• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

TABLE OF CONTENTS Frequently Asked Questions An Introduction WHERE CAN I GET MORE DID YOU KNOW THAT the draft scorecard and offer any 4 Letter from Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISN’T A CITY? feedback prior to publication. 5 Letter from Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of the Equality Federation Institute CITIES RATED? Yes. A few of the places rated in the 6 Inclusivity Drives Economic Growth This booklet contains only a summary MEI are “census-designated places” CAN ONLY CITIES IN of the scorecards for each of the 506 which are not incorporated as cities. STATES WITH GOOD LAWS cities rated on the 2018 MEI. The In that case, we rated the local GET GOOD SCORES? How It Works full scorecards are available online at incorporated government that actually Definitely not. The MEI was www.hrc.org/mei. serves that census-designated place, specifically designed to measure the 10 Cities Rated by the MEI which is usually the county. This is laws and policies of the municipality, 12 Executive Summary HOW WERE THESE explained further on page 19. not the state. While state law might 19 City Selection CITIES CHOSEN? add to a city’s score, positive state 20 2019 MEI Scorecard This year, the cities rated are: the 50 HOW ARE THE SCORES law is not necessary for a city to 23 Scoring Criteria Parts I-V state capitals, the 200 largest cities CALCULATED? score 100 points. In fact, 34 cities 26 Issue Brief: Expanding PrEP Access to Help End the HIV Epidemic in the United States, the five largest Cities are rated on a scale of 0-100, in states without statewide non- 36 Issue Brief: Achieving a Healthier, Stronger Workforce Through Inclusive Paid Leave cities or municipalities in each state, based on the city’s laws, policies, discrimination laws for LGBTQ 35 Acknowledging Context: the cities home to the state’s two benefits, and services. There are people scored 100 points in 2018. • Not All Cities Are Created Equal largest public universities (including 100 standard points and 22 bonus • Fair Assessment Respects Legal Differences undergraduate and graduate points (bonus points are awarded for IS THIS A RANKING OF THE • Accounting for City Size enrollment), 75 cities & municipalities items which apply to some but not all BEST CITIES FOR LGBTQ • Balancing State and Local Laws that have high proportions of same- cities). For more information on the PEOPLE TO LIVE IN? • Understanding Restrictive State Law sex couples (see page 19 for more scoring system, see pages 23-24 No. This is not a ranking of a city’s • Effect of Enforcement and Lived Experience information) and 98 cities selected by and 30-33. atmosphere or quality of life. It is HRC and Equality Federation state an evaluation of the city’s law and groups members and supporters. WHERE DID THE policies, and an examination of INFORMATION FOR THESE how inclusive city services are of What We Found WHY ISN’T WASHINGTON, SCORES COME FROM? LGBTQ people. Some high-scoring 51 Summary of Results D.C. RATED? cities may not feel truly welcoming 56 Table of 2019 Scores The MEI team conducted the For an explanation as to why for all LGBTQ people, and some 71 Self-Submit research, compiled it into a draft Washington, D.C. is not included in low-scoring cities may feel more 72 Acknowledgements the MEI, please see page 19. scorecard, and sent the draft welcoming than their policies scorecard to the city for review. might reflect. Cities had an opportunity to review Success Stories 17 Norman, Oklahoma by Mayor Breea Clark 18 Anchorage, Alaska by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz Research Process 22 Richmond, Virginia by Mayor Levar M. Stoney 25 Equality Florida by Joseph Saunders, Senior Political Director The information reflected in this team to consider. Our team sent weeks. Finally, cities were sent their 46 Equality Virginia by Vee Lamneck, MSW, Deputy Director publication was gathered by out a letter in March to mayors and final scorecards and information 50 State College, Pennsylvania by Kevin Kassab, Community Engagement Manager and LGBTQ Liaison the MEI team and compiled into city managers notifying them that about the MEI 2019 in the same draft scorecards using publicly their cities were being rated by way. Equality Federation state available information. Cities were email and certified mail, followed groups also were able to review the then offered an opportunity to by a draft scorecard sent to the scorecards and provide feedback to review the scorecards, ask any mayors and city managers in June the MEI team prior to publication. questions, and submit any additional also via email and certified mail. information they wished the MEI The feedback window lasted four ©2019 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation owns all right, title, ISBN-13: 978-1-934765-53-1 and interest in and to this publication and all derivative works thereof. Permission for reproduction and redistribution is granted if the publication is (1) reproduced in its entirety and (2) distributed free of charge. The Human Rights Campaign and the Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign. 