DES MOINES – Iowa may be a ruby red state ready to be made great again, but it’s largest cities scored high marks in a recent assessment of how persons of LGBTQ+ are treated in those communities.
The Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) is the only comprehensive, nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ equality in the areas of policies, laws, and services. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights are at stake, the MEI and the rubric it provides for cities and towns has never been more important.
The MEI provides a public snapshot of how committed a given city or town is to LGBTQ+ equality along with a comprehensive framework for mayors, councilors, and administrators nationwide, to safeguard the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ residents and staff.
This year, a record-breaking 130 cities – or more than 25 percent of all MEI-rated cities – earned the highest score of 100. Additionally, 76 cities earned over 85 points despite hailing from a state without non-discrimination statutes that explicitly protect sexual orientation and gender identity.
Iowa City and Cedar Rapids scored a perfect 100 out of 100. Other scores were: Des Moines 93, Waterloo 80, Ames 96, Sioux City 80, West Des Moines 97, Dubuque 92.
The full MEI scorecard can be viewed here.