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Municipal Equality Index 2019

The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership's public position on equality.

The 2019 MEI is the eighth annual edition and rates a total of 506 cities on 49 different criteria from every state in the nation.

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2019 Municipal Equality Index Full Report

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Municipal Equality Index 2019

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**Alphonso David**, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, President

Executive Summary

This edition of the MEI heralds the largest number of perfect-scoring cities in the MEI’s eight-year history. This year, 88 cities earned the maximum score of 100 points, up from 78 cities last year and just 11 in 2012. What’s more, the national city average this year jumped to a record high of 60 points (up from 58 last year), marking the third year in a row that the national average has increased. This demonstrates that cities all across the country understand their core duty to protect the health, safety, and well-being of residents by ensuring equality in housing, the workplace, and the community at large.

506 Cities Rated

94,237,171 Total Population Rated

88 of 506

100 Point Scores

164

164 of 506

Number of Rated Cities Offering Trans-Inclusive Health Benefits

Regional Trends

38 state averages grew since last year, with Kansas and Wisconsin leading the pack. Impressively, every region of the country experienced a mean city score increase this year. The Great Lakes and Mountain regions saw the highest average city score growth, increasing by four points since the last report. Cities in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions outperformed cities in all other regions, averaging 75 points this year. Municipalities in the West ranked just below this with a mean city score of 72.

About the 2020 MEI Scorecard

Learn about the 2020 MEI scorecard, read our standards of credit, and submit your city to be rated.

MEI Standards for Credit 2020 MEI Scorecard

MEI Issue Briefs

Expanding PrEP Access to Help End the HIV Epidemic

Achieving A Healthier, Stronger Workforce Through Inclusive Paid Leave

Working Toward a Fully-Inclusive Municipal Workplace

Addressing the Unique Needs of LGBTQ Older People

Protecting Youth from Harmful "Conversion Therapy"

Equal Access to Sex-Segregated Facilities

The Imperative of Responsible Hate Crime Reporting

Inclusive and Innovative Approaches to Citywide Bullying Prevention

The Case for Retaining Domestic Partnership Laws and Policies

Trans-Inclusive Health Benefits

Addressing an Epidemic of Anti-Transgender Violence: What Cities Can Do

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Municipal Equality Index 2019

Executive Summary

Regional Trends

About the 2020 MEI Scorecard

MEI Issue Briefs

Related Resources

Standards for Credit on the MEI

Submit a Municipality to Be Rated

Congressional Scorecard

Love conquers hate.

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Executive Summary

Regional Trends

About the 2020 MEI Scorecard

MEI Issue Briefs

Related Resources

Standards for Credit on the MEI

Submit a Municipality to Be Rated

Congressional Scorecard

Love conquers hate.