These US cities scored top marks for commitment to LGBTQ+ rights
A total of 131 US cities have achieved a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) new report into commitment to LGBTQ+ rights.
The HRC’s 2024 Municipal Equality Index shows the way in which US cities support the LGBTQ+ people who live and work there, even where state and federal government have failed to do so.
As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, members of the LGBTQ+ community have been worried about what his second term in office could mean for their rights.
Despite valid concern, the HRC’s assessment shows that many cities – some possibly surprisingly given the state they are in – are doing all they can to mitigate those concerns.
The assessment is measured across five issues. The first section marks non-discrimination laws with regards to employment, housing and public accommodations, with a top mark of 30.
Section two, with 28 marks available, covers the city as an employer, touching on non-discrimination, trans-inclusive healthcare benefits, city contractor non-discrimination ordinance and if the workplace is inclusive.
The last three assessments cover municipal services (marked from zero to 12), law enforcement (marked from nil to 22) and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality, with the top score being eight.
Here are the cities that scored 100 on the HRC’s 2024 Municipal Equality Index:
Juneau, AKAK 1 City
Mesa, AZAZ 4 Cities
Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Birmingham, ALAl 1 City
Chula Vista, CACA 20 Cities
Irvine, CA
Berkeley, CA
Cathedral City, CA
Elk Grove, CA
Fresno, CA
Oakland, CA
Oceanside, CA
London Beach, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Palm Desert, CA
Palm Springs, CA
Rancho Mirage, CA
Riverside, CA
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
San José , CA
Santa Monica, CA
West Hollywood, CA
New Haven, CTCT 2 Cities
Stamford, CT
Denver, CO vb.CO 2 Cities
Boulder, CO
Akron, OHOH 6 Cities
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Colorado Springs, OH
Columbus, OH
Lakewood, OH
Fort Lauderdale, FLFl 7 Cities
Hollywood, FL
Miami, FL
Orlando, FL
St Petersburg, FL
Tampa, FL
Wilton Manors, FL
Atlanta, GAGA 1 City
Honolulu County, HIHI 1 City
Cedar Rapids, IAIA 2 Cities
Iowa City, IA
Rockford, ILIL 5 Cities
Champaign, IL
Chicago, IL
Springfield, IL
Aurora, IL
Bloomington, ININ 1 City
Lawrence, KSKS 2 Cities
Topeka, KS
Covington, KYKY 3 Cities
Lexington, KY
Louisville, KY
Salem, MAMA 5 Cities
Arlington, MA
Boston, MA
Cambridge, MA
Northampton, MA
Provincetown, MA
Ann Arbor, MIMI 6 Cities
Ferndale, MI
Kalamazoo, MI
Lansing, MI
Detroit, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Albuquerque, NMNM 1 City
Rockville, MDMD 5 Cities
Baltimore, MD
Columbia, MD
Frederick, MD
Gaithersburg, MD
Saint Paul, MNMN 1 City
Columbia, MOMO 2 Cities
Kansas City, MO
Chapel Hill, NCNC 2 Cities
Greensboro, NC
Jersey City, NJNJ 5 Cities
Hoboken, NJ
Asbury Park, NJ
Montclair, NJ
Princeton, NJ
Las Vegas, NVNV 4 Cities
Paradise (Clark County), NV
Reno, NV
Enterprise (Clark County), NV
New York, NYNY 6 Cities
Yonkers, NY
Syracuse, NY
Rochester, NY
Buffalo, NY
Ithaca, NY
St Louis, MOMO 1 City
Norman, OKOK 1 City
Eugene, OROR 3 Cities
Portland, OR
Salem, OR
Carlisle, PAPA 6 Cities
Erie, PA
Allentown, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
State College, PA
Providence, RIRI 1 City
Myrtle Beach, SCSC 1 City
Brookings, SDSD 1 City
Arlington, TX BTX 4 Cities
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
San Antonio, TX
Alexandria, VAVA 8 Cities
Arlington County, VA
Charlottesville, VA
Fairfax County, VA
Hampton, VA
Newport News, VA
Virginia Beach, VA
Roanoke, VA
Richmond, VA
Olympia, WAWA 3 Cities
Bellevue, WA
Seattle, WA
Madison, WIWI 3 Cities
Milwaukee, WI
Green Bay, WI
Huntington, WVWV 2 Cities
Morgantown, WV
https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/11/22/these-us-cities-scored-top-marks-for-commitment-to-lgbtq-rights-is-yours-one-of-them/