HRC’s New Municipal Equality Index Details the State of LGBT Equality in Three Ohio Cities

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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2012
PaulGuequierre 
Kim Welter

HRC’s New Municipal EqualityIndexDetails the State of LGBT Equality in Three Ohio Cities
First of its kind nationwide evaluation ofLGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy finds cities need to do more toprotect LGBT employees and citizens
WASHINGTON—A new report onlesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in America’s cities bythe Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization,rated 137 cities across the nation, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, andColumbus. The MunicipalEquality Index (MEI), the first ever rating system of LGBTinclusion in municipal law, finds that while many U.S. cities lag behind inprotections for LGBT people, some of the most LGBT-friendly policies in thecountry have been innovated and implemented at the municipal level, includingin states with laws that are unfriendly to the LGBT community. The MEI wasissued in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute and the Gay andLesbian Victory Institute. The average score for cities in Ohio is 79 out of100 points, which is in line with the national average. Cincinnati andCleveland both scored 77 points, and Columbus scored 83.
Key findingsfrom the MEI create a snapshot of LGBT equality in137 municipalities of varyingsizes drawn from every state in the nation – these include the 50 statecapitals, the 50 most populous cities in the country, and the 25 large, 25mid-size, and 25 small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sexcouples.

The100-point cities in the MEI serve as shining examples of LGBT inclusivity, withexcellent policies ranging from non-discrimination laws, equal employeebenefits, and cutting-edge city services.  As America moves forward insupport of LGBT equality, cities across the country are on the forefront ofthis movement.  Cities in every region of the country are fighting forequality at the most intimate level of government.  At the same time,cities across the country also have room for improvement.  The MEIarticulates a path forward and celebrates the success of cities doing thisimportant work. 

MEI at a glance:·    Eleven of the 137cities surveyed earned a perfect score of 100 points – these cities came fromboth coasts and in between, were of varying sizes, and not all are in stateswith favorable laws for LGBT people;  ·    A quarter of thecities rated scored over 80 points;·    45 percent of citessurveyed obtained a score of 60 or higher;  ·    Nearly a third ofcites scored between 40 and 60 points, showing good intentions on behalf ofmunicipal governments but also opportunity for improvement; and  ·    Just under a quarterof the cities scored less than 20 points, including eight cities that scoredunder ten points and three that scored zero. 
The MEI rates cities based on 47 criteriafalling under six broad categories: ·      Non-discriminationlaws;·      Relationshiprecognition;·      Themunicipality’s employment practices;·      Inclusivenessof city services;·      Lawenforcement; and ·      Municipalleadership.
In today’sworld, cities must compete for business and brain power.   Researchshows that to do this, they must treat their LGBT citizens with dignity andrespect. Acclaimed Professor Richard Florida authored the forward for the MEI.Professor Florida is a pioneer in research into how the nurturing of a“creative class” (entrepreneurs, artists and architects, researchers,scientists, engineers, and other professionals) creates prosperous,economically competitive cities.


“Equality Ohio has a long history of workingwith Ohio’s cities, including Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus, providingmodel policies, examples from other Ohio cities, impact data and help withlocal organizing around moving municipal ordinances forward,” said ElyzabethHolford, Executive Director of Equality Ohio. “While the State of Ohio haslagged behind the rest of the country in statewide protections for LGBTOhioans, Ohio’s major cities understand that for a city to succeed in today’seconomy, all its residents need to feel safe, free to bring all of themselvesto where they live, work and play.” 
“Our nation is on an irreversible pathforward in LGBT equality and local and state-level advocacy ensures our voicesare heard in public squares across the country” said HRC President Chad Griffin.“This index gives advocates and municipal lawmakers a potent tool to improvethe lives of LGBT people.”
"Advances at the local level are oftenunheralded, but they are critical to building the momentum we need forstatewide and federal victories," said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Directorof Equality Federation Institute. "The Municipal Equality Index not onlyrecognizes the remarkable progress that state equality groups and localpartners have made in cities and towns across the country, but is a powerfultool to help push local governments to do better."
"Thefreedom to be ourselves is most important where we live, work and raise ourfamilies.  That's why it's so crucial that local and municipal governmentsunderstand the need to make life better for LGBT people. We work hard to makesure openly LGBT people participate in government as elected and appointedofficials, and the MEI will be a great resource for them," said ChuckWolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute.
The full report,including long form scorecards for every city and a searchable database, isavailable online at www.hrc.org/mei.

EqualityOhio envisions an Ohio where everyone feels at home and where equality,diversity and inclusiveness are universally valued. The organization is basedin Columbus at 61 Jefferson Ave, Columbus, OH 43215. 

TheHuman Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working toachieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring andengaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizensand realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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