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Search our database of 137 municipalities for ratings on LGBT inclusion in municipal law. |
About the MEI
The MEI rated 137 municipalities in 2012 and will expand its scope to evaluate more cities. If there’s a municipality you believe should be rated, you can submit supporting documentation online. We will work with you to evaluate the municipality. |
More Resources
HRC is working on issues affecting the rights of LGBT people in all 50 states, ranging from employment discrimination to relationship recognition. |
About the MEI
The Municipal Equality Index (MEI), is the first nationwide evaluation of municipal laws affecting the LGBT community. It examines the laws, policies, and services of municipalities from every state in the country and rates them on the basis of their inclusivity of LGBT people who live and work in those cities. The MEI criteria fall under six broad categories: non-discrimination laws; relationship recognition; the municipality’s employment practices; the inclusiveness of city services; law enforcement; and municipal leadership for equality. The MEI highlights the dedication to equality demonstrated by some cities and provides a blueprint for municipal equality for cities whose laws and policies need improvement.
The 2012 MEI Report
The 2012 MEI created a snapshot of LGBT equality in 137 municipalities of varying sizes drawn from every state in the nation – these include the 50 state capitals, the 50 most populous cities in the country, and the 25 large, 25 mid-size, and 25 small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples. The 2012 MEI found that while many U.S. cities lag behind in protections for LGBT people, some of the most LGBT-friendly policies in the country have been innovated and implemented at the municipal level, including by cities in states with laws that are unfriendly to the LGBT community. Eleven 100-point cities serve as shining examples of LGBT inclusivity, with excellent policies ranging from non-discrimination laws, equal employee benefits, and cutting-edge city services. Two of these perfect scores were earned by cities in states without state level non-discrimination or relationship recognition protections.
Download the 2012 MEI Report or read the virtual publication below. This report contains a full explanation of the project, the criteria and the city selection process, as well as an analysis of trends. However, it contains only an overview of the scores for each municipality. Detailed 2012 scorecards for each municipality provide in-depth information regarding the details of each municipality’s score.
Bringing Equality Home – MEI 2013
The second edition of the MEI, to be released in November 2013, will be expanding its reach to rate nearly double the number of cities rated in 2012. In addition to the 137 cities rated in 2012, the 2013 MEI will rate the 150 largest cities in the United States, the 3 largest cities in each state, and the city home to the state’s largest public university (including undergraduate and graduate enrollment). For a list of the cities rated in 2013, click here. If you would like to share information with the MEI team regarding a specific city’s rating, please send that information to [email protected]. For more information about how to be engaged with the MEI process, please click here. If there is a city that you would like to see rated that won’t be included in the 2013 MEI, please see the self-submission resources at the bottom of this page. The MEI wants to bring equality to a city near you!
