Since 2011, the Human Rights Campaign assesses hundreds of cities throughout the country on their overall inclusivity as determined by each city's nondiscrimination laws, employment practices, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
Of the 506 cities evaluated for this year's index, here are six in New Jersey, New York, and Florida that achieved perfect "100%" scores.
New Jersey
The city scored particularly high in terms of LGBTQ+ representation in city leadership and pro-equality legislation. Montclair also offers various municipal services to the community, including queer homelessness services and supports for LGBTQ+ older adults.
Jersey City's non-discriminatory employment practices, transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, and inclusive workplace efforts contributed to its perfect score.
Among Hoboken's high-scoring categories was the city's strict non-discrimination laws. These include laws pertaining to employment, housing, and public accommodations, as well as laws promoting all-gender restroom facilities and protecting children from conversion therapy.
New York
As a the city where the LGBTQ+ rights movement began, it is not surprising the Big Apple earned a score of 100. The city received perfect scores in nearly all categories assessed, including municipal employment practices, municipal leadership representation and policies, and citywide nondiscrimination laws.
Florida
The small but proud city of west palm beach earned a perfect score in many categories, including for its comprehensive range of municipal services. The city was also recognized for its pro-equality legislation efforts.
Long celebrated as an LGBTQ+ Mecca, Wilton Manors achieved a perfect score in every single category assessed by the HRC. From supports for its large queer population to outstanding representation in city leadership, the score was well earned.
At Brown Harris Stevens, we believe in celebrating and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people year-round. We also believe everyone deserves equal protection under the law, regardless of who they love. For this reason, we are proud to be a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act, a group of 300+ leading U.S. employers supporting bipartisan legislation to provide the same protections to LGBTQIA+ people as are provided to other protected groups under federal law.
To learn more, visit https://www.bhsusa.com/pride.