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 AN INTRODUCTION Dear Friends Dear Readers are moving our community closer communication to help a municipality communities to make progress and leadership. Coming off of our annual to full equality — from Richmond, address everything from everyday for passage of the federal Equality Leadership conference in Louisville, Virginia to Anchorage, Alaska, from concerns to urgent crises. Act. Twenty-five million people live KY, state leaders are gearing up for an Norman, Oklahoma, to State College, in cities that have non-discrimination intense 2020 legislative session. Pennsylvania. These local leaders As we look at ways for cities and protections for transgender also understand that to advance towns to make further progress, we residents at the local level alone. We stand with previously underserved LGBTQ rights, they have to make sure also celebrate the amazing work Last November, with our partners’ members of our movement. that their own employment practices that is being done right now to help, our members were successful Transgender Americans, people and policies are progressive and make cities and towns better, more in upholding transgender equality of color, and residents of rural equitable. A record-breaking 164 out equitable places to live and visit. And at the ballot box in Massachusetts communities have too often been of the 506 cities we scored now offer this work is not going unnoticed by and Alaska. Although there is much left behind as other segments of our transgender-inclusive health benefits our country’s leading businesses. work to do, we’ve turned a corner community have progressed. Equality to city employees. Both companies and municipalities in the way trans people are treated Federation and our 42 member This year, our community and our understand that embracing equality The Municipal Equality Index in this country. Gone are the days organizations won’t rest until there country have realized historic While this progress is critical, more is not only the right thing to do — it gives us a bird’s eye view of when disrespect goes unnoticed is full equality for all LGBTQ people. progress, even as the health, action is needed from local leaders also helps businesses and economies protections LGBTQ people have in and unchecked. LGBTQ people have We hope the elected officials and rights and welfare of lesbian, gay, to protect the health and welfare of thrive. The MEI therefore serves not the communities they call home proven time and time again that we community advocates reading this bisexual, transgender and queer their LGBTQ constituents, especially only as a guide for ways that city and we are pleased to partner have a voice and will use it to protect report will do the same. (LGBTQ) people face relentless those who hold multiple, marginalized leaders can further equality, but also with HRC on this annual review of and defend each person in our attacks from the highest levels identities. The prevalence of HIV as a resource for companies looking our progress. Equality Federation community. of government. For the first time, among LGBTQ communities of color to expand into places that are actively works with state leaders to help the U.S. House of Representatives constitutes a major health disparity fostering inclusion. communities move toward full Continued progress is on the horizon passed legislation to provide and a serious health crisis. One in two equality. We intend for this report and this report is helpful in achieving REBECCA ISAACS comprehensive civil rights gay or bisexual Black men will contract This work to advance equality would to educate and inspire change so it. Equality Federation will be here to Executive Director protections for our community — HIV during their lifetime. More than not be possible without our partners that next year is even better. help advance the movement every step Equality Federation Institute the Equality Act. This was a major half of Black transgender women are at the Equality Federation Institute and of the way, as will our member groups step forward on the road to full living with HIV — members of our statewide LGBTQ organizations who This report on the local landscape like Equality North Carolina which equality, but we still need action community who are already facing a continue to fight fiercely to uplift and couldn’t be more timely.

Load more

  39

Copy Link