The Human Rights Campaign has produced a new Municipal Equality Index, designed to rate cities’ LGBT policies in a parallel way to its well-known Corporate Equality Index. For its first publication, the index features 137 cities, including the country’s 50 largest cities, the 50 state capitals, and 75 municipalities with a high proportion of same-sex couples.
The index measured cities according to non-discrimination policies and partnership recognition, as well as LGBT inclusion in civil services and law enforcement. Eleven of the cities scored a 100 percent rating, while 25 percent had at least 80 points. Here are the cities with the perfect scores:
- Long Beach, California
- Los Angeles, California
- San Diego, California
- San Francisco, California
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- St. Louis, Missouri
- New York, New York
- Portland, Oregon
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Seattle, Washington
HRC points out that scores are not a direct reflection of whether the cities have a welcoming climate for LGBT people living there. Still, cities should consider aiming for higher scores because inclusiveness is good for business, increasing a city’s ability to attract top talent and innovative business. HRC hopes to double the number of municipalities included by next year.
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