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 506 which are not incorporated as cities. specifically designed to measure the cities rated on the 2017 MEI. The In that case, we rated the local laws and policies of the municipality, full scorecards are available online at incorporated government that actually not the state. While state law might How It Works www.hrc.org/mei. serves that census-designated place, add to a city’s score, positive state which is usually the county. This is law is not necessary for a city 12 Executive Summary HOW WERE THESE CITIES explained further on page 17. to score 100 points. In fact, 27 17 City Selection CHOSEN? cities in states without statewide 18 2017 MEI Scorecard This year, the cities rated are: the 50 HOW ARE THE SCORES nondiscrimination laws for LGBTQ 21 Scoring Criteria Parts I-V state capitals, the 200 largest cities CALCULATED? people scored 100 points in 2017. 22 Issue Brief: Protecting Youth from Harmful “Conversion Therapy” in the United States, the five largest Cities are rated on a scale of 0-100, 28 Issue Brief: Equal Access to Sex-Segregated Facilities cities or municipalities in each state, based on the city’s laws, policies, IS THIS A RANKING OF THE 30 Acknowledging Context: the cities home to the state’s two benefits, and services. There are BEST CITIES FOR LGBTQ • Not All Cities Are Created Equal largest public universities (including 100 standard points and 20 bonus PEOPLE TO LIVE IN? • Fair Assessment Respects Legal Differences undergraduate and graduate points (bonus points are awarded for No. This is not a ranking of a city’s • Accounting for City Size enrollment), 75 cities & municipalities items which apply to some but not atmosphere or quality of life. It is • Balancing State and Local Laws that have high proportions of same- all cities). For more information on an evaluation of the city’s law and • Understanding Restrictive State Law sex couples (see page 17 for more the scoring system, see pages 21, policies, and an examination of • Effect of Enforcement and Lived Experience information) and 98 cities selected by 24–27. how inclusive city services are of 34 Issue Brief: The Imperative of Responsible Hate Crime Reporting HRC and Equality Federation state LGBTQ people. Some high-scoring groups members and supporters WHERE DID THE INFORMATION cities may not feel truly welcoming FOR THESE SCORES COME for all LGBTQ people, and some What We Found WHY ISN’T WASHINGTON, D.C. FROM? low-scoring cities may feel more RATED? The MEI team conducted the welcoming than their policies might 43 Summary of Results For an explanation as to why research, compiled it into a draft reflect. 48 Table of 2017 Scores Washington, DC is not included in scorecard, and sent the draft 65 Self-Submit the MEI, please see page 17. scorecard to the city for review. 66 What’s Ahead: Changes to the MEI in 2018 Cities had an opportunity to review 70 Acknowledgements the draft scorecard and offer any feedback prior to publication. Success Stories Research Process 15 Equality Ohio by Northeast Ohio Coordinator Gwen Stembridge 16 Equality Pennsylvania by Managing Director John Dawe, CNP, CFRE The information reflected in this they wished the MEI team to mail. The feedback window lasted 20 HRC Mississippi by State Director Rob Hill publication was gathered by the consider. Our team sent out a letter four weeks. Finally, cities were sent 42 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Office of Community Affairs Manager Corey Buckner MEI team and compiled into draft in April to mayors and city managers their final scorecards and information 45 Birmingham, Alabama by City Council President Johnathan F. Austin scorecards using publicly available notifying them that their cities were about the MEI 2017 in the same way. 63 The City and County of Denver, Colorado information. Cities were then being rated by email and certified Equality Federation state groups also 64 Columbia, Missouri by Mayor Brian Treece offered an opportunity to review the mail, followed by a draft scorecard were able to review the scorecards scorecards, ask any questions, and sent to the mayors and city managers and provide feedback to the MEI submit any additional information in June also via email and certified team prior to publication. © 2017 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation owns all right, title, ISBN-10: 1-934765-43-0 and interest in and to this publication and all derivative works thereof. Permission for reproduction and redistribution ISBN-13: 978-1-934765-43-2 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 Dear Friends Dear Readers order to attract and retain the best introduced across 30 states, it is vitally Equality Federation Institute is sexual orientation and gender employees, they must grow their important that these cities are stepping proud to participate in the annual identity, and Equality Ohio celebrated companies in places that protect up to provide protections for their Municipal Equality Index, which Youngstown becoming their 16th. LGBTQ citizens from discrimination LGBTQ residents and visitors. illustrates both the tremendous Freedom Oklahoma won ordinances and actively open their doors to all progress we have achieved as in Oklahoma City and Norman. communities. We’ve also seen, in places In states with the harshest terrain for well as the challenges that still lie Equality Florida won protections in like North Carolina, that corporate LGBTQ citizens, pro-equality cities are ahead in our fight for equality in the Jacksonville. Fairness West Virginia America’s bottom line is hurt by anti- critical beacons. Forty-one “All Star” communities we call home. This passed ordinances in Lewisburg, equality measures and initiatives. And cities in states lacking comprehensive important tool provides a roadmap Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Charles today, North Carolina shamefully has non-discrimination laws scored above to a future in which every LGBTQ Town, and Wheeling. Equality Wyoming a statewide ban on commonsense 85 points, up from 37 cities last year person experiences fairness and passed nondiscrimination resolutions in non-discrimination protections, due to and just two in 2012. equality no matter where they live. Cheyenne, Douglas, and Gillette. the patchwork of protections across At this very moment, so much of the country. The MEI is the best tool Across the country, we see This year, the report shows that our Seattle, Washington joined the ranks our progress is under siege. In to help these businesses make crucial municipalities that want to spur movement is more united and stronger of major cities banning the dangerous our nation’s capitol and in state evaluations about the welcoming (and development and improve the lives than ever, despite an energized practice of conversion “therapy” legislatures across the country, unwelcoming) nature of towns and of their LGBTQ residents and visitors opposition fueled by a most hostile on minors at the city level, which is anti-equality politicians have been cities across the nation. embrace inclusive policies that protect administration. Federation member shockingly still legal in many places. emboldened by a political climate the fundamental rights of all. We are organizations, from Equality Florida to Equality Pennsylvania and Equality where hate and discrimination have Non-discrimination ordinances, city proud to work alongside leaders in Freedom Oklahoma, have flexed their Ohio passed similar ordinances in entered the mainstream. They are services, employment policies and cities and towns across the country muscles, scoring many historic wins in Allentown and Athens. attempting to rip away decades benefits, and law enforcement who understand this principle and are key municipal policy arenas. of progress, and they are using practices continue to be at the core committed to ensuring the full equality Now more than ever, we must prioritize the lives of LGBTQ people and of this report – and cities are stepping for all those who work and live in their Cities and towns are leading the local wins to propel us forward to the our families for their own cynical up to meet these challenges like communities. charge to ensure everyone is treated day we enjoy full equality in every town, political gain. never before. fairly under the law while we continue county, and state in the nation. This work would not be possible to work toward comprehensive But at a time when it would be easy to A record-setting 68 cities earned without our partners at the Equality nondiscrimination protections in Onward! grow weary and complacent, cities and perfect scores for advancing fully- Federation Institute and the statewide employment, housing, and public towns are leading the way forward. inclusive policies and practices -- - more LGBTQ organizations and leaders accommodations in the 32 states than six times the number of 100-point who work to bring equality to the where they are lacking.