Report: Tallahassee Is Tops For LGBT Equality

Release Date
Source
WCTV

 

News Release: Human Rights Campaign

WASHINGTON — A report on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in America’s cities by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, rated 291 cities across the nation, including 15 cities in Florida. The 2013 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) is the second edition of the only nationwide rating system of LGBT inclusion in municipal law.

This year’s index finds that cities across the country, including in Florida, continued to prove that municipalities will act to support equality for LGBT people, even where states and the federal government have failed to do so. The MEI was issued in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute. The average score for cities in Florida is 58 out of 100 points, which falls above the national average. Cape Coral scored 10 points, Fort Lauderdale scored 77 points, Hialeah scored 58 points, Hollywood scored 54 points, Jacksonville scored 25 points, Miami scored 67 points, Miami Beach scored 100 points, Miami Shores scored 56 points, Oakland Park scored 85 points, Orlando scored 79 points, Pembroke Pines scored a 43, Port Saint Lucie scored 0 points, St. Petersburg scored 66 points, Tallahassee scored 84 points, Tampa scored 89 points, and Wilton Manors scored 82 points.

Key findings from the MEI create a snapshot of LGBT equality in 291 municipalities of varying sizes drawn from every state in the nation – these include the 50 state capitals, the 150 most populous cities in the country, the three largest cities in every state, the city home to each state’s largest public university, and the 25 large, 25 mid-size, and 25 small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples. Twenty-five cities earned a perfect 100-point score and serve as shining examples of LGBT inclusivity, with excellent policies ranging from non-discrimination laws, equal employee benefits, and cutting-edge city services.

2013 MEI at a glance:

  • Cities across the country achieved excellent scores, demonstrating that cities have a commitment to LGBT equality that is unbridled by regionalism and not confined to parts of the country many people assume are most LGBT friendly;

  • 25 cities received perfect scores (100 points) in 2013; 11 did in 2012;

  • Of cities that scored 100, 8 cities came from states without comprehensive relationship recognition and without statewide non-discrimination laws (compared to two such cities in 2012);

  • 31 million people live in cities that cover trans people at the city level alone;

  • In 2012 we rated 137 cities with a total population of 55,853,651; in 2013 we rated 291 cities with a population total of 77,851,822;

  • 10% of cities scored over 96 points, 25% scored over 78 points. The average score was 57 points, half of cities scored over 60 points. 25% of cities scored 35 points or fewer; and 3.5% of cities scored 10 points or fewer.

  • Cities tended to have higher scores where the city was selected for having a high proportion of same-sex couples, and the presence of openly LGBT city officials and LGBT police liaisons tended to be correlated with higher scores.


“In Florida, a state that leads the South in the passage of local LGBT ordinances, the MEI has become the standard that cities strive to meet,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. “Equality Florida congratulates Mayor Bob Buckhorn of Tampa for topping the list of major Florida cities. That commitment to stronger protections comes out of a sense of doing what is right and understanding that economic growth is tied to diversity and inclusion. In addition to large metro areas evaluated for the MEI, smaller cities can choose to self-report. Kudos to Miami Beach for garnering a 100 point rating.”

 

“Equality isn’t just for the coasts anymore,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This groundbreaking report shows that cities and towns across the country, from Vicco, Kentucky to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, are leading the charge for basic fairness for LGBT people.”

"Change is possible everywhere, and the Municipal Equality Index showcases the monumental progress we've made. In cities and towns across America, advocates are telling their stories, organizing their friends, and changing the hearts and minds of our policymakers and neighbors," said Rebecca Isaacs, executive director of Equality Federation. "We're winning equality where it matters most -- in the communities we call home."
The MEI rates cities based on 47 criteria falling under six broad categories:

  • Non-discrimination laws;

  • Relationship recognition;

  • Municipality’s employment and contracting policies;

  • Inclusiveness of city services;

  • Law enforcement; and

  • Municipal leadership on matters of equality.


The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city and a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC and the HRC Foundation strive to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

In the News