Cities in general doing better this year

Baltimore and Frederick are among a record 68 cities in the US that earned a perfect score of 100 in the annual LGBTQ equality evaluation conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute. Frederick actually fared better than Baltimore because it reached the 100 score without the need for bonus points. Baltimore’s score was 89 before its 12 bonus points were tallied. The organizations released their annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI) on October 19th.

The evaluation scored 506 municipalities on things like non-discrimination laws, fair law enforcement, overall relationship with the city’s LGBTQ community, and more. For each factor, there is a limited amount of available points. The two organizations then awarded the locations with their points for each factor. This is the sixth year of the MEI, which first began in 2012. The official document states its goal is to demonstrate “in the most comprehensive form just how much can be accomplished be tenacious city leaders who stand up for full LGBTQ equality.”

Success stories abound. Overall, points increased from years prior. The national average in 2017 was 57 points, up from 2016’s 55 point average. Furthermore, the municipalities earning perfect 100-point ratings increased from last year’s 60 cities. Still, some cities failed the evaluation.

A total number of 11 cities earned scores of 0. They include: Sitka and Wasilla, Alaska; Monroe, Louisiana; Southaven, Mississippi; Jefferson City, Missouri; Moore and Stillwater, Oklahoma; Clemson, South Carolina; Mitchell and Pierre, South Dakota; and Sheridan, Wyoming. [Compiled in part from Gay Star News at Gaystarnews.com/article/68-us-cities-perfect-scores-lgbtq-equality-test]