Columbus Earns Another Perfect Score on HRC Municipal Equality Index
For Immediate Release
November 12, 2014
For More Information:
John Ivanic, City Council, 645-6798
Dan Williamson, Mayor’s
Office, 645-5300
Hanna Greer-Brown, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, 525-5848
City, Franklin County Proud to Support LGBT Community
Columbus has again been
recognized as one of the best cities in the nation for the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender community. A year after scoring its first 100 on the
Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, a measure of how welcoming cities
are of their LGBT residents, Columbus has again earned the highest
possible score on the index, joining 38 other cities nationwide in the
honor. The honor comes only months after Columbus received HRC's Equality Award
in recognition of the city's longtime efforts to make Columbus the best
community in the nation for LGBT people.
“We have continued to
listen to the needs of our LGBT community to make Columbus better for all our
residents,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “I thank the Human Rights Campaign
for recognizing our efforts to treat our LGBT residents with dignity.”
The city's MEI score is based
on its efforts in six areas: nondiscrimination laws, relationship recognition,
city employment and contracting policies, the inclusiveness of city services,
law enforcement, and municipal leadership on LGBT equality.
“The Municipal Equality
Index confirms that our city values diversity and welcomes the LGBT community
with open arms,” said Council President Andrew J. Ginther, who recently hosted
a Why Marriage Matters roundtable
discussion on marriage equality. “We encourage all cities in Ohio to try to
match our score, and we urge the state of Ohio to finally treat LGBT couples,
families, and employees equally under the law.”
While the Human Rights
Campaign generally does not score counties in the index, HRC noted Franklin
County's commitment to equality. County employment policy prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and the
county extends health benefits to the domestic partners and dependents of
county employees. County commissioners have also advocated for LGBT equality
under state and federal law.
“Franklin County is proud
to be home to a large, active, and diverse LGBT community,” said Franklin
County Commission President Marilyn Brown. “LGBT people contribute so much to
the life of our community, and we will continue to do everything we can to make
Central Ohio the best place in the country for LGBT people to live and raise
their families.”
Among Ohio cities, only
Cincinnati matched Columbus' score. Dayton earned a 95, Cleveland a 79, Akron a
68, and Toledo a 58.
“Columbus
remains a leader both in Ohio and nationally in the movement for equality,”
said Cathryn M. Oakley, HRC’s legislative counsel for state and municipal
advocacy. “The city's experience is an example of how a municipality can grow
and thrive if it embraces its LGBT community.”
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