New survey finds more USA cities protecting LGBTQ rights

Oct 18, 2016, 00:32
New survey finds more USA cities protecting LGBTQ rights

"This year, dozens of cities across the nation showed they are willing to stand up for LGBTQ people in their communities even when state governments are not", said HRC President Chad Griffin in a press release. Charlottesville is ranked third in Virginia among the major localities.

Since the MEI's launch in 2012, the HRC says the number of cities with ideal scores has more than quintupled, while cities listed on the MEI for all five years improved by an average of 20 points over that time.

Only Arlington and Alexandria are ranked higher.

The findings reflect "historic progress" toward equality made by cities of all sizes from coast to coast, including in states where legislatures have blocked protections for LGBTQ citizens, the HRC said in a news release.

The city posted a score of 89 out of a possible 100 points for its laws and policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer residents.

The scoring formula has changed slightly over the years to adjust to changing laws.

Twenty states have non-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ people in employment and 19 states have laws protecting them from discrimination in public accommodations. "That's why it's so important that we continue to not only fight for equality at the state and local levels, but to enact comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQ people under the Equality Act". Cities were rated on 44 criteria, including nondiscrimination ordinances, employee benefits, service, police policies and leadership on equality.

Sioux Falls improved its score despite city officials earlier this year withdrawing a proposal to add gender identity and sexual orientation to the municipal anti-discrimination ordinance.

Cities continue to excel even in the absence of state laws: 37 "All Star" cities in states lacking comprehensive non-discrimination laws scored above 85 points, up from 31 a year ago, 15 in 2014, eight in 2013, and just two in 2012. These cities averaged 80-point scores; 22 scored a ideal 100. The average score for the nine Iowa cities included in the study was 82, compared with a national average of 55.

Last year, the city also elected its first openly gay mayor, Jackie Biskupski, and councilman, Derek Kitchen, one of six LGBTQ Utahns to sue the state over its ban on gay marriage.

Salt Lake City would have scored higher on the equality index if it had a public accommodations law banning businesses from refusing to serve customers based on sexual orientation or gender identity, such as bakers or florists declining to work for same-sex weddings on religious grounds.

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