policies of the municipality, The full scorecards are available incorporated government that actually not the state. While state law might online at www.hrc.org/mei. serves that census-designated place, add to a city’s score, positive state How It Works which is usually the county. This is law is not necessary for a city to 12 Executive Summary HOW WERE THESE CITIES explained further on page 17. score 100 points. In fact, 18 cities 17 City Selection CHOSEN? in states without statewide non- 18 2015 MEI Scorecard This year, the cities rated are: the HOW ARE THE SCORES discrimination laws for LGBT people 21 Scoring Criteria Parts I-V 50 state capitals, the 200 largest CALCULatED? scored 100 points in 2015. cities in the United States, the five Cities are rated on a scale of 0-100, 22 Issue Brief: Anti-Transgender Violence largest cities or municipalities in based on the city’s laws, policies, IS THIS A RANKING OF THE 30 Issue Brief: Domestic Partner Benefits each state, the cities home to the benefits, and services. There are BEST CITIES FOR LGBT PEOPLE 34 Acknowledging Context: state’s two largest public universities 100 standard points and 20 bonus to LIVE IN? • Not All Cities Are Created Equal (including undergraduate and points (bonus points are awarded for No. This is not a ranking of a city’s • Fair Assessment Respects Legal Differences graduate enrollment) and 75 cities items which apply to some but not all atmosphere or quality of life. It is • Accounting for City Size & municipalities that have high cities). For more information on the an evaluation of the city’s law and • Balancing State and Local Laws proportions of same-sex couples (see scoring system, see page 18-29. policies, and an examination of how • Understanding Restrictive State Law page 17 for more information). Future inclusive city services are of LGBT • Effect of Enforcement and Lived Experience editions of the MEI will continue to WHERE DID THE INFORMation people. Some high-scoring cities may increase the number of cities rated. FOR THESE SCORES COME not feel truly welcoming for all LGBT FROM? people, and some low-scoring cities WHY ISN’T WASHINGton, D.C. The MEI team conducted the may feel more welcoming than their What We Found ratED? research, compiled it into a draft policies might reflect. For an explanation as to why scorecard, and sent the draft 44 Summary of Results Washington, DC is not included in scorecard to the city for review. 50 Table of 2015 Scores the MEI, please see page 17. Cities had an opportunity to review 63 Self-Submit the draft scorecard and offer any 64 Acknowledgements feedback prior to publication. Success Stories Research Process 15 Jersey City, New Jersey by Mayor Steve Fulop 16 Equality Ohio by Managing Director Alana Jochum The information reflected in this they wished the MEI team to mail. The feedback window lasted 20 Equality Arizona by Board Co-Chairs Catherine Alonzo and Nate Rhoton publication was gathered by the consider. Our team sent out a letter six weeks. Finally, cities were sent 25 Louisville, Kentucky by Mayor Greg Fischer MEI team and compiled into draft in May to mayors and city managers their final scorecards and information 26 Indianapolis, Indiana by Mayor Greg Ballard scorecards using publicly available notifying them that their cities were about the MEI 2015 in the same way. 46 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Office of LGBT Affairs Director Nellie Fitzpatrick information. Cities were then being rated by email and certified Equality Federation state groups also 49 Equality North Carolina by Executive Director Chris Sgro offered an opportunity to review the mail, followed by a draft scorecard were able to review the scorecards 62 Seattle, Washington by Mayor Ed Murray scorecards, ask any questions, and sent to the mayors and city managers and provide feedback to the MEI submit any additional information in July also via email and certified team prior to publication. © 2015 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation owns all right, title, and interest in and to this ISBN 10 digit:1-934765-34-1 publication and all derivative works thereof. Permission for reproduction and redistribution is granted if the publication is (1) reproduced in its ISBN 13 digit: 978-1- entirety and (2) distributed free of charge. The Human Rights Campaign and the Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign. 934765-34-0 The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and design incorporating the Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. IFC2 AN INTRODUCTION hrc.org/mei hrc.org/mei 1 AN INTRODUCTION Dear Friends Dear Readers But as we push Congress and state I hope that what happened in Houston County, Florida offered glimmers of year demonstrate how, despite the great lawmakers to protect LGBT people is a wake-up call to other cities around hope. Carmel passed non-discrimination progress we have made, many LGBTQ from discrimination and violence, cities the nation. The tragic repeal of HERO ordinances in the face of a statewide people, especially those low-income or aren’t waiting. They’re acting. This year, should inspire us to double-down religious exemption bill. Osceola County of color, remain disenfranchised. Many yet again, cities have demonstrated and work harder than ever before. unanimously passed an ordinance that Americans are unaware that LGBTQ their commitment to moving equality And for those cities that want to spur provides employment, housing, and people are not fully protected by law. forward in the Human Rights Campaign development, and improve the lives of public accommodations protections for Thirty-one states still lack complete, Foundation’s 2015 Municipal Equality their LGBT residents and visitors, they LGBTQ individuals. statewide nondiscrimination protections. Index. This year’s MEI boasts the should look to the example of the MEI’s However, as our opposition capitalizes highest number of 100 point scores top-scoring cities as a path forward. Many of our members, state-based on fear and misinformation, local in the history of this program, with 47 The municipalities scoring 100 points equality organizations, have led campaigns, even when challenging, cities achieving the top score. The are big and small and come from all the charge or partnered with local present opportunities for us to engage number of cities offering trans-inclusive corners of the country. Their diversity organizers’ efforts to expand awareness, in conversation. Around the country, we This has been a historic year for healthcare to city employees is 66, demonstrates that equality is not a This year, an unprecedented wave of acceptance, and legal protections this share the stories of those discriminated equality. Yet, even as we celebrate also an all-time high. And 55 new value restricted to only cities in certain discriminatory legislation attempted year. Equality Wyoming worked to against and inform people about a major victory for nationwide cities are among the ranks of the 408 parts of this country, but is increasingly to roll-back our efforts for LGBTQ pass the state’s first nondiscrimination the importance of nondiscrimination marriage equality at the U.S. municipalities scored by this year’s MEI. being embraced far and wide. equality. Most notably, Houston’s ordinance in Laramie—19 years after coverage. Supreme Court and unprecedented recent repeal of its Human Rights the brutal murder of University of visibility for transgender Americans The MEI’s emphasis on policies that We are proud to work alongside leaders Ordinance was a harsh wake-up call Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. The MEI is an important tool to refer over the last year, we are are so critical to our fight to extend in municipalities across the country that our work is far from complete. The Fairness Campaign successfully to in our efforts to put pressure on surrounded by reminders of how far full equality to all Americans—including who are working to make the guidance promoted a nondiscrimination ordinance municipalities to honor equality and we still have to go. Violence against non-discrimination ordinances, city offered by the MEI a reality, and we However, we fully embrace the in Midway, Kentucky. Fairness West LGBTQ individuals. We extend our transgender people is a national services, employment policies and thank our partners at the Equality challenge. We continue to grow our Virginia defeated a proposed law deepest gratitude to HRC for publishing —and global—epidemic, and we benefits, and law enforcement practices Federation Institute and their state strength and power through local that would have invalidated existing the report and to all the advocates, local continue to see unacceptable —continue to be at the core of this affiliates who work to bring equality to organizing and achievements which LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances and state-based, working to win equality discrimination due to a patchwork of report.
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